EPL: Chelsea 1-0 Southampton
Marcos Alonso scored the only goal
Marcos Alonso scored the only goal as Chelsea overcame a stubborn Southampton side 1-0 at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues defender beat Fraser Forster with a low free-kick to give Chelsea an advantage they fully merited after they dominated the opening 45 minutes.
Saints were a difference force after the break and came close on more than one occasion to restoring parity as the champions were left clinging on at times near the end.
Antonio Conte's side dominated the first half in terms of possession, but struggled to put Forster's goal under serious threat.
Willian flashed a shot wide early on while the Brazilian later combined with Eden Hazard to tee up Alonso who saw his volley beaten away by the Saints stopper.
It looked as though the game would go in level at the break before Maya Yoshida was beaten by some clever play from Hazard and the retreating defender brought the Belgian to the floor in added time.
That was to prove costly when Alonso whipped a left-footed shot around the wall and low into the corner beyond Forster's outstretched arm.
To his credit, Saints boss Mauricio Pellegrino went more adventurous in the second half, sending on Charlie Austin and then Sofiane Boufal to muster more of a threat to Chelsea.
Austin was a menace and almost made an immediate impact, forcing himself through on Thibaut Courtois, only for the Chelsea keeper to smother his effort out for a corner.
Hazard thought he had doubled Chelsea's lead, but was undone by the offside flag after substitute Cesc Fabregas strayed offside in the build-up.
Austin twice threatened late, with Courtois was his equal both times, while Saints forced a succession of corners in the dying embers that left Chelsea on tenterhooks until the end.
Saints were a difference force after the break and came close on more than one occasion to restoring parity as the champions were left clinging on at times near the end.
Antonio Conte's side dominated the first half in terms of possession, but struggled to put Forster's goal under serious threat.
Willian flashed a shot wide early on while the Brazilian later combined with Eden Hazard to tee up Alonso who saw his volley beaten away by the Saints stopper.
It looked as though the game would go in level at the break before Maya Yoshida was beaten by some clever play from Hazard and the retreating defender brought the Belgian to the floor in added time.
That was to prove costly when Alonso whipped a left-footed shot around the wall and low into the corner beyond Forster's outstretched arm.
To his credit, Saints boss Mauricio Pellegrino went more adventurous in the second half, sending on Charlie Austin and then Sofiane Boufal to muster more of a threat to Chelsea.
Austin was a menace and almost made an immediate impact, forcing himself through on Thibaut Courtois, only for the Chelsea keeper to smother his effort out for a corner.
Hazard thought he had doubled Chelsea's lead, but was undone by the offside flag after substitute Cesc Fabregas strayed offside in the build-up.
Austin twice threatened late, with Courtois was his equal both times, while Saints forced a succession of corners in the dying embers that left Chelsea on tenterhooks until the end.