Only David Beckham has scored more direct free-kick goals in the Premier League than James Ward-ProwseChelsea's poor form under manager Graham Potter continued as a trademark free-kick from James Ward-Prowse earned the Premier League's bottom club Southampton a surprise victory at Stamford Bridge.
Ward-Prowse scored the game's only goal in first-half stoppage time, sending a curling effort over the Chelsea wall and into the corner from the edge of the penalty area.
The result means Chelsea have now won just two games in their last 14 in all competitions.
But managerless Southampton will hope it will kick-start their attempts to escape the relegation zone.
The visitors had started magnificently in west London and twice went close to scoring before Ward-Prowse's strike, with Kamaldeen Sulemana shooting straight at Kepa Arrizabalaga before Kalidou Koulibaly blocked Stuart Armstrong's follow-up.
The half-time introduction of Raheem Sterling breathed new life into the Blues' toothless forward line, but Ainsley Maitland-Niles' crucial block denied the England international an equaliser midway through the second period.
Romain Perraud followed suit minutes later with a tremendous goal-line clearance to prevent a Sterling header from ending up in the net, as Potter's team failed to score for the sixth time in 2023.
There was a lengthy stoppage towards the end of the second half because of an injury to Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta, who was caught in the face by Southampton substitute Sekou Mara.
The 33-year-old needed oxygen treatment on the pitch before being carried off on a stretcher, although he was conscious as he left the field.
There was a minute's applause before kick-off in memory of former Chelsea winger Christian Atsu, who was found dead almost two weeks on from the earthquake in Turkey.
More to follow.
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Chelsea
Squad number1Player nameArrizabalaga
Squad number28Player nameAzpilicueta
Squad number26Player nameKoulibaly
Squad number4Player nameBadiashile
Squad number21Player nameChilwell
Squad number8Player nameKovacic
Squad number5Player nameFernández
Squad number31Player nameMadueke
Squad number11Player nameJoão Félix
Squad number19Player nameMount
Squad number27Player nameFofana
Squad number14Player nameChalobah
Squad number15Player nameMudryk
Squad number17Player nameSterling
Squad number23Player nameGallagher
Squad number29Player nameHavertz
Squad number33Player nameFofana
Southampton
Squad number31Player nameBazunu
Squad number3Player nameMaitland-Niles
Squad number35Player nameBednarek
Squad number37Player nameBella-Kotchap
Squad number15Player namePerraud
Squad number17Player nameS Armstrong
Squad number8Player nameWard-Prowse
Squad number45Player nameLavia
Squad number24Player nameElyounoussi
Squad number20Player nameSulemana
Squad number12Player nameOnuachu
Squad number4Player nameLyanco
Squad number9Player nameA Armstrong
Squad number18Player nameMara
Squad number26Player nameAlcaraz
Squad number27Player nameDiallo
Squad number32Player nameWalcott
Line-ups
Chelsea
Formation 4-2-3-1
1Arrizabalaga
28Azpilicueta26Koulibaly4Badiashile21Chilwell
8Kovacic5Fernández
31Madueke11João Félix19Mount
27Fofana
1ArrizabalagaBooked at 87mins28AzpilicuetaSubstituted forChalobahat 84'minutes26KoulibalyBooked at 4minsSubstituted forFofanaat 45'minutes4Badiashile21ChilwellSubstituted forGallagherat 84'minutes8KovacicBooked at 90mins5Fernández31MaduekeSubstituted forMudrykat 64'minutes11João Félix19MountSubstituted forHavertzat 64'minutes27FofanaSubstituted forSterlingat 45'minutesSubstitutes
13Bettinelli14Chalobah15Mudryk17Sterling20Zakaria23Gallagher29Havertz33Fofana67HallSouthampton
Formation 4-4-2
31Bazunu
3Maitland-Niles35Bednarek37Bella-Kotchap15Perraud
17S Armstrong8Ward-Prowse45Lavia24Elyounoussi
20Sulemana12Onuachu
31Bazunu3Maitland-NilesSubstituted forLyancoat 90+5'minutes35Bednarek37Bella-KotchapBooked at 16mins15PerraudBooked at 90mins17S ArmstrongBooked at 45minsSubstituted forWalcottat 59'minutes8Ward-ProwseBooked at 90mins45LaviaBooked at 87minsSubstituted forDialloat 87'minutes24ElyounoussiSubstituted forAlcarazat 87'minutes20SulemanaSubstituted forA Armstrongat 59'minutes12OnuachuSubstituted forMaraat 59'minutesBooked at 75minsSubstitutes
2Walker-Peters4Lyanco9A Armstrong13Caballero18Mara19Djenepo26Alcaraz27Diallo32WalcottReferee:David CooteAttendance:40,152Live Text
Match ends, Chelsea 0, Southampton 1.
Second Half ends, Chelsea 0, Southampton 1.
Attempt missed. Mykhailo Mudryk (Chelsea) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left following a corner.
Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Ibrahima Diallo.
Trevoh Chalobah (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Sékou Mara (Southampton).
Romain Perraud (Southampton) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Raheem Sterling (Chelsea) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Romain Perraud (Southampton).
James Ward-Prowse (Southampton) is shown the yellow card.
Mateo Kovacic (Chelsea) is shown the yellow card.
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Trevoh Chalobah.
Attempt saved. Conor Gallagher (Chelsea) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Kai Havertz.
Attempt saved. João Félix (Chelsea) right footed shot from a difficult angle and long range on the left is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Substitution, Southampton. Lyanco replaces Ainsley Maitland-Niles.
Mykhailo Mudryk (Chelsea) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Theo Walcott (Southampton).
Foul by Benoît Badiashile (Chelsea).
Sékou Mara (Southampton) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Kai Havertz (Chelsea).
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