28/08/2004  Chelsea 2 Southampton 1

Four games, four victories. Whatever lies ahead for Jose Mourinho, the Chelsea boss has certainly made an immediate impression on the Barclays Premiership.
 
Indeed, while Chelsea conceded their first goal under his leadership after 12 seconds against a struggling Southampton, there was no dispute over the entertainment levels in a vibrant first half.

Not that the second half quite reached the same peaks. Far from it, in fact, as Southampton faded without trace.

But a new-look Chelsea side that have now beaten Manchester United, Birmingham, Crystal Palace and Southampton in consecutive games cannot realistically be asked to achieve much more so quickly.

And this, after all, was the first time that any Chelsea team have ever won their first four games of a top-flight season.

James Beattie, who is again being linked with a move away from the South Coast, especially if Wayne Rooney leaves Everton, had given caretaker boss Steve Wigley hope of an upset in the first minute.

Having punished Joe Cole's costly early error, he was just a fraction slower than Ledley King's fastest ever Premiership goal of 10 seconds in 2000.

However, Beattie then deflected Eidur Gudjohnsen's back-flick into his own net before Lampard put Chelsea ahead from the penalty spot just before half-time.

And that, with Chelsea remaining dominant for the entire second half and Southampton failing to trouble the home defence, was that.

Mourinho may have been criticised for his side's lack of rousing football in their first three games, but they are already eight points ahead of Manchester United, albeit after one game more.

The Chelsea boss had again entrusted Cole with a starting role, but the England midfielder almost immediately produced an awful attempted back-pass to his defensive colleagues.

The ball instead dropped at Beattie's feet, with the striker responding by unleashing a superb 25-yard half-volley which dipped over Petr Cech's despairing dive.

It was the first time that Chelsea had fallen behind since Mourinho took charge, but they were at least stirred into a response, only for Gudjohnsen, Didier Drogba and Lampard to squander chances.

Having survived that early barrage, Southampton started to dig in, even after Fabrice Fernandes was forced off by injury and replaced by Yoann Folly after 23 minutes.

However, Chelsea found a second wind, with Lampard driving his team forward on his return from the treatment room for stitches to an facial wound.

Former Chelsea defender Graeme Le Saux nevertheless scrambled Lampard's close-range effort off the goal line, while the midfielder s dangerous free-kick also sped straight across the face of             Drogba failed to make the most of an inviting cross from Paulo Ferreira, but Chelsea were finally helped in their search of an equaliser by the unlikely figure of Beattie on 32 minutes.

Gudjohnsen produced a deft back-flick from Lampard's corner and the ball bounced off Beattie into his own net, evading Le Saux's desperate last-ditch attempts to intervene.

Anders Svensson did succeed in clearing Tiago's goalbound header off the line soon afterwards, but Chelsea were given another helping hand as Claus Lundekvam was penalised for a clear handball.

Up stepped Lampard and although he almost managed to do a 'Beckham' by slipping on his final step, he still managed to steer his shot into the top corner.

Drogba then burst through the centre only to be denied by Antti Niemi, with Lampard just beaten to the loose ball as it was hacked clear.

Chelsea resumed their offensive after the restart, but without ever needing to show the same levels of conviction as before.

Drogba headed one chance, while Gudjohnsen deflected Ferreira's long-range shot narrowly past the post.

However, Mourinho's side were being squeezed into central areas and he duly responded by bringing on winger Damien Duff for Cole with 32 minutes left.

This was Duff's first appearance of the season at club level after his recovery from a dislocated shoulder, while Mateja Kezman followed him onto the pitch soon afterwards to replace Gudjohnsen.

Although the excitement levels had certainly dipped, Chelsea seemed to be in control of the match, even if Mourinho was far from being a relaxed figure on the touchline.

Steve Wigley turned to Peter Crouch and Jelle van Damme but what they certainly possessed in height, they equally lacked in quality.

There looks to be an uphill battle ahead for the Saints. For Chelsea, however, a bright future potentially beckons.