This was not the way Benitez intended to start Chelsea's most crucial spell of the season.The 31-year-old former Bristol Rovers and Rochdale striker marked the 500th league appearance of his career with a terrific curling free-kick which Chelsea keeper Petr Cech could do little about. With an FA Cup tie against Manchester United on Monday, Chelsea made seven changes to the side that overcame West Ham on their last Premier League outing.Saints fans responded with chants of "Lambert for England" after the striker took his Premier League goal tally for the season to 14. Yet Benitez will have expected much more from those on duty, as Southampton, who had 24 points fewer than their opponents before the start, showed more hunger and desire.But Chelsea still could not muster an equaliser, Victor Moses coming closest with a swerving effort which former Sunderland stopper Davies did well to tip over the bar. Chelsea, who also face a crucial Europa League game against Rubin Kazan on Thursday, failed to heed the warning signs even after Rodriguez produced a fine finish following a clever build-up involving Davis and Lambert.Rodriguez opened the scoring with a composed 23rd-minute finish after good work by Lambert and Steven Davis. The lead lasted just 10 minutes as Terry was allowed to head his second league goal of the season following poor defending from a corner.
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