Chelsea travel to the south coast today to try and put a stop to Southampton’s run of clean sheets.
Saints haven’t conceded a goal since goalkeeper Fraser Forster returned from injury six games ago.
Despite being undefeated in ten Premier League games, Guus Hiddink knows beating sixth-placed Saints won’t be easy.
“After a little setback they have regained their confidence in recent games,” the Chelsea boss said.
“It will be a very difficult game getting them out of their clean sheet comfort zone. It’s up to us to try to annoy them.”
“It will be a big test for Chelsea to see where we are in the Premier League.”
Chelsea haven’t beat Saints since New Year’s Day 2014, losing 3-1 in their last meeting at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues will be looking to break into the top half of the table but will be doing so without captain John Terry.
Hiddink said: “He will not be fit. He is still in treatment, every now and then he goes in the gym.
“He is doing exercises there and on the pitch but he is not fit.
“We want to be careful with this kind of injury. When you have something in the tendon or in the hamstring then sometimes you think, as a player or manager, that it appears to be good, but you must be careful.
“I am in favour of waiting two or three days more because it’s not good to have a setback. We have Norwich on Tuesday and we will see whether he will be available and fit.”
Strikers Falcao and Pato are also out injured but Hiddink praised Bertrand Traore who has stepped up in recent weeks.
Image courtesy of Chelsea TV via YouTube, with thanks
