Latest: Chelsea 2 Southampton 1 – Blues battle back at the Bridge

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Chelsea lead at Stamford Bridge after goals from Gary Cahill and John Terry turned the match on its head.

A bizarre error by Michael Essien led to Jay Rodriguez scoring for Southampton after only 13 seconds.

But Cahill levelled from close-range nine minutes into the second half before the recalled Juan Mata crossed for skipper Terry to head home.

Essien, making his first Premier League start of the season, inexplicably lobbed the ball towards his own goal and over Cahill, enabling Rodriguez to nip in and shoot past the exposed Petr Cech.

Chelsea pressed for an equaliser but Artur Boruc produced fine stops to keep out Oscar’s header from an excellent right-wing cross by Fernando Torres, who also had a header saved by the Saints keeper.

Boruc’s 41st-minute save from Oscar was the Brazilian’s final contribution as he was withdrawn in favour of Frank Lampard in what appeared to be a tactical switch by boss Jose Mourinho, who then replaced Essien with Demba Ba at half-time.

And Ba was involved in the equaliser, which came after Lampard’s free-kick was tipped over by Boruc.

The resulting corner from Mata was met by the head of Branislav Ivanovic and after Ba poked the ball against the post, Cahill was able to nod over the line.

Worse followed for the visitors when Boruc went off with what looked like a hand injury and was replaced by Paulo Gazzaniga, who was soon picking the ball out of his net.

Mata served up a perfect delivery from the left and Terry sent a firm header into the far corner of the net.

Chelsea: Cech; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta; Essien (Ba 45), Ramires; Mata, Oscar (Lampard 42), Hazard; Torres.
Subs: Cole, Mikel, Schurrle, Willian.

Southampton: Boruc, Clyne, Fonte, Lovren, Shaw, Wanyama, Schneiderlin, Ward-Prowse, Lallana, Rodriguez, Osvaldo.
Subs: Gazzaniga, Yoshida, Lambert, S Davis, Cork, Chambers, Hooiveld.

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