Southampton did not look like the team with a caretaker in charge. Liberated after terminating their brief, tortured relationship with Nathan Jones, the Premier League’s bottom side turned up at Stamford Bridge, found Graham Potter in a muddle and emerged triumphant after punishing Chelsea’s complacency with a beautiful free-kick from James Ward-Prowse.
It has been a while since Southampton, who are three points off 17th place, have shown this much spirit and organisation. The transformation was remarkable. Rubén Sellés had been given less than a week to put a plan in place, but Southampton, who had lost nine of their previous 10 league games, were inspired, fighting hard and somehow holding firm during a frantic second half.
