Soton vs. Chelsea predictions: More misery for Hughes, goals for Giroud
Chelsea face two of their favourite punching bags: Southampton and Mark Hughes. Our staff predict an end to Olivier Giroud’s goal drought and a continuation of the Blues’ winning ways.
Mark Hughes played 102 games for Chelsea and has faced his former club 32 times since becoming a manager. They have not been happy reunions, at least not for him. Hughes’ record against the Blues is 5W-4D-23L, three more games than against any other team but seven more losses. Things probably won’t get any brighter for him today.
Scott Brant: Southampton 0 – 1 Chelsea. At the risk of ChelsTwit coming down upon me, Chelsea suffer through another win. Yes, winning is most important. Sometimes the most important wins are the ones you grind out, because you learn from those matches. With that being said, somewhere around the hour mark Eden Hazard will get Maurizio Sarri off the hook and net a goal for Chelsea to stay undefeated.
Kevin Peacock: 0 – 2. Chelsea saw off MOL Vidi in midweek courtesy of an Alvaro Morata goal, but he’s likely to drop down to the bench for the visit to Southampton. The Saints are struggling this season, but Mark Hughes will inevitably get them to raise their game against the Blues.
It took the introduction of Olivier Giroud last season to get the win. Whilst Morata appears under most pressure, Giroud is yet to score. However, he does like to score against the Saints, who top the Giroud versus stats with eight goals against. Blues to win 2-0 through Giroud and Hazard.
Hugo Amaya: 0 – 2. Sarri will definelty want a strong result in this game. Giroud, Pedro and Ross Barkley will start and have an aggressive attacking impact in the game. The Blues will dominate most of game, but there will be one or two scary moments when hit on the counter. However, a much needed and well-deserved solid win.
Travis Tyler: 0 – 5. The Blues have beat Mark Hughes like a drum in recent outings and it feels like there is no better team for Maurizio Sarri’s men to put it all together. An Eden Hazard brace pairs with one goal by the striker, one by the opposite winger, and one from the midfield.
Gareth Southgate has little use for Ruben Loftus-Cheek on a Chelsea bench. dark. Next
George Perry: 0 – 3. Mark Hughes will once again oblige Chelsea by trying to win this game. That will create all the space Chelsea need within and behind Southampton’s lines to play some real no-foolin’ Sarrismo. Eden Hazard, Olivier Giroud and Alvaro Morata (on as a substitute) to score as Hughes is left to rue not parking the bus.