"CRAZY football, crazy Chelsea," chimed a dazed Blues' boss Claudio Ranieri, who had seen his championship-chasing Chelsea well and truly floored by a spectacular Southampton comeback.

At half-time, the Kings Road millionaires swaggered off the pitch 2-1 to the good, and feeling invincible.

Eidur Gudjohnsen and Jimmy Hasselbaink had fired them into an interval lead.

The Icelandic forward stabbed the ball home after 19 minutes following Graeme Le Saux's left-wing cross was headed on by Haselbaink, goalkeeper Paul Jones reacted well to beat the ball out, but Gudjohnsen got to the rebound before Wayne Bridge to score.

Then as Saints' back four tried to spring an offside trap after 26 minutes, Hasselbaink shrugged off Claus Lundekvam, collected William Gallas's pass, and nailed his 15th goal of the season.

Earlier, James Beattie had given Southampton a scorching start with a superb 35-yard free-kick which rifled past Carlo Cudicini in the Chelsea goal. You won't see a better free-kick - crisp, well hit, and arrowed into the top left-hand corner.

But after that it was a fired-up Blues who dominated the game. Hasselbaink went one-on-one with Jones after 26 minutes but wasted the chance, while Sam Dalla Bona with a volley and Le Saux with a chip, also went close.

There was something of a collective arrogance about Chelsea as they lined up for the second half. We'll just turn up and collect the points, they thought.

What they hadn't counted on was one of the most battling and combative performances by a Southampton team this season.

"I definitely still thought we would get something out of the game at half-time," admitted boss Gordon Strachan. "We changed people after the interval. We were a lot braver and we trusted each other more."

"At the end of the first half, I thought it would maybe be the same as against Bolton, but Southampton played very well in the second half," added Ranieri.

It all started when Dalla Bona was sent sprawling by Anders Svensson in the 54th minute midway in the Saints' half. Chelsea thought they should have had a free-kick, but referee Eddie Wolstenholme waved play on.

The ball broke to Williams who launched a 40-yard ball over John Terry and into the path of Marian Pahars, who outpaced the Chelsea defender to bury the ball. Two-two and game on.

"That was a fantastic ball," added Strachan. "Williams is getting better all the time. He has got so much ability and he is enjoying a new lease of life by coming to Southampton - I've got to say that, cos he's giving me a lift home tonight!"

It was a turning point, however. Southampton's defence, which had seemed so pedestrian in the first half to the lightning raids by Gudjohnsen and Hasselbaink, suddenly found an extra yard or two of pace.

The midfield stepped up a gear with Chris Marsden and Rory Delap again outstanding. And the front two of Pahars and Beattie exposed huge chinks in Chelsea's vulnerable defence.

Chelsea simply collapsed and Saints prospered big-time. They took their chances and hammered home their advantage with some intelligent football, showing tremendous character and spirit.

It was no surprise then that Saints took the lead after 63 minutes. Paul Telfer chipped in a corner to the near post, which Terry could not clear, and Marsden arrived unmarked to head past Cudicini.

The Yorkshireman almost grabbed a second goal seven minutes later. Pahars picked him out with a pin-point cross but Marsden headed wide.

However Pahars found his man two minutes later. The Latvian hugged the right-hand touchline, looked up and saw Beattie making a run into the box, swung the ball over and Saints' number nine despatched a cool left-foot volley.

Ranieri tried to rally his troops late on, throwing on Gianfranco Zola and Mikael Forssell. But as Chelsea threw men forward, Saints held firm with a steely resolve which is becoming a regular pattern of their play.

Jones had to be alert as Frank Lampard, Le Saux and Hasselbaink had efforts on goal late on, but the rewards were Southampton's - and deservedly so.

Strachan punched the air in delight and hugged his coaching staff at the final whistle.

What a great way to celebrate Hogmany for the wee Scotsman!