Chelsea v Southampton LIVE: Result and reaction as Blues hammer Saints in Premier League
Chelsea 4-0 Southampton: The Blues cruise to victory as Nkunku, Neto, Colwill and Cucurella all find the net
Chelsea climbed back into the Premier League's top four with a straightforward 4-0 win against Southampton at Stamford Bridge that edged the visitors a step nearer to relegation.
Around 200 home supporters gathered outside the ground with banners and smoke flares ahead of kick-off to voice opposition to the club's ownership but tensions were eased, temporarily perhaps, as Enzo Maresca's team scored three in the first half to win for only the third time in 11 in the league.
Christopher Nkunku netted his 14th of the season in all competitions, Pedro Neto scored a rare but needed goal in his personal quest for confidence and Levi Colwill headed a third. Marc Cucurella's finish from Tyrique George's cutback completed the rout.
If there was a negative it was that Cole Palmer failed to end what is now a seven-game run without a goal and in doing so missed a glut of presentable chances.
Relive all the action from Stamford Bridge here:
Chelsea 3-0 Southampton, 70 mins
Immediate chance for the youngster George as Fernandez slides a pass through, he hits it first time and goes for the near post but it flies over.
He snatched at the chance slightly, which is understandable in the circumstances
Chelsea 3-0 Southampton, 69 mins
A couple of Chelsea subs as Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and 19-year-old Tyrique George come on for Sancho and the very impressive Neto.
Chelsea 3-0 Southampton, 67 mins
Caicedo clatters into Fernandes and receives a yellow card for his troubles. He protests but he can’t really have any complaints
Chelsea 3-0 Southampton, 64 mins
Chelsea are pressing here but their execution is just a shade off. Neto looks set to score a second but misses his kick
Chelsea 3-0 Southampton, 59 mins
More bad news for Southampton as Walker-Peters goes down injured and then hobbles off. He’s replaced by Ryan Mannings
Tyler Dibling also comes on for Onuachu in a double change.
MISS! Chelsea 3-0 Southampton, 56 mins
That probably sums up the recent form of Palmer. He leans back and skews a shot over the bar.
The crowd expected him to curl that in.
SAVE! Chelsea 3-0 Southampton, 52 mins
Palmer’s cross is blocked out for a corner, which he takes quickly. Short to Fernandez who curls in a cross and Nkunku’s header is on target but Ramsdale does well to tip it over the bar.
The next corner is a more conventional one but Aribo heads clear.
Chelsea 3-0 Southampton, 50 mins
Guasto with a good slide tackle in the area to cleanly win the ball and put it out for a corner. He had to get that right.
The corner comes to nothing and Chelsea build from the back.
Chelsea 3-0 Southampton, 47 mins
Change at half-time for Southampton as Roy Keane’s future son-in-law Taylor Harwood-Bellis comes on in defence for James Bree.
The highly-rated Harwood-Bellis is just returning from injury
KICK-OFF! Chelsea 3-0 Southampton
Second half underway at Stamford Bridge. How many will Chelsea score?
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