Chelsea v Southampton Prediction 16th January 2013

Chelsea v Southampton Betting Preview
The home form of Chelsea under Rafa Benitez has not been great. In his six matches in charge at the Bridge, he has taken two wins, two draws and two defeats. Their last two home matches have ended in defeat, losing against QPR in the league and then Swansea in the League Cup, both without scoring a goal. Will the presence of Demba Ba fix all that up front, or will Southampton be able to keep their unbeaten streak going? The Saints haven’t lost in their last four league matches now, but were on the wrong end of a hammering when they met Chelsea in the FA Cup recently.

Chelsea v Southampton Betting Odds at online bookmaker Sportingbet
Chelsea 1/4, Draw 5/1, Southampton 12/1

Chelsea v Southampton Recommended Bet:
Despite the shaky home form of Chelsea under Benitez, they go as heavy favourites to take three points away from the game. It will be important for them to do so because this is their game in hand over all the other top sides. In the fight for a top four spot, three points here would put Chelsea in a very strong position. With a big match in the Premier League against London rivals Arsenal on the weekend, this could be a game of squad rotation for Chelsea. Will that hinder their progress? The Blues have been in good form away from home, and if they can pick up the pace at home, they really could challenge for second place in the league. The Blues have won five of their last six Premier League matches, the blip coming in a shock 1-0 home defeat against relegation-bound QPR. Chelsea dominated that game, but couldn’t find a way through.

In that run of six matches, Chelsea have kept three clean sheets, conceding just three goals as well. The Blues have kept five clean sheets in their last nine matches in the top flight. They have goals in them, and have already scored at a rate of over two goals per game at home this season, conceding at under a goal per game. The sharpness of Demba Ba will be crucial as a replacement for Fernando Torres as the Senegalese star can actually contribute with his head. Watch for Frank Lampard, who not only has seven goals in eight EPL starts this season, he has scored four in the last three matches against the Saints. The Blues have won the last five in a row in all competitions against Southampton too, and that could well continue.

Southampton have struggled against London sides this season, winning just one of their seven meetings against sides from the capital. They are in decent enough form though, taking three draws and a win away from their last four league matches, which has seen Nigel Adkins’ men pull clear of the drop zone. This being their game in hand over everyone else below them, a point would be massive for them. The Saints have conceded the most first half goals of all sides in the Premier League this season and if they are opened up early, the clinical finishing of the Blues could tear them apart. Even when the Saints took the lead at home against Chelsea in the FA Cup, the Londoners raced back to a thumping 5-1 victory. The Saints’ Rickie Lambert has netted three goals in his last four Premier League appearances. If Chelsea are in a clinical mood though, they should take a comfortable win. But a Frank Lampard anytime goalscorer bet for 13/8 at online bookmaker Sportingbet, given the former England midfielder’s form, looks good.

Form
Chelsea WWLWLW, Southampton LDDDLW

Stat Attack
Rickie Lambert has scored in four of his last five away games for the Saints
Chelsea have failed to score in four of five domestic matches at Stamford Bridge under Benitez
Chelsea have won the last five straight against Southampton in all competitions
The Saints have conceded the most first half goals of all Premier League sides

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