Soton have nothing to play for. That means they are playing without pressure. So they look good on the ball, but don't want to defend like their lives depend on it. They could still get something from this, but I wouldn't bet on it.
Game over. This is a bridge too far for us to cross I'm afraid. Can't see us winning our last 6 and can't see them dropping enough points.
Chelsea at Wembley: 5 shots on target, 4 goals. Chelsea this evening: 3 shots on target, 3 goals. That's the level of clinical ruthlessness we need to be aiming for.
If you beat Palace, it's as you were, but one fewer game left. I don't think any swing in your favour was likely to come before the weekend.
Indeed Although you can never be sure in the PL, at home to Southampton was never one of the matches you would have been looking for us to drop points in. Goodison is the one. If we win there, the title is over I think. (assuming tonights score stays the same of course)
Southampton at home was never going to lose Chelsea points...they pretty much gave up on their season after losing their cup final
That is the obvious stand-out fixture and if you do drop points at Everton, the NLD (kicks off 45 minutes after your game finishes) will take on an added edge - atmosphere would be electric throughout. But you need to drop points in a second game and I cannot see that happening. At the Hawthorns perhaps? As you say, a win for you at the weekend and the title is well and truly over with. I just hope we can give chase with the same belief and energy until it is mathematically impossible to catch you (hopefully no earlier than the penultimate game of the season). If we do that, we would have absolutely smashed our record points tally and finished miles ahead of sides with incomparable financial clout to our own. Not to mention leaving Arsenal a desperate, pathetic figure in the distance.
You would think the title is over if this happens, but you never know. When Utd threw away an 8 point lead in 2012, we lost inexplicably at Wigan. Even a point would have made the crucial difference. City were losing at home to QPR going into injury time........ If opponents still have something to play for, then the likes of Sunderland become tricky opponents