Chelsea 4-2 Southampton: Costa keeps leaders on title track

Diego Costa (No 19) scores his first and Chelseas third goal against Southampton with a diving header. Picture: Nick Potts/PA Wire

Cesc Fabregas, Costa and Eden Hazard were substitutes in last Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final win over Spurs, largely because of the proximity of this fixture. All three were instrumental as Antonio Conte’s side moved within 12 points of the title with five games remaining.

Hazard scored Chelsea’s first following a Fabregas through ball and Costa lay-off.

Gary Cahill, back after  gastroenteritis, headed in Chelsea’s second to give the hosts a half-time lead after former Blues midfielder Oriel Romeu netted for Saints. Costa notched his 50th Premier League goal from a Fabregas pass to end a seven-match scoreless run early in the second half and added a late fourth before Ryan Bertrand’s late consolation.

Chelsea’s prospects of a double in Conte’s first season as head coach remain alive. They play Arsenal in the FA Cup final on 27 May and will hope to have wrapped up the league by then, with Sunday’s trip to Everton the most difficult proposition in their final five games.

This was Chelsea’s first home game since it was announced that John Terry would be leaving in the summer following 22 years of service. The club captain came off the substitutes’ bench for his 714th appearance and first in the league since November. Terry, who has won 14 major trophies at Chelsea, could finish the season lifting more silverware.

Southampton were playing for the first time in ten days, since a 3-0 home loss to Manchester City, and Conte had complained about Chelsea’s schedule. His decision to start Hazard, Costa and Fabregas on the bench against Spurs was vindicated, as was the call to restore the trio – and Cahill – to the starting line-up here.

Five minutes in, Fabregas’ long ball found Costa, who delayed and laid the ball off for Hazard to shoot first time across Fraser Forster. It was the Belgium playmaker’s 15th league goal of the season.

But Chelsea’s lead lasted just 20 minutes as they conceded for an 11th straight league game. Manolo Gabbiadini turned a corner back into the six-yard box and Romeu tapped in.

N’Golo Kante, the newly crowned Professional Footballers’ Association player of the year, soon showed his brilliance. He weaved by three Saints players in the right channel, but his cross towards Costa was intercepted.

Chelsea took a half-time lead when Saints failed to clear. Kante returned the ball towards Marcos Alonso who headed back across goal and Cahill rose above Costa’s acrobatics to head in.

Costa left the field at half-time squabbling like schoolboys with Jack Stephens, but soon had the goal he was so desperate to claim.

Hazard drove at Saints down the right before passing to Fabregas. And Costa held off Bertrand to head in Fabregas’ pin-point cross, claiming his half-century of Premier League goals in 85 appearances.

Southampton would not roll over and Conte repeatedly urged his defenders to stay focused. Forster spread himself to deny Kante on the counter before Conte called on Terry for the final four minutes for his first appearance since the FA Cup win at Wolves in February.

Terry was roundly cheered and there was further delight for home fans when Costa exchanged passes with Hazard, then Pedro, before driving the ball in.

There was still time for Chelsea to concede a second as Cedric Soares’ cross was headed in by ex-Blues man Bertrand.