February 18, (THEWILL) – Chelsea’s struggles in the English Premier League continued on Saturday, as they were defeated 1-0 by Southampton at Stamford Bridge.
To make matters worse, the Blues lost captain, Cesar Azpilicueta, to what appeared to be a serious injury in the second half. Azpilicueta was accidentally kicked in the head by Sekou Mara while defending a corner, resulting in a lengthy treatment on the field before he was stretchered off.
James Ward-Prowse’s first-half free-kick proved to be the decisive moment of the game, as Southampton claimed all three points against Graham Potter’s side. Despite Chelsea’s attempts to rally in the second half, with substitute, Raheem Sterling, going close, Saints held on for a crucial victory under caretaker manager, Ruben Selles.
This loss extends Chelsea’s winless league run to four games, a worrying statistic for the Blues who had early ambitions of challenging for the title this season and had invested millions of pounds to make it happen.
Chelsea now face a tough challenge against Tottenham Hotspur in their next EPL match, while Southampton will take on Leeds United in a relegation clash at Elland Road.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
