Daily Echo:

Saints produced a superb defensive display to hold Chelsea to a goalless draw at Stamford Bridge - but it couldn’t prevent them from slipping into the Premier League’s bottom three.

Ralph Hasenhuttl’s well drilled and well organised team produced a committed performance to heavily restrict the Blues and earn a highly creditable point.

It was a welcome return to form after back-to-back defeats leading into the match and though the game was a fairly dull affair it mattered not to Saints who were without suspended captain Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.

However, there was a downside on the evening as Burnley produced a comeback win against Huddersfield to climb out of the relegation zone and demote Saints to third from bottom and two points from safety.

Saints set out their stall early on at Stamford Bridge.

With Hasenhuttl starting with a back five it was a case of staying deep and compact and allowing Chelsea the ball in some areas but trying to restrict their space through the middle.

Saints did try and get out to press when they could but it was very much a counter attacking game.

One of the eight changes Hasenhuttl made – which included a central midfield berth for James Ward-Prowse and a return for Cedric Soares with Matt Targett out with a minor injury – a headline grabber was handing Angus Gunn a first Premier League start for the club and he had his first save to make on 12 minutes as Alvaro Morata flicked a header goalwards but it was a fairly routine save diving to his left.

Danny Ings tried to execute something similar at the other end but headed over the bar.

Choking the play through the middle was a tactic that was working for Saints but they were guilty of allowing extra pressure to come on them by giving the ball away cheaply when they eventually won it back.

The first time Chelsea did get something through the centre they were saved by Gunn.

Eden Hazard had drifted into a more central role and got on the end of a lofted chip over the top, bringing it down in the area and getting away a shot that cannoned into Gunn’s face.

Morata was the next to get an effort in on goal but Yan Valery’s outstretched leg managed to deflect it into the side netting.

Hasenhuttl’s half time change introducing Shane Long for Ings set Saints off on a positive early in the second half with Stuart Armstrong’s curling right footed shot from the edge of the area forcing Kepa Arrizabalaga into a smart save away to his left.

Saints continued to defend well, looking compact and cutting down space for Chelsea to play in.

They were also keeping Hazard well shackled and with good reason as the first time they gave him a bit of time on the ball he worked Gunn, cutting in from the left and firing in a shot that the keeper blocked at his near post.

Saints were getting more joy going forward too and Oriol Romeu’s low drive from 20 yards was stopped by Arrizabalaga.

Chelsea thought they had made the breakthrough on 70 minutes as some slick passing found Morata in the area and the striker finished into the far corner but the linesman raised his flag for a marginal offside call and Saints were reprieved.

The Blues found Morata in an onside position eight minutes later as a quick counter attack from Ruben Loftus-Cheek picked out the striker, but this time Gunn came to the rescue with a save.

Chelsea piled on the pressure in the closing stages and had strong appeals for a penalty waved away as Long appeared to shove over Alonso in the area but referee Jon Moss was unmoved.

There was still one more save for Gunn to make to ensure the clean sheet and an excellent point and he delivered as he dived to his right to save Alonso’s low drive from 25 yards.