Latest: Chelsea 0 Southampton 1 – nightmare start for the Blues

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Jay Rodriguez gave Southampton the lead after only 13 seconds following a terrible error by Michael Essien.

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

Juan Mata was recalled to the Chelsea starting line-up along with the fit-again Fernando Torres, while Essien’s surprise inclusion meant Frank Lampard dropped to the bench.

The high-flying Saints, enjoying the club’s best start to a Premier League season, have won all six league games in which they have opened the scoring this term.

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

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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