SAINTS made it back-to-back away wins with their most impressive result of the season.

Michael Obafemi stunned Chelsea at Stamford Bridge by scoring with Saints’ first shot on target, a clinical 30th-minute finish from Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s excellent pass.

Having been denied Saints’ second by Kepa early in the second half, Nathan Redmond then secured a memorable win by completing a wonderful move in the 73rd minute.

 

 

Saints defended with determination and intelligence throughout to clinch a second away win in six days, following last Saturday’s victory at Aston Villa.

Manager Ralph Hasenhuttl recalled striker Che Adams for his seventh Premier League start, with the in-form Danny Ings dropped to the bench, to ensure he is fresh for Saturday’s home game against Crystal Palace. Obafemi also returned to the starting XI in place of the injured Long (knee).

Obafemi and Adams impressed in their first Premier League start as a pair, but the Chelsea triumvirate of Michael Rudiger, Kurt Zouma and Fikayo Tomori stood firm until the opening goal.

Not until the 21st minute was there a shot from either side. Chelsea striker Callum Hudson-Odoi’s effort from inside the ‘D’ was deflected behind for a corner.

From it, Tomori headed the first effort on target, albeit tamely, into the arms of Alex McCarthy.

Ryan Bertrand, back at the club where he began his career, was booked for timewasting as early as the 29th minute as he prepared to take a throw-in.

But within a minute Saints were ahead with their first shot on target.

Saints won the ball on the right touchline and Hojbjerg’s pass beat two Chelsea players, including Tomori, and found Obafemi, who turned swiftly, cut inside Zouma and curled a wonderful finish with his left foot into the top-left corner.

It was a spectacular way for the teenager to register his second Premier League goal and his first for more than a year.

Chelsea attacked with more purpose for the rest of the first half and Mason Mount replaced Zouma at the start of the second.

But Saints still looked the more likely to score.

Redmond cut inside Rudiger and flashed a cross across the six-yard box that a sliding Adams just missed at the far post.

Another Redmond cross, this time with his right foot, curled just beyond the reach of Adams and Hojbjerg as Saints continued to threaten on the break.

Tammy Abraham kissed the roof of the Saints net with a curler from the corner of the McCarthy’s goalmouth.

But Chelsea’s frustration grew, with Jorginho booked for a foul on Hojbjerg.

Stephens read the danger to perfection when Mount put Abraham through and Kante was booked for fouling Adams in the centre circle as Saints continued to threaten on the counter-attack.

Redmond was denied by Kepa after being put in by Armstrong, but he made amends by finishing off a quite brilliant move in the 73rd minute.

Armstrong’s inch-perfect assist after patient build-up play involving several players was converted in front of the jubilant away following.

McCarthy tipped behind a 20-yarder as Chelsea tried to find a way back but once again this was Saints’ day away from home.

CHELSEA: Arrizabalaga, Rudiger, Zouma (Mount 46), Tomori, Azpilicueta, Jorginho, Kante, Emerson, Hudson-Odoi (Pulisic 67), Willian (Pedro 85) Abraham.
Subs: Caballero, Christensen, Barkley, Batshuayi.

SAINTS: McCarthy, Cedric, Bednarek, Stephens, Bertrand, Hojbjerg, Ward-Prowse, Redmond, Armstrong (Romeu 86), Obafemi (Ings 68), Adams (Boufal 80).
Subs: Gunn, Yoshida, Vestergaard, Danso.

Referee: Jonathan Moss.

Attendance: 40,651