CHE vs Saints
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Scintillating Saints stun Chelsea

Our report from Stamford Bridge, where Saints blew away Chelsea on Boxing Day!

A MASSIVE WIN!

A huge three points for Saints.

FULL-TIME: Chelsea 0-2 Saints

Two top quality goals and three well deserved points! Saints with back-to-back away wins in the Premier League and are now comfortably clear of the relegation zone! 😁

Yellow Card for Sofiane Boufal (Southampton)

Soaking up the pressure

Saints are under the cosh, but McCarthy comes to claim a cross and relieve the pressure. Saints defending superbly well.

Romeu fouls Mount

We're into additional time. Mount goes over on the edge of the area, under pressure from Romeu. He takes the free-kick himself, but McCarthy was on his toes. A good save, palmed over the bar. 

😜

Southampton substitution: Oriol Romeu replaces Stuart Armstrong

Final change.

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Bertrand released

The weight of pass was slightly too heavy from Redmond, but the link up play was good down the left. Saints looking comfortable in possession.

Southampton substitution: Sofiane Boufal replaces Ché Adams

He's worked extremely hard all afternoon.

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Picture perfect 😍

A Christmas cracker from Nathan Redmond!

McCarthy saves

Pulisic got the ball stuck under his feet, but still forced a save from McCarthy. Out for a corner and then cleared away from danger. Chelsea pressing, but no breakthrough.

Adams isolated

He did well again to win a throw in. Saints neat play with Redmond and Højbjerg both involved.

GOALSCORER 22 Nathan Redmond

Sensational team goal

It's a super finish from Redmond, but pretty much all Southampton players were involved in that move. Armstrong flicked the ball towards the winger, and with Kepa rushing towards him, Redmond flicks the ball over him.

Southampton substitution: Danny Ings replaces Michael Obafemi

A first change for Hasenhüttl.

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Work rate 💯

Ché Adams has run tirelessly up top for Saints. His hold up play has been excellent, and is proving a good outlet. Danny Ings is stripped and ready for action on the sidelines.

😩

It should be two! Fantastic play from Armstrong, who created the chance. Redmond was baring down on goal, with only Kepa to beat, but the keeper makes a good save, low to his right.

Good defending from Bednarek

Cédric had sliced his clearance, but the Pole was in control. Held Abraham off and allowed McCarthy to collect.

👋

Stephens responds to danger

It's a brilliant recovery tackle from Stephens, as Abraham attempted to race clear. The pass was lovely from Mount, who has made a real difference since coming on.

Ings warming up

Saints' top scorer getting warm on the sidelines.

Danger man

Redmond getting more involved now, as Saints continue to play on the counter. Latest Chelsea attack ends in penalty appeals for a possible handball, but waved away.

Saints counter

Again Redmond was the instigator. He motored down the left once more, and Højbjerg was breaking centrally. The ball is curled towards him but just too much weight on the pass.

Bednarek down

Chelsea have a corner but Bednarek has received a ball to the face and is slightly dazed, so play has stopped. Adams heads away resulting corner and Saints have the ball back.

Soooooo close

Redmond does fantastically down the left, escapes Rüdiger, and then gets to the byline. Sweeps the ball across the goal towards Adams who was sliding in at the back post. Tomori gets the faintest of touches to divert the ball away.

Keep it up, lads!

A really solid first half from Saints. Defended well and the finish from Obafemi was a cracker!

HALF-TIME: Chelsea 0-1 Saints

A superb first half comes to a close. Michael Obafemi's stunner is the difference as Saints go into the break with a 1-0 lead.

Saints celebrate 📸

Ralph Hasenhüttl's side continue to lead at Stamford Bridge, as we edge towards half-time.

Saints survive

Spell of pressure from Chelsea. First save McCarthy has had to make is a good one, clawing away an effort from Azpilicueta. Hudson-Odoi then back on the attack, but Armstrong is there to clear.

Saints lead

Chelsea were stretched defensively, but Obafemi was still left with a lot to do. The first touch and turn were particularly clever, matched by the curling shot to finish.

