Southampton - 1 Chelsea - 1:SOCCER/English FA Premiership: Frank Lampard often struggled to produce his best form for Chelsea last season but he is having the desired impact this time around. Less than a fortnight after popping up with the winner at Charlton, he saved his team from defeat last night.
Chelsea were behind to a well-taken strike by Fabrice Fernandes when Lampard produced the sort of late burst into the area which made him so dangerous in his time at West Ham. Collecting a pass from Eidur Gudjohnsen, he clipped in an equaliser to deny a highly committed Southampton.
After days of speculation about the futures of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Gudjohnsen, this was a test of Chelsea's ability to concentrate on the job in hand.
Hasselbaink was not significantly involved early on as Chelsea looked to get their wide players, Boudewijn Zenden and Jesper Gronkjaer, into threatening areas.
William Gallas ought to have forced Paul Jones into a save at the very least when Gianfranco Zola's flick culminated in a cross falling at his feet. But the centre-half seemed screwed his shot wide.
Southampton's best moments tended to come down the left flank via Chris Marsden or Wayne Bridge, the latter crossing into the area on the half-hour to force Carlo Cudicini to make a fine save from James Beattie's header.
Claudio Ranieri tried to shake things up at half-time by bringing on Gudjohnsen for Hasselbaink. It almost reaped instant reward when Zola sent the Icelander through but Gudjohnsen's shot drifted wide.
That looked costly when Southampton scored shortly after. Fernandes began the move with a pass to Marsden and, after Celestine Babayaro failed to clear Marsden's cross, the Frenchman showed neat footwork before beating Cudicini from the edge of the box. When Michael Svensson came close minutes later, Chelsea's prospects did not look bright.
Guardian Service
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.
Referee: C Foy
