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Substitute Olivier Giroud inspired Chelsea to a 3-2 comeback triumph at St Mary’s which dealt a big blow to Southampton’s Premier League survival hopes.<\/p>\nSubstitute Olivier Giroud inspired Chelsea to a 3-2 comeback triumph at St Mary’s which dealt a big blow to Southampton’s Premier League survival hopes.<\/p>\n
Goals from Dusan Tadic and debutant Jan Bednarek looked to have put Saints in control, but Giroud’s introduction on 61 minutes proved decisive.<\/p>\n
The France striker headed the previously listless visitors back into the game, Eden Hazard leveled shortly afterwards, and then Giroud struck again – all within the space of eight minutes – to spark jubilant celebrations as the Blues drew first blood in this dress rehearsal ahead of next weekend’s FA Cup semi-final between the two sides.<\/p>\n
Chelsea’s lightning turnaround secured just their fourth league win of 2018, boosted their slim hopes of a top-four finish, and denied a stunned Southampton the chance to move out of the relegation zone.<\/p>\n
The result denied Mark Hughes a first league win at Saints boss and extended the south-coast club’s record home league run without a victory to nine matches.<\/p>\n
Chelsea hit half-time having created no genuine scoring chances, failing to capitalise on their dominance at least in the possession stakes.<\/p>\n
Saints in contrast buried their sole gilt-edged opening, Tadic capping a flowing field-length counter-attack with a calm finish.<\/p>\n
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg set Ryan Bertrand racing down the left flank, and the England full-back fended off the chasing Cesar Azpilicueta before laying on the perfect cut-back.<\/p>\n
The lurking Tadic did the rest, profiting from both his fine positioning and Bertrand’s accurate pass to slot home and stun the sluggish visitors.<\/p>\n
Antonio Conte’s men appeared at best unfazed by Saints taking the lead, but try as they might the Blues failed to kick into gear on the front foot.<\/p>\n
Alvaro Morata headed over the bar tamely, while Cesc Fabregas saw a hopeful 20-yard effort take a wicked deflection, forcing Alex McCarthy into a solid save.<\/p>\n
Visiting inroads were few and far between beyond that in the first half, however, with Marcos Alonso lucky to avoid a yellow card for a clumsy challenge when seemingly standing on Shane Long’s calf.<\/p>\n
Chelsea upped the ante after the break, squeezing Saints by playing higher up the field in a bid to break the hosts’ double defensive bank.<\/p>\n
James Ward-Prowse’s raking ball over the top sent Long scurrying clear in a rare breakout, however, only for the Republic of Ireland forward to bungle his eventual shot, allowing Thibaut Courtois to save.<\/p>\n
When Gary Cahill failed to cut out Ward-Prowse’s whipped free-kick, league debutant Bednarek nipped in at the far post to slide home and double Saints’ lead.<\/p>\n
But just when the hosts looked home and hosed, Giroud clambered off the bench to tip the game on its head.<\/p>\n
The former Gunner buried a testing header to make things interesting, before Hazard rounded off some neat play by blasting home.<\/p>\n
Not satisfied with that, however, Giroud then lashed in a ruthless half-volley to floor the shattered hosts.<\/p>\n