Southampton earn point against Chelsea in dour 0-0 draw

Soccer Football - Premier League - Chelsea v Southampton - Stamford Bridge, London, Britain - January 2, 2019 Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl celebrates with Charlie Austin after the match REUTERS/Toby Melville EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.

LONDON, Jan 2 (Reuters) - CHELSEA 0 SOUTHAMPTON 0

Southampton held Chelsea to a goalless draw on Wednesday, debutant Saints' goalkeeper Angus Gunn proving a bright spark in an otherwise lacklustre Premier League encounter at Stamford Bridge.

The 22-year-old made a series of fine saves to earn the struggling visitors a point and leave Chelsea in fourth, 10 points adrift of leaders Liverpool.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Chelsea v Southampton - Stamford Bridge, London, Britain - January 2, 2019 Southampton's Angus Gunn gestures during the match Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.

Chelsea, as expected, dominated possession and top-scorer Eden Hazard had the best chance of the first half but Gunn blocked the Belgian's point blank shot in the 34th minute.

Southampton started the second half with more purpose and, minutes in, midfielder Stuart Armstrong tested Kepa Arrizabalaga in the Chelsea goal for the first time, the Spanish keeper having to dive to push the ball clear.

Gunn denied Hazard again in the 56th minute with a fine save after the Belgian had danced round the Southampton defence.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Chelsea v Southampton - Stamford Bridge, London, Britain - January 2, 2019 Chelsea's Eden Hazard looks dejected during the match REUTERS/Toby Melville EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.

Hazard, at the centre of most dangerous-looking Chelsea moves, put Alvaro Morata through in the 70th minute and the Spaniard's shot hit the back of the net but was judged offside.

Gunn smothered another Morata shot eight minutes later after the striker had been put through by substitute Ruben Loftus-Cheek and kept out Marcos Alonso in the dying moments of the game.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Chelsea v Southampton - Stamford Bridge, London, Britain - January 2, 2019 Chelsea's Marcos Alonso shoots at goal REUTERS/Toby Melville EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.

(Reporting by Clare Lovell, editing by Pritha Sarkar)

Soccer Football - Premier League - Chelsea v Southampton - Stamford Bridge, London, Britain - January 2, 2019 Chelsea's Eden Hazard in action with Southampton's Yan Valery REUTERS/Toby Melville EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Chelsea v Southampton - Stamford Bridge, London, Britain - January 2, 2019 Southampton's Angus Gunn with Chelsea's Kepa Arrizabalaga after the match Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Chelsea v Southampton - Stamford Bridge, London, Britain - January 2, 2019 Chelsea's Ruben Loftus-Cheek looks dejected after the match Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.