Chelsea stifle Saints

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Southampton 0-1 Chelsea

A rare goal from defender Mario Melchiot gave Chelsea the points at St Mary's and raised the prospect that Gordon Strachan's Southampton reign would end on a losing note.

Strachan, who is strongly tipped to take over at Leeds United, saw his side fall to a second successive Premiership home defeat as Chelsea produced a moment of class to break the deadlock two minutes into the second half.

Southampton had plenty of possession but, without injured top scorer James Beattie, rarely had a cutting edge to shake the Blues out of their comfort zone.

Kevin Phillips tried to make light of the absence of his strike partner early on, capitalising on a slip by William Gallas to fire into the side netting on three minutes.

At the other end, Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink set Damien Duff up to shave the upright.

Melchiot set Chelsea on their way

French teenager Leandre Griffit impressed on his first Premiership start as the home team bossed the early stages, without creating many chances.

Chelsea, meanwhile, patiently worked their into the game and had a loud penalty appeal turned down after Joe Cole had gone down under Claus Lundekvam's challenge.

With two tight defences keeping chances to a premium, Brett Ormerod wasted an opportunity by planting his header over the bar after Graeme Le Saux's cross picked him out.

The cautious deadlock of the first half was broken only two minutes into the second half when Hasselbaink's slick pass played in Melchiot to drive his shot across and under Antti Niemi's dive.

Chelsea should have doubled their lead three minutes later but after beating the offside trap and pulling down Bridge's cross, Hasselbaink sliced his shot wide from 10 yards.

KEY MOMENTS 47mins: Melchiot fires Chelsea ahead 87mins: Phillips misses golden chance 88mins:Fernandes skims bar with his shot

The goal seemed to take the wind out of Southampton's sails but Chelsea were given a reminder they could not cruise when Rory Delap's long throw presented Phillips with a half chance he sliced wide.

Danny Higginbotham twice came to Southampton's rescue by thwarting Duff in as many minutes.

And at the other end, Phillips squandered another chance presented by substitute Anders Svensson.

Southampton mounted a big finish and in the last three minutes, Phillips somehow heading wide from five yards out, and Fabrice Fernandes skimming the bar with a piledriver.

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Southampton: Niemi, Telfer, Higginbotham, Lundekvam, Le Saux, Fernandes, Delap, Griffit (Prutton 69), Marsden (Anders Svensson 70), Ormerod (Delgado 69), Phillips.
Subs Not Used: Jones, Hall.

Chelsea: Cudicini, Melchiot, Terry, Gallas, Bridge, Cole (Gronkjaer 58), Makelele, Lampard, Duff (Stanic 74), Hasselbaink (Mutu 79), Gudjohnsen.
Subs Not Used: Ambrosio, Johnson.

Booked: Terry.

Attendance: 32,149

Referee: D Gallagher (Oxfordshire).