25/03/2000  Chelsea 1 Southampton 1

An own-goal was probably the only way that Chelsea were 
going to find their way past Southampton keeper Paul Jones on 
Glenn Hoddle's return to Stamford Bridge, given the continuing 
profligacy of the Chelsea strikers.

And so it proved, earning them a 1-1 draw.

But that it was defender Dean Richards who headed into his 
own net on 74 minutes to earn the home side a point - just six 
minutes after Jo Tessem had given the Saints the lead - was 
particularly harsh.

For the centre-back had otherwise been in inspired form at 
the heart of the visitors' defence, alongside Hassan El Khalej 
amid a determined Southampton display.

The result was still a cause for some degree of 
satisfaction for Hoddle, the man who started the Stamford 
Bridge revolution during his three years at the club before 
taking over as England coach in 1996.

He suffered an ignominious return to another former club, 
Tottenham, a fortnight ago as the Saints were overwhelmed in a 
7-2 defeat, despite Spurs' previous goalscoring problems.

Southampton were far better organised this time around but, 
like Tottenham, Chelsea have similarly squandered far too many 
chances this season, especially in the Premiership.

And they again lacked a cutting edge up front, despite 
fielding three strikers - George Weah and Chris Sutton with 
Gianfranco Zola in behind them.

Although the Blues deserved their point on the basis of 
their clear possessional advantage, they can ill afford to 
continue to squander so many openings when they take on the 
likes of Leeds next weekend, or Barcelona in the Champions' 
League.

That an Englishman other than Dennis Wise scored for 
Chelsea was also something of a novelty, although there were 
four English players in their starting team after the entirely 
overseas line-up used in the defeat by Lazio in midweek.

Wise clearly had a point to prove to the former Blues 
manager, who consistently left him out of the England set-up 
amid concerns over his disciplinary record.

Chelsea had badly missed their captain when they 
surrendered their unbeaten home European record against Lazio 
in midweek, but with the impressive Jody Morris alongside him, 
they were a different proposition in central midfield against 
the Saints.

Defender Emerson Thome was the first to threaten as, after 
Sutton's shot had been deflected wide, the Brazilian rattled 
the crossbar from the ensuing corner with a powerful 
header.

Sutton was battling hard without reward and he was 
aggrieved when referee Dermot Gallagher waved away appeals for 
a penalty when the centre-forward appeared to be pushed by 
Richards as they jumped to meet a Zola cross.

Sutton also failed to connect with an attempted back-flick 
in front of goal, but still Chelsea could not make the 
breakthrough.

Even when Zola struck a superb free-kick past both the wall 
and keeper Jones, Richards acrobatically cleared the ball off 
the line, while Dan Petrescu's shot was well-saved after a 
thrilling move involving Sutton and Weah.

The visitors, meanwhile, with Kevin Davies and Hassan 
Kachloul pushing on threateningly down the flanks, were 
intermittently posing their own threats.

Kachloul curled a free-kick just over the bar, while Tessem 
scuffed a shot off-target.

Chelsea attempted to force the pace after the restart and 
camped in the Southampton half, only to continue to squander 
chances.

Sutton was again denied a penalty claim as he tangled with 
Richards, Morris fired off-target and then Weah volleyed wide 
from point-blank range from Wise's pinpoint cross.

The Blues were duly made to pay for their wastefulness when 
Chris Marsden dispossessed Sutton, found Kachloul, who fed 
Wayne Bridge and then Tessem was given far too much time to 
take aim with a 20-yard shot that flew past De Goey.

Six minutes later though, Chelsea earned a reprieve when 
Wise's hopeful high ball was inexplicably headed back into his 
own net by Richards.

He was under little pressure, but may have thought that 
team-mate El Khalej, who was covering behind, was an 
opponent.

The goal ironically came just after Sutton, who has scored 
just three times this season, was replaced by Gustavo 
Poyet.

A long-range effort by Tessem, which flew just a couple of 
feet wide, gave Chelsea renewed cause for concern but the 
Blues were dominant in the final 15 minutes as they chased a 
winner.

In the latter stages Marcel Desailly headed wastefully 
wide, Poyet and Morris had efforts saved and an attempted 
cross by Jon Harley was tipped over the bar by Jones as the 
Saints held on valiantly for a draw.