London: Chelsea's top-four credentials are in doubt after they fell to a shock defeat to Southampton on Saturday, with Mauricio Pochettino's men dragging themselves towards safety. Southampton went ahead through Jay Rodriguez after a good start to the match, but were pulled back level when John Terry headed home.
However a Rickie Lambert free-kick restored the hosts' lead before half-time and they held on for another top-half scalp after the break. With a gruelling week ahead Rafa Benitez rested a number of key men for the clash, Eden Hazard, David Luiz and Ashley Cole all made way, while Juan Mata (illness) and Gary Cahill (knee) were unavailable.
Therefore the likes of Ryan Bertrand, Terry, Marko Marin and Victor Moses started. Saints, meanwhile, were without injured Adam Lallana but young left back and reported Blues target Luke Shaw recovered in time.
Saints were rewarded for their continued pressure early on as they scored the opener just after the 20-minute mark. Rodriguez received the ball from Lambert in a central position before moving it on to Steven Davis and making a darting run in behind the Chelsea defence. The Scot released it quickly and found the striker, leaving him to slot home past Cech.
Fernando Torres thought he had equalised just moments later when he had the ball in the net after breaking free of Jos Hooiveld, however he was penalised for handling in the build up and it was ruled out.
The Blues did get themselves back in the game, however, with just over half-an-hour played. Marin delivered a corner from the right flank which Terry headed home after losing his marker far too easily.
But the clash swayed back in the home side's favour just two minutes later when Bertrand was adjudged to have fouled Davis outside the Blues box. Saints captain Lambert stepped up and smashed the set-piece into the top-left corner of the goal, just out of Cech's reach.
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