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Chelsea logo
Premier League
Mar 15, 2015 at 1.30pm UK
 
Southampton logo

1-1

Costa (11')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Tadic (19' pen.)

Player Ratings: Chelsea 1-1 Southampton

Sports Mole rates all of the players who featured in the 1-1 draw between Chelsea and Southampton at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea were held to a 1-1 draw by Southampton at Stamford Bridge this afternoon as they missed the chance to move eight points clear at the top of the table.

Diego Costa opened the scoring for the hosts after just 11 minutes, but the lead did not last long as Dusan Tadic fired home the equaliser from the penalty spot.

Here, Sports Mole looks at who stood out during an entertaining clash in West London.


Chelsea's Brazilian-born Spanish striker Diego Costa celebrates scoring the opening goal during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Southampton at Stamford Bridge in London on March 15, 2015© Getty Images

CHELSEA

Goal

Thibaut Courtois: Denied Tadic, Mane and Alderweireld with decent stops to keep his side in the game. Unfortunate not to keep the penalty out with his trailing leg. (7/10)

Defence

Branislav Ivanovic: Provided the assist for the opening goal with a beauty of a cross in to Costa. Had a claim for a penalty as well, but went down too dramatically for the referee to give it. (6/10)

Gary Cahill: Made a couple of very important blocks but endured a difficult match against Long, who never gave him a moment's rest. Had his lack of pace exposed at times. (6/10)

John Terry: Had two bites of the cherry to win it for his side at the death, but could not convert. Also found things difficult against Long at times, with balls over the top causing him problems. (6/10)

Cesar Azpilicueta: Was unusually caught out one or two times defensively, but never fatally so. Got forward when possible and tested Forster with a powerful drive late on. (6/10)

Midfield

Nemanja Matic: Conceded the penalty with a rash challenge in the box and was fortunate not to be sent off for a second yellow right at the start of the second half. Was hauled off by Mourinho shortly afterwards. (5/10)

Cesc Fabregas: Will the real Cesc Fabregas please stand up? Has not been at his best for a while now and he and Matic were outplayed in the middle of the park - something that has happened with increased regularity in recent weeks. (5/10)

Willian: Nothing special from the Brazilian, who was the only change from the midweek Champions League game. Energetic as ever without really making a difference. (6/10)

Oscar: Squandered a couple of glorious chances in the second half which could have given his side all three points. (5/10)

Eden Hazard: Quiet in the first half but grew into the game and really came to life in the second. Such a handful for defenders to deal with when he is in full flow, but could not find a breakthrough. (7/10)

Attack

Diego Costa: Ended his seven-game goal drought with a simple header, but was largely feeding off scraps in the first half. Looked more like his old self at times today after a dip in form of late. (7/10)

Substitutes

Ramires: Replaced Matic less than 10 minutes into the second half and helped to turn the game in Chelsea's favour. (6/10)

Loic Remy: Brought on as Chelsea went in search of a winner, but was denied by a fine stop from Forster late on. (6/10)

Juan Cuadrado: Came on for the limping Willian, but was unable to make the difference in the closing stages. (6/10)


Dusan Tadic of Southampton celebrates scoring their first goal with Morgan Schneiderlin and team mates during the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and Southampton at Stamford Bridge on March 15, 2015© Getty Images

SOUTHAMPTON

Goal

Fraser Forster: Made a few vital stops in the second half to deny the likes of Oscar, Hazard and Remy when all three probably should have scored. Not much he could have done about the goal. (8/10)

Defence

Nathaniel Clyne: Defended really well throughout, coping with Hazard for long spells and forcing the Belgian to drift inside in search of joy. Surely in line for another England call-up. (7/10)

Jose Fonte: Was right at the heart of Southampton's defensive effort in the second half, giving Chelsea nothing through the middle of the park. Marking was suspect for Chelsea's goal, but that is the only blot on his copybook today. (7/10)

Toby Alderweireld: Back in the side for his first appearance since January and looked as though he had never been away. Helped to keep Chelsea at bay in the second half with a fine display. (7/10)

Ryan Bertrand: Put one really good, low cross into the box that caused panic in the Chelsea area, but other than that it was a solid, low-key performance against his former club. (6/10)

Midfield

Steven Davis: Spent much of his time on the wing as Southampton adopted more of a 4-4-2 formation. Put in a decent performance in the first half especially before being taken off with 20 minutes remaining. (6/10)

Victor Wanyama: Helped to screen the defence very well as his physicality got the better of Fabregas et al in the middle of the park. Faded a little as the match wore on, but an important contribution. (7/10)

Morgan Schneiderlin: Magnificent performance from the man of the match. Broke up attack after attack and was the main reason why Southampton won the crucial midfield battle. (8/10)

Dusan Tadic: Got the goal, but it was not the best penalty and he was slightly fortunate to see it beat the trailing leg of Courtois. Produced some magnificent footwork in the area to almost add an assist, only for Long's effort to be blocked. (6/10)

Attack

Sadio Mane: A real livewire up front, particularly in the first half. Repeatedly troubled the Chelsea defence with his pace and also won the penalty for his side. (8/10)

Shane Long: A bundle of energy. His inclusion was a shrewd one as he offered more in behind the Chelsea defence than Pelle would have. Terry and Cahill found him a tricky customer and he played his part in a good team performance. (7/10)

Substitutes

Filip Djuricic: Came on for Tadic with just under 20 minutes left and, one nasty challenge on Willian aside, did a good job for his side as they held on for a point. (6/10)

James Ward-Prowse: Introduced at the same time as Djuricic and did a similar job as the Saints weathered a late Chelsea storm. (6/10)

Graziano Pelle: Came on for the closing stages and did not have time to make an impact. (6/10)


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Southampton's Northern Irish midfielder Steven Davis watches as Chelsea's Brazilian-born Spanish striker Diego Costa's effort comes back off the post during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Southampton at Stamford Bridge in Lo
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