26/12/2002  Chelsea 0 Southampton 0
 
Chelsea's attempt to temporarily replace Arsenal at the top 
of the Premiership was frustrated by a determined Southampton 
side who held the Blues to a goalless draw at Stamford 
Bridge.

It was Chelsea's sixth consecutive home clean sheet, but 
despite good chances falling to Gianfranco Zola and substitute 
William Gallas and Marcel Desailly in the closing stages, the 
Saints deserved a share of the spoils after matching their 
opponents all afternoon.

Both sides had gone into this match on the back of unbeaten 
runs, Chelsea's now stretches to 11 while Southampton's is 
six, so perhaps a draw was inevitable. It was certainly a fair 
result after a closely-fought encounter which neither team 
ever really did enough to win.

Southampton had made the brighter start, but it was the 
inspirational Zola who missed a golden opportunity to give 
Chelsea the lead in the 12th minute when he somehow fired 
against the outside of the post from just six yards after 
being found unmarked by Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's low 
cross.

Southampton's best chance also came in the first half when 
James Beattie was found by Jo Tessem's header from Bridge's 
36th-minute free-kick, but the visitors' leading scorer could 
only volley over the crossbar after turning well.

Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri had made six changes to his 
team for the match as he opted to rest several players 
including Frank Lampard and William Gallas with trips to Leeds 
and Arsenal coming up in the next week.

After a dull start, the game began to open up and in the 
25th minute, Petit found de Lucas, but the midfielder's 
half-volley was easily held by Saints goalkeeper Antti Niemi 
and moments later, Hasselbaink fired over after being fed by 
Zola.

Matthew Oakley went close for the Saints with a well-struck 
35-yard drive, as both sides began to find their rhythm.

In the 35th minute, Zola, Hasselbaink and Zenden combined 
well on the edge of the box and it was the Italian who was 
presented with a decent chance from Zenden's clever flick, but 
he scuffed his shot straight at Niemi.

The Saints then had two excellent chances to take the lead. 
First, centre-back Michael Svensson met Fabrice Fernandes' 
flicked-on free-kick, but his drilled effort was well saved by 
Ed de Goey, who was making his first appearance of the season 
as a result of Carlo Cudicini's calf injury.

A minute later, Beattie fluffed his lines by volleying over 
from close range and four minutes before the break, 
Hasselbaink rolled the ball into the path of de Lucas, but the 
Spaniard's 20-yard drive sailed narrowly over the bar.

On the stroke of half-time, de Lucas was freed by Zola, but 
he was thwarted by a tremendous last-ditch tackle from Saints 
skipper Marsden.

The second half took its time to get going and Ranieri was 
becoming increasingly frustrated in the dug-out as his side 
continued to be denied by the Saints.

The Blues were able to find Zenden and de Lucas in wide 
positions regularly, but their centres lacked the quality to 
test Michael Svensson and Lundekvam at the heart of the 
visitors' defence.

Zola almost conjured up something special in the 65th 
minute, but his rising, 25-yard shot after a promising run, 
flew over Niemi's crossbar.

But it was Southampton who almost took the lead in the 
75th-minute when centre-back Svensson toe-poked a shot which 
deflected off Beattie, but de Goey did well to save with his 
legs.

Hasselbaink spurned the next chance as he raced free thanks 
to Zola's accurate pass, but delayed his shot too long and 
could only fire the ball across the face of the goal.

With six minutes left, Lampard replaced Zenden and Gallas 
came on for Melchiot for Chelsea and Gallas almost snatched 
the three points in the 89th minute, but his close-range shot 
was superbly turned away by Niemi.

And in a frantic finale, Petit's corner was not cleared and 
in the ensuing goalmouth scramble, John Terry saw his shot 
cannon back off Gallas before Desailly, returning from injury, 
hooked the ball over the crossbar from just three yards 
out.

It was that kind of afternoon for Chelsea.