Premier League preview: Chelsea v Southampton

Rafael Benitez and Nigel Adkins

You could forgive the Southampton players and their manager Nigel Adkins if they felt a little daunted by the prospect of playing Chelsea at Stamford Bridge this week.

It is, after all, less than two weeks since the Blues hammered them 5-1 in the FA Cup third round down on the south coast.

The Saints were comprehensively beaten in their own back yard by the reigning European champions, with Chelsea new boy Demba Ba helping himself to a debut brace and Victor Moses, Branislav Ivanović and Frank Lampard also getting themselves on the scoresheet.

Jay Rodriguez opened the scoring for the hosts, but the afternoon quickly unfolded into a disaster for Adkins’ men, who now prepare to take on the in-form west Londoners for three Premier League points at the Bridge.

Adkins, though, was delighted with the manner in which his side bounced back from that humbling FA Cup defeat. While Aston Villa have been below-par all season, few expected them to lose to Southampton at home last weekend. But a controversial Rickie Lambert penalty earned a vital three points for last season’s Championship runners-up – a three points which, to some extent, alleviates the pressure on the team ahead of their visit to the capital.

“The FA Cup game has gone,” Adkins told the Daily Echo. “The amount of forward quality talent on show there gave them the opportunity to score some goals.

“But we have put that to bed and I think that was shown (at Aston Villa) by the character the players have gone and demonstrated.”

That victory lifted Southampton above Aston Villa, Wigan and Newcastle, up to 15th in the table. But, barring one of the most surprising results of the season, the Saints will remain on 21 points at the end of Wednesday night.

With the exception of a slip-up at home to their relegation-threatened neighbours Queens Park Rangers – a result which Southampton will take heart from - Chelsea have been ruthless in the weeks since Rafael Benitez was appointed interim manager.

Saturday’s 4-0 thrashing away at Stoke City – one of the most difficult teams to beat away from home – was the result of a superb performance by Benitez’s men, even if they were helped out by the hapless Jon Walters, who scored two headed own goals and missed a late penalty to compound his misery.

Juan Mata continued his excellent run of form by contributing three assists; Eden Hazard scored a goal-of-the-season contender, while Lampard also showed his worth to the team – yet again – courtesy of another instrumental display in midfield.

Southampton fans will be asking themselves: ‘If Chelsea’s star-studded team scored five goals at St Mary’s and four away at Stoke, just how many will they score against us at the Bridge?’

Indeed, another convincing Chelsea win could be on the cards.

After having his fingers burnt once already this month for fielding a weakened team – in that shock 1-0 defeat to QPR – Benitez is unlikely to take the same chances this Wednesday.

But the Spaniard may opt to bring Fernando Torres back into the starting line-up, after he was benched in favour of Ba at the Britannia Stadium.

Chelsea host Arsenal four days later and, after two encouraging performances following his move from Newcastle, Ba may have done enough to cement a starting place against the Gunners on Sunday.

Regardless of who Benitez picks to start upfront, though, Adkins and his players have every reason to fear a difficult night in west London.

Prediction: Chelsea 3 Southampton 0

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