The Albany Gazette - Chelsea climb to fourth after routing Saints

Enzo Maresca's side got back on track after three successive defeats with a dominant display at Stamford Bridge.

Nkunku put the Blues ahead and Neto doubled their lead before Levi Colwill bagged the third just before the break.

Marc Cucurella capped Chelsea's biggest league win since thrashing Southampton 5-1 in December.

Pointed questions were being asked about Maresca after Chelsea were beaten at Aston Villa on Saturday, a limp performance that followed successive defeats to Brighton in the Premier League and FA Cup.

Underlining the growing frustration at Chelsea, over a hundred fans gathered outside the Bridge to protest against Todd Boehly's ownership group before kick-off, chanting "we want our Chelsea back" and singing former owner Roman Abramovich's name.

But Maresca had insisted he was "more sure" than ever that Chelsea were on the right track and they repaid his belief with a convincing result, albeit against a moribund team rooted to the foot of the table.

Chelsea's third league win in 11 matches revived their bid to qualify for the Champions League for the first time since 2022.

Manchester City and Newcastle can move back above Chelsea if they beat Tottenham and Liverpool respectively on Wednesday.

Southampton have a meagre nine points from 27 matches, with 11 goals conceded in their last three league games.

No wonder boss Ivan Juric branded their season a "disaster" this week.

With last year's promotion a distant memory, Southampton look set to replicate the 2022-23 campaign, when they were relegated after finishing bottom.

- Rampant Chelsea -

Maresca kept faith with Filip Jorgensen despite the keeper's blunder leading to Marco Asensio's winner for Villa on Saturday.

Southampton threatened to put Jorgensen to the test with an incisive raid early on, but Paul Onuachu fired over from a good position inside the area.

Cole Palmer should have put Chelsea ahead with a close-range effort, but Saints keeper Aaron Ramsdale made a fine save.

It was only a temporary reprieve for Southampton as Chelsea took the lead in the 24th minute.

Tosin Adarabioyo headed a corner towards the far post, where Nkunku netted with a brave stooping header that sent him crashing into Ramsdale.

The French forward celebrated his 14th goal this season in trademark fashion by blowing a blue balloon.

Jorgensen preserved Chelsea's lead as he leapt to save Onuachu's towering header.

And Chelsea made the most of that escape to put the result beyond doubt with a blistering spell before half-time.

In the 36th minute, Nkunku's pass gave Neto a clear sight of goal and he drilled a clinical finish past Ramsdale for his fifth goal this term.

Neto turned provider in the 44th minute as his free-kick was perfectly placed for Colwill to take advantage of Southampton's sloppy marking with a thumping header that gave Ramsdale no chance.

The only intrigue in the second half was whether Palmer would end his goal drought.

The England forward hasn't scored since January 14 and Chelsea's leading scorer this season wore a rueful smile when he blazed over to extend his barren run to seven games.

Cucurella ensured the scoreline reflected Chelsea's superiority when he slotted home from Tyrique George's 78th minute pass.

(B.Smith--TAG)