Southampton 0-2 Chelsea: Eden Hazard and Diego Costa inspire Blues

Full-time: Southampton 0-2 Chelsea

Antonio Conte's Blue boys go marching on, winning in impressive fashion on the south coast, despite failing to scale the peaks of last week. Still, I'm sure the Italian won't mind too much.

Until next time, folks.

Three minutes of time being added.

Another change for the away side: Diego Costa makes way for Michy Batshuayi for the last few minutes. The Blues are ticking off the seconds.

Antonio Conte is looking to sure up this result for the Blues now. Victor Moses gets a well deserved ovation from the Chelsea fans, as well as a big hug from his manager.

Moses comes close to adding a third goal for Chelsea, cutting in from the right side and unleashing a powerful effort with his left peg. That would've been a good reward for his impressive display this afternoon.

And then seconds later, Saints have the ball in the net - but only after Charlie Austin is correctly flagged offside.

Ten minutes left at St Mary's, then. Time for a comeback from the Saints, or will Chelsea coast home?

Bertrand and Tadic come off and McQueen and Højbjerg come on. Chelsea have made a change of their own, too.

And then, out of nowhere, a Davis header from distanced is deflected up into the air and onto the crossbar with Courtois beaten. Well, that moment took everyone by surprise - and will, perhaps, act as a wake-up call for the Blues.

Davis brings Pedro down and Conte is incensed that the Saints midfielder has not been handed a yellow card.

On second viewing, however, the Spanish winger appeared to be very willing to go to ground. Good call by the ref on this occasion.

Chelsea's latest counter-attack sees Hazard jink his way infield and get off a low, right-footed effort that is well stopped by the keeper. Good from the Belgian, though, who has continued his fine recent form today.

And to underline that point...

Charlie Austin heads over a cross from the left side and Southampton's search for a goal goes on. There's a distinct gulf in class between Chelsea's forwards, who carry a real cutting edge, and those of the Saints.

Southampton's threat has really dissipated in this second-half. They've not really looked like scoring since the break.

A huge goalmouth scramble sees Hazard, Costa and then Pedro all fluff chances to shoot at goal and then somehow - I don't know how - it remains at 2-0.

A goal appeared to be a certainty, there.

Boufal replaces Clasie for the Saints - but I fear it might be too little, too late from their viewpoint. Less than 30 minutes to go at St Mary's.

And now he's fluffed a MUCH more straight forward chance, blazing over a cross from the right flank. Oh well, you can't score 'em all.

GOAL: Southampton 0-2 Chelsea (Costa)

Diego Costa, take a bow! The in-form Spaniard has found the net with a brilliant curling effort from outside the box. Collecting the ball from the inside-left position and finding a pin-point finish with his right foot.

Game over!?

Chelsea really are starting to look a threat on the break, with Alonso and Moses being encouraged to get forward at every chance.

The Saints, I fancy, might need to run the risk of letting them go free in the hope of catching the attack-minded duo upfield.

Watching Antonio Conte on the touchline is exhausting in itself. The Italian is up on his feet, constantly ranting and raving at his players. I'm not sure I've ever seen such an animated boss.

Jose Fonte comes to Saints' rescue, making a last-ditch block from an Alonso cross that stops Hazard from tapping in a second from close range. That was brilliant from the centre-back and underlines why he is rated so highly.

Saints start the half on the front foot, before Hazard leads Chelsea from one end to the other and wins a corner. It comes to nothing, though, and the hosts are able to clear.

The players are back out at St Mary's and we're under way on the south coast.

Half-time: Southampton 0-1 Chelsea

The Blues lead at the break thanks to Eden Hazard, even though the Saints have largely dominated. Back for more in a bit, folks.

Diego Costa misses a potentially match-winning opening! He latches onto a well-timed through-pass from Nemanja Matic, races into the box and shoots low. But his powerful effort is save by the feet of Fraser Forster.

That really was a good chance for Antonio Conte's men.

After a decent spell of possession, Hazard drifts in off the left flank and then whips a right-footed effort straight into the arms of the keeper.

He shows his frustration, too, shouting to the skies in acknowledgement of the fact that he might have done better from just 20 yards.

Chelsea are, at last, starting to exert a bit of pressure, which means they've been able to ease the strain on their own backline.

It's not like they're creating chance after chance, mind you.

A rare foray forward from Victor Moses ends with the wing-back's goal-bound effort being deflected over the bar and behind for a corner. Saints eventually get it clear, though.

In fact, it's Tadic who hits it from distance and Courtois pushes the ball around the post. The Saints then win back-to-back corners, but Chelsea survive and continue to lead.

Alonso goes through the back of Tadic and a free-kick is awarded. What can the Saints do from here? It's about 30 yards out and Davis is stood over the ball...

Diego Costa has barely had a kick so far. Just that one semi-opening in the first five minutes. In fact, such is his detachment, Costa has not even ruffled any feathers.

Ryan Bertrand is seeing plenty of the ball for the Saints in the early stages, with Chelsea seemingly happy to sit back and for the hosts to play in front of them. Thus far, the full-back has been unable to produce any real quality.

I'd be curious to know what Antonio Conte is making of his side so far this afternoon. They're leading, yes, but there's a distinct lack of intensity about their pressing.

A deliberate tactic or something more?

Despite the scoreline, the Saints have actually made a decent start, seeing plenty of the ball and making the occasional half-opening. Sadly for them, they lack the quality of a Hazard in the final third - and that's the difference for the moment.

