PL2 Report: Saints 1-4 Chelsea

Chelsea opened the scoring inside two minutes; Jon Russell connecting superbly to a through ball from Marcel Lewis to volley into the Saints net.

Dave Horseman’s side didn’t back down, levelling the scores just five minutes later through Josh Sims’ second goal in as many games.

But Chelsea responded themselves with two goals of their own; Thierno Ballo and then Myles Peart-Harris scoring within five minutes of each other to give the blues some breathing space.

It took until the 72nd minute for the visitors to get their fourth; a second for Peart-Harris as he fired into the bottom corner to put the game beyond all doubt.

Saints started the game with a mixture of returning loanees and academy regulars; Christoph Klarer coming into central defence whilst Dan N’Lundulu partnered Ramello Mitchell in attack.

The game got off to a very fast start; Russell latching onto the end of a Lewis through ball and volleying past Harry Lewis to give Chelsea a lead inside two minutes.

But Saints were not deterred by the early set-back, responding before the ten-minute mark through Sims after N’Lundulu’s assist, his second goal in as many games.

The goals didn’t stop there; Chelsea grabbed their second of the evening in the 16th minute, Lewis again the provider as Ballo tapped home from close range.

A third for the visitors wasn’t too far away either, Ballo this time turning provider to Peart-Harris who couldn’t miss from two yards out.

The game quietened down as it edged towards the half hour mark, both sides enjoying an even share of possession but Chelsea continuing to look the more dangerous going forward.

Saints began to get their passing game together as the half wore on; Sims, N’Lundulu and Mitchell combining particularly well going forward.

N’Lundulu himself had a chance on 38 minutes to grab a goal back for the hosts, latching onto a Caleb Watts cross but drilling his shot wide of the near post.

Sims was next to test the Chelsea keeper; Mitchell held up the ball from a throw in before laying the ball into the path of the Saints midfielder, who ran at the Blues’ defence before firing a low effort into the hands of Lucas Bergstrom.

Saints made just the one change at the break, with Alex Jankewitz coming on for Allan Tchaptchet and Tom O’Connor slotting back into central defence from midfield.

The game continued to be a fiery encounter into the second half; a heavy challenge from Sims was greeted by a mass huddle of players from both sides and a booking both for the Saints man and Chelsea’s Ian Maatsen for his reaction.

Another glorious chance came for Saints in the 64th minute; Will Ferry doing brilliantly to shift three Chelsea men during his strong run down the left wing, before laying the ball off to Sims who could only drill his shot wide.

Seconds later N’Lundulu was inches away from connecting to a right-sided cross, with the ball eventually going right the way across goal as the hosts pushed Chelsea back.

But despite these chances the next goal of the game came for the visitors; Peart-Harris with his second of the game on 72 minutes into the bottom right corner.

Saints lost a bit of bite following the goal, with the game turning into more of a midfield battle.

The battle became too heated once more two minutes from time, with Ferry’s heavy challenge seeing him sent off for a second bookable offence.

Stoppage time at the end of the 90 highlighted how much of a stop-start half it had been, with the referee warranting five additional minutes.

Chelsea tried to take advantage of the extra man in the remaining minutes, however the game ended 4-1 in their favour on a night to forget for Saints.

Their attentions now turn to the EFL Trophy on Tuesday night, where they visit Stevenage at the Lamex Stadium.

Head to Head Stats

• Possession (%)
  52

  48
• Shots
  10

  7
• Shots on target
  4

  6
• Corners
  3

  8
• Passes Complete
  236

  209