GOALSCORER 20 Michael Obafemi

WHAT A FINISH

Saints hit Chelsea on the counter and it's a sensational finish from the teenager. He turns brilliantly, and curls the ball past Kepa. 

Obafemi links with Redmond

Saints burst forward with Obafemi, and he brings Redmond into play on the left. Armstrong is screaming for the ball centrally, but the winger looked to be in two minds. He eventually runs it out of play, under pressure from Azpilicueta.

Yellow Card for Ryan Bertrand (Southampton)

Goes into the book for apparent time wasting,

Saints frustrating Blues

The visitors doing a good job of stopping Chelsea building any momentum. Hosts enjoying plenty of possession, but McCarthy not been tested yet. 

Bertrand draws foul

Good link up down the left flank. Rüdiger across and fouls the full-back. Ward-Prowse to deliver centrally, which is cleared. Obafemi then fouls Willian and Chelsea win back possession.

Careless from Højbjerg

A pass is lose, and falls to Willian. Emerson also involved. Hudson-Odoi's shot is blocked by Stephens and goes out for a corner. Free header from Tomori, who looked to have fouled Bertrand in the build up. McCarthy saves comfortably. 

Ward-Prowse delivery

Linked well with Armstrong and delivered towards Adams, but not near enough to the striker. Ball cleared and Chelsea have possessionl

Prowsey getting stuck in

Saints matching Chelsea in midfield. No real rhythm to either side yet. 

A bit scrappy

Both sides guilty of conceding possession slightly too easily. Cédric has it down the right, and the ball is recycled along the backline. Chelsea win it back and attempt to break with Emerson - he's bundled over by Armstrong. 

Saints formation

The visitors are set up as a 4-4-2, with Redmond out on the left and Armstrong on the right. Obafemi and Adams in partnership up top.

Bertrand on the ball

Worked well down the left by the former Chelsea full-back, and possession well retained by Saints. Stephens opts to go long and it runs through to Kepa.

We're off...

Pre-match huddles complete. Referee John Moss gets the game under way in the rain at Stamford Bridge...

5️⃣ minutes to go...

The players are in the tunnel now, we're fast approaching kick-off! Score predictions, Saints fans?

Armstrong's preview

Midfielder Stuart Armstrong speaks with the media ahead of facing Chelsea today.

The manager's pre-match chat

Hear what Ralph Hasenhüttl had to say ahead of kick-off at Stamford Bridge today!

Two changes

Michael Obafemi and Ché Adams replace the injured Shane Long, who hasn't travelled, and Danny Ings, who starts among the substitutes, Sofiane Boufal is also available from the bench. 

TEAM! 🚨

Starting XI: McCarthy (GK), Cédric, Stephens, Bednarek, Bertrand, Ward-Prowse, Højbjerg (c), Armstrong, Redmond, Obafemi, Adams.

Afternoon, lads! 👋

Southampton's players have arrived at Stamford Bridge ahead of today's meeting with Chelsea.

🎅

Plenty of Christmas spirit at Staplewood Campus this week!

Sneak peak! 👀

We've got team news coming up in 1️⃣ hour! Who makes your starting XI today, Saints fans?

Boxing Day at the Bridge! 🏟

The scene is set for today's Premier League action...

Get clued up!

Prepare yourself for our festive fixture with our Match Pack, in association with eToro…

Merry Christmas from Southampton FC! 🎄

A Christmas message from the players...

Christmas Day 📸

Take a look through a selection of Southampton's Christmas Day training gallery.

Hear from the boss! 🗣

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhüttl has said that facing two games in the space of 48 hours will be a challenging task, but he feels there is an opportunity to take points from both the Boxing Day trip to Chelsea and the subsequent home game against Crystal Palace.

We are happy we took the win against aston villa, but also we know it is not easy to come to stamford bridge. we want to do it better than last time.

ralph hasenhüttl

southampton manager

Boxing Day football! 😍

Merry Christmas, Southampton fans! We're back on the road, as we travel to the capital to take on Chelsea. Ralph Hasenhüttl's side were 3-1 victors over Aston Villa last time out, while today's hosts saw off José Mourinho's Tottenham. Stay tuned for all the build-up, team news, match updates and free live commentary right here...