Back to back victories have seen Chelsea make the perfect start to a long stretch of winnable games that will surely dictate their prospects for the season.
They now have a great opportunity to record three successive wins for the first time under Frank Lampard as they travel to St Mary’s to take on a goal-shy Southampton side in the midst of an identity crisis under Ralph Hasenhuttl.
Chelsea’s late winner inspired images of a team who have now managed to successfully merge style with substance. A game which has so often got away from the Blues this season ended with jubilant celebrations not only of a vital three points in the Champions League but also the ability of Lampard’s young side to regain their composure under hostile conditions and dominate proceedings before converting this into a well worked and ruthless winning goal.
Chelsea do however have players returning to fitness and form at a startling rate and there is reason to believe that the Blues can really kick on over the winter period, and with Lampard – recently nominated for his first Premier League manager of the month, learning more and more how to combine expansive play with ample amounts of game management in order to ground out results when the opportunity presents itself there is a stream of optimism heading into Sunday’s game.
