Saint Albert

Hoj had space. It wasn’t a hospital pass.

Except for a brief spell, that was a thoroughly ****e first half, showing a huge gulf in quality. Hoedt did well to dispossess Hazard right before the Chelsea goal, Hoj had some space when he received Hoedt’s pass, then turned into trouble. If either player chose to clobber the ball, it would probably have been OK. Chelsea’s most dangerous player was left wide open when Hoedt went with others to regain possession after Hoj lost the ball, and Lemina did not pick Hazard up. Bad decision making in a very dangerous location. Ings really should have scored. He had a wide open net and skied it.

Free kick to the right of the penalty box for Saints...Bertrand gets a yellow for protesting the referee’s positioning of the free kick. The free kick results in nothing and it’s half time.

Yes. Yes it is.

Since last December, Leicester have won more games at St. Marys than Southampton...another statistical gem from the commentators.

“It’s like a training session” - co-commentator Matthew Upson.

Hoedt did well to snuff out Hazard at the top of the penalty area, passed it to Hoj who loses it to Barclay, who plays in Hazard unmarked down the middle of the penalty area for Chelsea’s first goal.

Hazard scores...

Chelsea think they should have a penalty from Hoedt on Giroud...replays show Hoedt missed the ball.

Ings should have scored...what a miss. Great play down the left flank by Redmond and Bertrand.

We just had a shot at goal from Gabbiadini....

Carrillo came on as a 77th minute substitute in Leganes’ 1-0 loss to Real Betis on Sunday.

Well done Saints!

Nice set-up by Redmond, tidy finish by Ings.

Vestergaard has the night off altogether I see.

Carrillo started on the bench for today’s game against Barcelona, which Leganes are presently winning 2-1.

The Sun (yes I know) claiming that Hughes is also looking at Lille winger Nicholas Pepe. You have to go all the way to the end of this Boakye article to get to it... https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/7344894/richmond-boakye-chelsea-southampton-belgrade-jiangsu/

It was easy to get behind him when he came in because he wasn’t Pellegrino. Pellegrino was so poor, so out of his depth and his departure so ridiculously delayed, many average managers would have looked decent in comparison. It was a measure of the position that the club were in at the time that bringing Hughes in was a good idea. I’m not a big Mark Hughes supporter but based on the amazing patience lavished on Pellegrino, the club simply won’t replace Hughes anytime soon so I don’t see the point in getting on his back this early in the season. Ralph, Ross and Les (whoever it is that makes the final decisions) are too gun shy to act when it is needed. We’d have to have one foot in the abyss for them to fire Hughes.

FT 3-0.

WE HAVE A SAINTS SHOT ON GOAL!

Liverpool score again, but it’s offside. Numerous good chances for them there.

This second half so far reminds me of the Pellegrino Saints, a decent amount of possession in the middle third of the pitch, but absolutely no penetration.

Austin on for Long.

Austin about to come on, say the commentators.

Oddly quiet at Anfield. I can hear the away fans singing OWTS.