Dire Chelsea beaten at the Bridge by Saints

Chelsea 1 Southampton 3

Chelsea’s dismal start to the season reached new depths as they were convincingly beaten at Stamford Bridge.

Willian had put the Blues in front on 10 minutes but Steven Davis levelled late in the first half with a crisp strike from just outside the box.

Saints then took full advantage of chaotic Chelsea defending after the break, with Sadio Mane giving the visitors the lead and Graziano Pelle embossing the scoreline.

It was no more than Southampton deserved following an anxiety-ridden second-half display from Chelsea, who now lie 16th after eight games and are already 10 points behind leaders Manchester City.

They had taken an early lead after Eden Hazard had been fouled by Chelsea old boy Oriol Romeu, and Willian floated the free-kick beyond the massed ranks inside the box and the flailing keeper Maarten Stekelenburg.

But Southampton gradually worked their way into the match, with Mane particularly lively. He was denied a good shout for a penalty after appearing to be caught by Ramires, before being booked having gone over Branislav Ivanovic’s leg.

Blues keeper Asmir Begovic blocked from ex-Blues left-back Ryan Bertrand but could do little about Davis’s strike as he latched on to Pelle’s knock down.

Chelsea were a shambles defensively in the second half and were fortunate to survive a spell of Southampton pressure in which Begovic and Cahill both blocked from Mane and then James Ward-Prowse fired wide.

Radamel Falcao was also booked for diving as he seemed to crumble too easily while rounding Stekelenburg and Southampton added insult to injury by scoring soon afterwards.

Gary Cahill gave the ball away deep in his own half and the recalled John Terry failed to cut out a through ball, allowing Mane in to slot under Begovic.

And when Eden Hazard gave up possession, Mane cut open the Blues midfield before laying it off to Pelle, who thumped home to inflict a defeat that sparked boos around the ground at full-time.