Chelsea stretch PL lead to six after entertaining Southampton draw

Diego Costa hit the back of the net on Sunday

Chelsea had to settle for a 1-1 draw against a well-organised Southampton side despite taking an early lead.

In a game which saw the two best defences in the Premier League take on each other, it was always going to be a tight affair at Stamford Bridge. However, Southampton showed good discipline and stuck to their game plan and could not be begrudged a point.

After a quiet opening ten minutes Chelsea took the lead through Diego Costa, the striker getting on the end of a Branislav Ivanovic cross and heading home from close range. However questions will be asked by Saints boss Ronald Koeman as to how the striker went unchallenged for the header.

Southampton drew level just eight minutes later from the penalty spot. Sadio Mane ran through on goal and it was Nemanja Matic who brought him down. Despite Chelsea's protests Matic clearly fouled the Saints player and Dusan Tadic fired home from the spot.

Southampton were on the front foot for long spells in the first half and certainly weren't afraid to take the game to Chelsea. Thibaut Courtois made a couple of good saves, including a Tadic effort just before the half-hour mark that stung the palms of the Chelsea keeper.

Chelsea had a penalty appeal of their own turned down when Ivanovic was seemingly brought down by Tadic. It was only on second inspection that the contact between the two players was visible although the Blues defender was furious with the referee for not awarding him a spot-kick.

After the break Chelsea bounced back and dominated the game, especially in the latter stages with Fraser Forster making multiple noteworthy stops.

With just over a quarter-of-an-hour to go, the keeper pulled off a great double save, firstly from Cesc Fabregas, whose header was on target but didn't have the power to beat the keeper. The second stop from Eden Hazard was a great reaction save as he denied the Belgium international what appeared to be a certain goal.

Chelsea also hit the post when Costa managed to get his studs onto Willian's low shot back into the box. The ball deflected off former Atletico Madrid man Costa and looped agonisingly onto the post as Chelsea fans started to get that feeling that it just wasn't going to be their day.

Forster was then in the line of duty once again heading into stoppage time when a scramble in the box gave Chelsea three bites of the cherry.

Firstly Loic Remy forced a point-blank save from the England international goalkeeper and John Terry then had the next attempt cleared off the line by James Ward-Prowse. Chelsea were left with their heads in their hands as Terry pulled the last of those shots inches wide of the post as Southampton clung on.

The visitors saw out the remainder of stoppage time and go back to St Mary's proud of their efforts while the hosts will feel unlucky not have taken more from the game.

Chelsea are now six points clear of Manchester City with a game in hand against bottom-of-the-table Leicester City so, despite what will feel like two dropped points for the hosts, they have still managed to extend their lead to the point where the title is theirs to lose.

Southampton meanwhile have earned another valuable point in what has been an incredible season for Koeman and the Saints who remain in contention for a Europa League place as we head into the final stretch of the campaign.