Saints improved on their solid performances against Middlesbrough and Liverpool by getting a home draw against Chelsea. While the results could be better, the team itself is playing pretty well and so there's not too much to be worried about at this stage.
Saints played well defensively and our possession in midfield was excellent thanks to a dynamic Chris Marsden performance.. Chelsea were subdued and kept firmly in the pockets of their Saints markers. Where Saint do lack is that final ball from midfield. I think it's unfair to be too critical of Beattie and, the still not match fit, Pahars. Beattie's positioning is often excellent but the ball he receives, if he gets it at all, is often lacking. Perhaps more use of Anders Svensson as an attacking midfielder would provide this vital missing link.
Saints kept Paul Jones in goal and he had another good performance. He will have to continue to be at his best with the arrival of Antti Niemi who watched from the bench. I had some concerns about our defence in the absence of Lundekvam, but Paul Wiliams had a great game and Michael Svensson acquitted himself well on his home debut.
With Jason Dodd still out, Paul Telfer started at right back and his partnership with Fabrice Fernandes look much better than usual. While his final ball could still be improved upon, Fernandes is getting more confident with every game he starts. He showed some of that skill in getting Saints opener from the edge of the box in the second half.
It was Chelsea who started brightly, although Saints soon got back on top with chances form Beattie and Bridge in the first half. Beattie's close range header was kept out by Cudicini.
Chelsea's only real response was a volley form Gallas form six yards out,
Jimmy Flloyd Hasselbaink was substituted at half time. His replacement Gudjohnsen is a great player and true to form began to cause Saints some real problems with his extra pace. Gudjohnsen had a chance right at the start of the half, but good work form Jones forced him to shoot wide.
Although the second half was fairly even, Saints edged it early on and capitalised on that in the 51st minute when Chelsea failed to clear a Chris Marsden cross. The ball came to Fabrice Fernandes whose lovely curling shot went in for the opener from the edge of the box.
Although Saints continued to be the better side, they failed to finish Chelsea off. Michael Svensson and Marians Pahars both had chances. Svensson just failed to get on the end of a corner and Pahars shot wide form six yards from a James Beattie flick on.
Fabrice Fernandes was full of confidence and could have got a second after good work from Jo Tessem to set him up for a shot.
Chelsea had plenty of late opportunities to level, although Fernandes put a long range shot just over for the home side. Zenden, Zola and Gudjohnsen all had opportunities. It was a nail biting finish for the Saints and in traditional fashion then conceded with ten minutes left to play. Frank Lampard chipped Paul Jones for the equaliser. It was a poor pass from James Beattie which gave Chelsea the possession.With Saints out of position Gudjohnsen put the ball through for Frank Lampard. The former West Ham player managed to lob Paul Jones ahead of challenges from Svensson and Williams. The Saints defense will be disappointed not to have kept a clean sheet after such a solid display.
James Beattie had a very late chance for a winner after a lovely ball form Chris Marsden. Beattie was at full stretch and just couldn't get the ball under control and it went well wide of the target.
Unlike last season's dismal start, there are lots of positives to look at this term despite only having a couple of points on the board. We have added two internationals to the squad, three if you count the return of Delgado, our defence looks solid even without Lundekvam. We have an industrious midfield and if they can get decent balls into Beattie I'm sure the goals won't be long in coming.
Southampton: Jones, Telfer, Michael Svensson, Williams, Bridge, Fernandes, Marsden, Anders Svensson, Delap, Beattie, Pahars (Tessem 70), Tessem (Ormerod 86).
Subs Not Used: Niemi, Oakley, Monk.
Booked: Michael Svensson, Telfer.
Goals: Fernandes 51.
Chelsea: Cudicini, Melchiot, Desailly, Gallas, Babayaro, De Lucas, Lampard, Gronkjaer, Zenden (Stanic 85), Hasselbaink (Gudjohnsen 45), Zola.
Subs Not Used: de Goey, Ferrer, Keenan.
Booked: Babayaro, Gronkjaer.
Goals: Lampard 80.
Att: 31,208
Ref: C Foy (Merseyside).