Chelsea extended their winning run to four straight victories under Antonio Conte’s new 3-4-3 formation on Sunday afternoon, with a solid 2-0 victory away to Southampton.
The Blues kept their fourth consecutive clean sheet in the league at St. Mary’s, in an incredibly disciplined and well-executed performance.
Eden Hazard got Chelsea off to another flying start, twisting past Steven Davis inside the Saints penalty area, before firing a low drive through the legs of Fraser Forster to give the Blues a sixth-minute lead.
Diego Costa could have doubled the lead before half-time after Nemanja Matic played the Spaniard through, but the Premier League’s top-scorer shot straight at Forster.
Costa would get the last laugh in second-half, however, after he fired a brilliant curling effort past the Saints ‘keeper from 25-yards to extend the Blues’ lead, and grab his eighth goal of the season.
Chelsea contained Southampton excellently at the back, and the home side rarely threatened despite having the lion’s share of possession in the first-half.
Charlie Austin did put the ball in the back of Thibaut Courtois’ net, but only after the Englishman was flagged offside.
The Blues moved to within one point of joint leaders Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal, after all, four teams picked up away victories this weekend.
Here’s what we learnt from Chelsea’s fourth successive victory.
