Southampton’s struggles in the Premier League worsened as they suffered a humiliating 5-1 defeat to Chelsea at St Mary’s, with captain Jack Stephens sent off in a moment of madness.
The bottom-of-the-table Saints endured a nightmare evening, beginning with Axel Disasi’s early goal for Chelsea and compounded by Stephens’ red card in the 39th minute for pulling Marc Cucurella’s hair during a corner setup. The dismissal epitomized a dismal performance from Russell Martin’s side, who now sit seven points adrift of safety after their 11th defeat of the season.
Chelsea dominated the game from the outset. Disasi’s header from an Enzo Fernandez corner in the 5th minute gave the Blues an early advantage. Southampton briefly fought back, equalizing through Joe Aribo in the 11th minute following Kyle Walker-Peters’ fine work on the left flank.
However, Chelsea regained control shortly after, capitalizing on Southampton’s defensive errors. Goalkeeper Joe Lumley’s misplaced pass was intercepted by Noni Madueke, who set up Christopher Nkunku to slot into an empty net in the 17th minute. Madueke then made it 3-1 with a stunning individual effort in the 34th minute, curling the ball into the bottom corner after cutting inside Ryan Manning.
Southampton’s hopes of a comeback were further dented when Stephens was sent off following a VAR review. His reckless hair pull on Cucurella left the Saints down to 10 men, a setback they never recovered from.
Chelsea continued their onslaught in the second half. Cole Palmer tapped in his ninth goal of the season in the 76th minute after a brilliant run by Nkunku, and substitute Jadon Sancho rounded off the scoring with a powerful near-post finish three minutes from time.
The visitors could have scored more, striking the woodwork three times and creating a slew of chances. Despite Southampton’s brief flashes of promise, including a fine save by debutant Filip Jorgensen to deny Mateus Fernandes, the hosts were comprehensively outclassed.
Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea, now unbeaten in six league matches, were hailed by their travelling fans who chanted, “We’ve got our Chelsea back.” Meanwhile, Southampton’s woes deepen as Martin’s side continues to struggle with injuries, suspensions, and defensive frailties.
The victory sees Chelsea consolidate their position among the Premier League’s high flyers, while Southampton face an uphill battle to escape relegation.