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Southampton vs Chelsea. Premier League.

St. Mary's StadiumAttendance31,688.

Southampton 1

  • S Long (42nd minute)

Chelsea 2

  • C Fàbregas (75th minute)
  • B Ivanovic (89th minute)

Southampton 1-2 Chelsea: Branislav Ivanovic scores late winner

Branislav Ivanovic of Chelsea celebrates scoring his team's second goal against Southampton
Image: Branislav Ivanovic is congratulated by team-mates after his late winner

Chelsea won back-to-back Premier League games for the first time this season after coming from behind to win 2-1 at Southampton.

Shane Long put Saints ahead late in the first half with a composed finish after goalkeeper Fraser Forster had broken a club record for the longest time without conceding.

But Saints' resistance was broken in the 75th minute when Cesc Fabregas' cross beat Forster.

Branislav Ivanovic then headed in a late winner from a corner as Chelsea extended their unbeaten league run under Guus Hiddink to 10 matches and moved up to 11th in the table.

Southampton, who not conceded a goal in over nine hours prior to kick-off, remain seventh but missed the chance to strengthen their push for a European spot.

Ronald Koeman handed January signing Charlie Austin his first start in place of Graziano Pelle while Chelsea stuck with the same team that thrashed Manchester City in the FA Cup.

Chelsea's Pedro (centre) receives treatment for a injury during the Barclays Premier League match against Southampton.
Image: Chelsea's Pedro (centre) receives treatment for a injury

The visitors were forced into an early change, though, as Pedro suffered an injury and had to be replaced by Oscar.

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That was perhaps the most notable moment of the opening half-an-hour with chances few and far between.

Long headed over the bar from Virgil van Dijk's cross and Oscar shot at Forster at the other end.

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Interim Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink believes his side deserved all three points

Forster earned applause in the 34th minute as he broke the club record for the longest time without conceding a goal, which was previously held by Paul Jones with 666 minutes.

There was more cause for celebration after 42 minutes as the hosts took the lead.

Shane Long of Southampton celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the Barclays Premier League match against Chelsea
Image: Shane Long celebrates scoring the game's opener

Baba Rahman tried to cushion a header to a team-mate but Long anticipated it, nicked the ball and then raced clear before coolly chipping Thibaut Courtois.

Chelsea had not come from behind to win a game in the Premier League this season but they improved after the break.

Still, it looked it might not be their day after Jon Obi Mikel headed wide from six yards out and Diego Costa missed the target with a volley from Eden Hazard's cross.

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Ronald Koeman was disappointed to see his Southampton side lose

Chelsea's frustration continued to mount as Costa was booked for clipping Van Dijk's heels and Saints defended resolutely.

However, the visitors eventually got the breakthrough after 75 minutes when Fabregas crossed from the left and Forster, thinking Hazard was going to make contact, didn't move as the ball drifted into the net.

The visitors pressed on for the winner and were rewarded late on as Ivanovic rose highest for a corner and headed past Forster, who got a strong hand to it but couldn't keep it out.

Chelsea players celebrate their second goal against Southampton
Image: Chelsea players celebrate their second goal against Southampton

Soccer Saturday verdict - Paul Merson

It was a great finish from Long for the opener, and Southampton had to be in front because of the strong wind in their favour in the first half. In the second, Chelsea turned the screw and Forster should make the save from Fabregas. He goes for Hazard and doesn't go for the ball, anticipating the touch from the Chelsea attacker. You have to go with the ball.

There was only one winner after the goal, and that was Chelsea. It was a bullet header from Ivanovic, but rather than just save it, Forster tries to push it out. For how good a 'keeper he is, and he is top drawer, he should have saved both goals.

Chelsea reminded me of the team that won the league last year, they really ground out the result. There's not many players in the Premier League that can take a game by the scruff of the neck, but Fabregas is one of them. He got on the ball and Southampton couldn't get near him.

Player ratings

Southampton: Forster (4), Cedric (5), van Dijk (6), Fonte (6), Targett (6), Bertrand (5), Romeu (6), Clasie (6), Steven Davis (5), Austin (5), Long (7).

Subs: Mane (5), Ward-Prowse (5), Pelle (5).

Chelsea: Courtois (6), Azpilicueta (6), Cahill (6), Ivanovic (7), Baba (5), Mikel (6), Fabregas (7), Willian (7), Hazard (6), Pedro (4), Costa (5).

Subs: Oscar (5), Kenedy (6), Matic (5).

Man of the match: Branislav Ivanovic.

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