BotleySaint

Still no-one protecting the defence then! Knife through butter

8 games gone and we've reverted to the failing team of last year (with ings the only exception) and still haven't worked out the best formation and strongest side.

About what they deserve really. Apart from a few long range efforts we've been awful.

I'd say survival is being optimistic. Our record is worse this year than last so far.

Not sure it'll help. I don't believe the squad is good enough mentally or skillwise.

Any glimmers of hope are snuffed out by awful defending. This has to be the most depressing saints team to watch for many many years.

Seriously? Bednarek getting loads of crucial blocks in first half. Guess we don't want defenders that defend...

Positives: only 1nil.

Hughes will probably bring Austin on at half time as his master stroke..

Attack vs defence. 91% possession for them last 5 mins.

Smashed it in.

Chelsea over cooking it so far fortunately

Given their squad and budget against ours you have to expect that

Bednarak awesome

Midfield missing so far.

Here we go

Today will unfold as per the Liverpool game. Chelsea 3-0 up within 20 mins meaning nothing to play for in the rest of the game. I'm not sure if that's better or worse than us holding out for 90 mins to concede a late Giroud goal on 90+6 mins.

Taken him a few seasons to get them that way though. Time he would not be given with us probably!

We just don't have those game changer type players like Walcott anymore.

Me too, but he usually takes a few games to get up to speed. Hopefully Hughes will give him more of a chance.

Still think we've got a problem with Lemina and Hojbjerg are paired in the middle. Needs someone less accident prone alongside one of them.

Still amazes me how we stayed up last year. Long season ahead, there is still some hope if Hughes is able to spot the obvious problems and make changes.

You'd think that surely NOW he will see we need a change at the back. If we roll out the same team next game then we have serious problems.

Too early to make that call. Hughes now (after 3 awful defensive showings) has the opportunity to see the current setup isn't working and make changes. If he does that, he's already an improvement on Pellegrino.

No chance he'll be going soon. My only complaint with him is persisting with the same failing defence week in week out when we have other options. And persisting with Austin who looks way way off the pace.