INTERIM boss Ruben Selles won his first match in the hot seat as another James Ward-Prowse free-kick was enough to sink Chelsea 1-0 at Stamford Bridge.

The skipper scored as the Spaniard celebrated under a week on from the sacking of Nathan Jones, with Saints rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table.

The St Mary’s side held on through a second half with 12 minutes of stoppage time for only a second clean sheet of the league campaign - with Gavin Bazunu making important stops.

It was already a week punctuated with drama on the south coast. After Jones’s sacking on Sunday, it appeared Sport Republic had the man they wanted to replace him all lined up.

Positive noises were instead met with shock on Wednesday when any deal to bring the American Jesse Marsch in fell through at last, with Selles readying himself to take over at Stamford Bridge.

The Spaniard, speaking ahead of his first Premier League game as boss, was open about his desire to take the role. He admitted he has been ‘ready for years’. 

He had taken the 1-1 draw with Sheffield Wednesday, eventually winning on penalties, in the EFL Cup following Ralph Hasenhuttl’s sacking in November. His coaching team was supported by B team's Dave Horseman in West London.

Selles had to make big decisions early and those included Mislav Orsic and Duje Caleta-Car being left out of the squad, while Salisu missed out through a knock sustained in Friday’s training.

Chelsea’s Graham Potter, under increasing pressure in the managerial role of his own, set out a team he hoped to improve on just two wins in their last 13 games, only scoring more than one once in that time.

But it was the home side on the back foot immediately, as Kepa saved from Kamaldeen Sulemana and the rebound needed a goalline clearance to deny Stuart Armstrong.

Joao Felix was lucky to escape a booking for as many as four first-half fouls before a headed chance passed him by later in the period. Paul Onuachu’s touch had been mightily impressive for a six-foot seven-inch target man, with Saints on top.

Their efforts were rewarded right before half-time when captain Ward-Prowse moved within one of David Beckham’s Premier League free-kick record.

The 28-year-old curled beyond Kepa from his perfect range, after Armstrong’s trademark run across the box was cut short and had won him the opportunity.

Chelsea, who had made four changes by the 64th minute, were the ones on top following the break but they were thwarted again and again by last-ditch defending.

On one occasion they hit the post – eventually deemed offside – while on another Ainsley Maitland-Niles was strong in the box.

The most impressive was Romain Perraud’s goalline clearance to deny substitute Raheem Sterling, whose header had beaten Bazunu. The Frenchman’s celebratory chest pumping continued for seconds after the ball went behind.

Saints were made to hold on for 12 minutes of added time due to a Cesar Azpilicueta head injury – caused by a high-boot from the then booked Sekou Mara - and did so without real nerves, prompting passionate scenes at full-time.

The travelling supporters chanted Selles’s name as he and his players revelled in the adoration on a potentially season-saving afternoon in the capital.

Chelsea: Kepa; Azpilicueta (Chalobah, 84), Koulibaly (Fofana, h-t), Badiashile, Chilwell (Gallagher, 84); Enzo, Kovacic, Mount (Havertz, 64); Felix, Madueke (Mudryk, 64), Fofana (Sterling, h-t).

Unused subs: Zakaria, Hall, Bettinelli (g/k).

Booked: Koulibaly, Kepa, Kovacic.

Saints: Bazunu; Maitland-Niles (Lyanco, 90), Bednarek, Bella-Kotchap, Perraud; Lavia (Diallo, 87), Ward-Prowse, S Armstrong (A Armstrong, 58), Elyounoussi (Alcaraz, 87); Kamaldeen (Walcott, 58), Onuachu (Mara, 58).

Unused subs: Walker-Peters, Djenepo, Caballero (g/k).

Booked: Bella-Kotchap, S Armstrong, Mara, Lavia, Ward-Prowse, Perraud.

Referee: David Coote.

VAR: Robert Jones.