Diving sagas tarnish Chelsea image

Southampton 1 Chelsea 1

And boy, are they disliked. Chelsea remain top of the pile and this point may well prove to be significant come May but the lack of warmth such a superb side generates is extraordinary.

Their penchant for diving has much to do with that. In this game Cesc Fabregas became the latest Chelsea man to be shown a yellow card for simulation. Previous indiscretions included Gary Cahill going down in the Hull box like he was impersonating Del Boy in that famous bar scene, and an unpunished one where Branislav Ivanovic toppled mysteriously against West Ham just two days before this fixture. At St Mary’s last season, Oscar, absent ill on this occasion, tried and failed to get the Saints goalkeeper sent off when scoring would have been the simpler option as well as the more sporting. Fabregas was not happy at Anthony Taylor’s interpretation of a challenge by teenager defender Matt Targett early in the second- half. “There was definitely contact,” he moaned. “The referee didn’t have the best game of his life and I don’t think he will sleep that well tonight, he had an awful game.”