Chelsea's hopes of temporarily topping the Premiership table foundered against a stiff wall of Southampton resistance at Stamford Bridge.

Southampton dominated the first-half, although Chelsea came closest to scoring through Gianfranco Zola and mounted a grandstand finish.

A Chelsea side that showed six changes rarely clicked against a hard-working Southampton side who never allowed the Londoners to settle into any rhythm.

On 13 minutes, Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink crossed from the right and Gianfranco Zola - restored to the team as one of six changes - escaped his marker to stab the ball against the inside of the post.

I'm pleased with our performance because it was a very difficult game and the pitch was very bad Chelsea boss Claudi Ranieri

Either side of the that, Southampton looked the tidier and neater team and carved out the better chances.

Ed De Goey was found wanting in his first test as he flapped at Matthew Oakley's corner, and the Dutchman was relieved as weak finishing let Chelsea off the hook.

Chelsea's John Terry gets in ahead of Jo Tessem

First, Rory Delap could only toe-poke a weak effort at De Goey after Jo Tessem - in for Brett Ormerod - had cutely played him in.

De Goey, in his first start since September 2001, did well to hold Oakley's shot, which took a wicked kick off the turf.

As Southampton continued to ask questions of the Premiership's tightest defence, De Goey was relieved when Michael Svensson's touch on Fabrice Fernandes wicked free-kick landed straight in his arms.

Watch a round up of the Boxing day Premiership action

Stamford stalemate

Chelsea first failure to score at home this season. Saints first blank in 12 Premiership matches. Chelsea unbeaten in 11 Premiership matches Saints unbeaten in six Premiership matches.

Another set piece saw Tessem head the ball down for James Beattie who turned sharply and fired over the bar from 10 yards.

Zola was the shining exception in a lacklustre Chelsea performance.

With half-time approaching, the Italian superbly cushioned De Goey's punt downfield and set up Quique De Lucas but Chris Marsden typified Southampton's spirit by sprinting 50 yards to get in a goal-saving challenge.

James Beattie climbs above Chelsea defender John Terry

The incentive of going to the top of the table sparked Chelsea at the start of the second half, with De Lucas volleying wide and Hasselbaink blasting over as they sought the lead.

Chelsea's end product continued to disappoint the home crowd and even Zola caught the bug when he found some rare space but fired high over from 20 yards.

Chelsea risked over-extending themselves as they desperately sought a table-topping goal and Oakley's pass just carried too much weight as Tessem broke clear.

In the second half we did well as we had to stand up and be counted Saints manager Gordon Strachan

De Goey then reacted alertly as Beattie touched Michael Svensson's shot goalwards.

Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri threw Eidur Gudjohnsen and Frank Lampard into the hunt for a winner but it was Hasselbaink whose pace took him clear of Svensson, only to fire across the face of goal.

Saints keeper Antti Niemi had a quiet afternoon but with seconds left reacted superbly to beat away a shot from substitute William Gallas.

In a grandstand finish, Terry's goal bound header struck Gallas on the goalline with Niemi beaten and Desailly hacked the rebound over the bar.

Chelsea: de Goey, Babayaro, Desailly, Terry, Melchiot (Gallas 86), Zenden (Lampard 85), Petit, Morris, De Lucas (Gudjohnsen 80), Zola, Hasselbaink.
Subs Not Used: Pidgeley, Gronkjaer.

Booked: Melchiot.

Southampton: Niemi, Bridge, Michael Svensson, Lundekvam, Telfer, Marsden, Delap, Oakley (Anders Svensson 90), Fernandes, Beattie, Tessem (Davies 85).
Subs Not Used: Jones, Williams, Ormerod.

Booked: Bridge, Fernandes.

Attendance: 39,428

Referee: P Durkin (Dorset).