Frank Lampard thought he had found a system that could bring some consistency to his Chelsea side when a switch to a back three saw them play Tottenham off the park.
The Blues were almost flawless as they claimed a win over a big six rival for the first time under Lampard in north London, so the Chelsea boss stuck with the same plan at home to relegation battling Southampton on Boxing Day. It failed spectacularly.
The only solace for Lampard is that his young squad appear to be a side transformed when they escape the pressures of west London.
Two away games on the bounce, Arsenal and then Brighton, should be the tonic to Thursday's disappointment.
The biggest call is whether he sticks with the three, thrown out at half-time during defeat to Ralph Hasenhuttl's side, or reverts to a back four.
Defensive stability is the order of the day, especially against a strike force containing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette, so the back three will probably continue.
Reece James is sidelined with an ankle problem but Marcos Alonso, far more comfortable as a wing-back than a full-back is available once more.
Possible Chelsea XI (3-4-3): Kepa; Rudiger, Zouma, Tomori; Azpilicueta, Kante, Kovacic, Alonso; Mount, Willian, Abraham
