Gary Lineker took an amusing aim at one particular decision from Graham Potter as Chelsea fell to yet another damaging defeat, this time against relegation candidates Southampton.
The Blues fell to another miserable reverse in West London on Saturday afternoon - the Saints’ walking away with a slender 1-0 success courtesy of a James Ward-Prowse free-kick. The defeat sees Chelsea extend their woeful run with now ten losses in their last 16 games in all competitions.
The Blues looked disjointed throughout the afternoon with just five shots on target throughout the 90 minutes. Boss Potter made clear his displeasure at the break with a double substitution.
Kalidou Koulibaly and David Datro Fofana - the striker making his first start for the Blues since a January move from Molde - were hauled off at half-time in place of Raheem Sterling and Wesley Fofana - a move that appeared to assume Lineker. Taking to Twitter during the clash, the former striker wrote: “Potter reacts by taking off Fofana and putting on Fofana”
The changes did not pay dividends for the Blues who failed to find an equaliser and remain firmly rooted in tenth place in the Premier League. Lineker had also given his thoughts on the match in general.
He claimed that Potter’s job could well be under even more scrutiny following Ward-Prowse’s winning goal. “Yet another goal from a freekick for @JamesWardProws8 gives Saints the lead at Stamford Bridge. The Potter seat gets hotter,” Lineker wrote.
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It goes without saying that Chelsea will be keen to get back on track sooner rather than later. The Blues face Tottenham next weekend in a London derby that looks key to the respective European hopes of both sides.
That is followed by a meeting with Leeds United at Stamford Bridge before the second-leg of their Champions League last-16 tie with Borussia Dortmund. Potter’s side fell to defeat in the first-leg at the Signal Iduna Park - Karim Adeyemi’s goal proving to be enough for the German giants to earn a slender advantage.
Despite his withdrawal against Southampton, David Datro Fofana will hope to earn more opportunities over the coming weeks. The 20-year-old has already made three appearances for Chelsea since his mid-season arrival.
Elsewhere, Wesley Fofana will be optimistic about earning a place back in the heart of defence as Potter attempts to find a solution to his side’s current malaise. The Frenchman arrived for big money in the summer from Premier League rivals Leicester.
Persistent injury issues have limited him to just seven appearances for Chelsea so far in his debut season at Stamford Bridge - five of those coming in the Premier League.