Pedro is penalise for a high foot, giving the Saints a free-kick in a dangerous position.

The ball is then lobbed into the area, where Charlie Austin sprints to meet it and batters the ball wide of the post. A decent chance, that.

A flashpoint now, as Davis (accidentally?) catches Victor Moses in the face with a stray elbow. Moses isn't happy and makes his point to the ref - but there's no card or foul given.

GOAL: Southampton 0-1 Chelsea (Hazard)

The Blues hit the front thanks to a piece of magic from Eden Hazard! The little Belgian receives the ball just inside the box from Victor Moses, before twisting and turning the full-back and then firing low through the legs of the keeper.

A perfect start for Chelsea, for whom Hazard is currently in the midst of some great form.

Hazard makes a good break down the right flank and looks to find Costa in the box, but the Spaniard cannot direct his effort goalwards. There's a good pace to the game in the early stages, though.

Ouch! Nemanja Matic commits an incredibly high tackle, showing his studs - and somehow escapes a booking. If it wasn't the first minute of the game...

Before the game, there will be a minute's silence.

Pre-match handshakes are done and dusted. Annnnnnnd... now we're under way, with both teams wearing their traditional colours.

Right, the players are in the tunnel at St Mary's and now begin their walk to the pitch. Kick-off is almost upon us on the south coast.

Just to keep you in the loop, Everton have beaten West Ham United 2-0 in the game at Goodison Park. Romelu Lukaku and Ross Barkley scored the goals for the Toffees.

After that result, Everton occupy sixth position in the Premier League table, while the Hammers are a lowly 16th.

The players are busily going through their preparations at the stadium. There are around 30 minutes to go until kick-off now.

Frank Lampard thinks Manchester City are the favourites to win the Premier League – although he is an admirer of new Chelsea boss Antonio Conte.

The former England international spent the bulk of his career with the West London club before enjoying a loan spell at the Etihad Stadium in the 2014/15 season.

Lampard is excited to see Conte and Pep Guardiola ply their trade in English football's top flight, but he has backed the latter to ultimately triumph.

Asked to name his title favourite, he told the BBC: "I think Manchester City. I think they've bought well – I love Stones. I think they've got the best goalscorer in the league in Aguero, he's a genius of a goalscorer. I loved being there for a year, being around him in training, he's a goal machine."

Breaking team news

For the hosts, Boufal and Hojbjerg are named on the bench. Meanwhile, John Terry is on the bench for the Blues, where he is joined by Willian.

Southampton: Forster, Martina, Fonte, Van Dijk, Bertrand, Romeu, Clasie, Davis, Tadic, Redmond, Austin

Subs: Taylor, McQueen, Yoshida, Hojbjerg, Ward-Browse, Boufal, Olomola

Chelsea: Courtois, Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Cahill, Moses, Kante, Matic, Alonso, Pedro, Diego Costa, Hazard

Subs: Begovic, Ivanovic, Terry, Chalobah, Oscar, Willian, Batshuayi

Pre-match thoughts

Antonio Conte: "There are five teams who are very close but we shouldn't look at the table, we must be focused on our work on the pitch. It's too early to talk about the table or the title. We must improve game by game and trust in the work, that's the most important thing."

Meanwhile, Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has taken plenty of positives for the future from the EFL Cup defeat to West Ham.

The Italian said he found new solutions to implement his 3-4-3 formations, with Pedro and Oscar impressing him in new respective roles at wing-back and in the middle of the park.

"I watched the video of the West Ham game. I think we played a good game with good intensity against a tough team. They played with the same players who played in their last league game. We started well but then conceded and that changed the details," Conte said in the press conference ahead of the Sunday trip to Southampton.

"I would have preferred to stay in the game and to have not conceded the second goal, but I saw a good reaction and spirit. We had chances to score, we could also have had a penalty."

"I saw a lot of things that can be useful for the future, for example I saw Pedro as wing-back and Oscar as one of the two midfielders, and then Oscar in a position like a striker. I had positive answers and I want to use that in the Premier League. Now I have more solutions."

Prior to the game, Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has said it is too early for Sir Alex Ferguson to write off his team's chances of winning the Premier League title this season.

Sir Alex named his former team Manchester United, along with Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham, as the five teams capable of winning the title this season.

"I respect a lot what he said, but I know that we are working very well," Conte was quoted as saying by Sky Sports. "I think now we are now in a good way to improve a lot and to become a team that can stay [in contention] until the end to get something.

"Our ambition must be always to play to win every game. Always. It's important. I try to transfer this to my players in every moment, in every day, every week, in every game. We must be ambitious. But to be ambitious you must work a lot."

Preview

Chelsea are one of the form teams in the league and have scored nine goals in their last three games, which has seen them beat Leicester City, Manchester United and Hull City.

It was their humiliating loss against Arsenal that kick started their campaign and a win over Southampton will see them return to the top four and be just one point behind joint league leaders Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool.

Preview

Southampton welcome in-form Chelsea to St Mary's on Sunday with both teams unbeaten in their last five and three league games, respectively.

Claude Puel will have his task cut out when Antonio Conte's team visit, but will be confident after they managed to hold on for a point when they played Manchester City.

Good afternoon and welcome to IBTimes UK's live coverage of Southampton vs Chelsea.

It's the final game of the weekend and it could be a cracker, with both sides having enjoyed some decent results of late.

Stay tuned for the build-up and team news...