If Chelsea's dreadful recent home record was not quite so alarming it would almost be funny. The 2-2 draw against Southampton was just the latest example of ineptitude witnessed by the club's supporters who braved sub-zero temperatures to attend a match that should have been a saunter towards three points and an easing of pressure on manager Rafael Benitez.

- Rann: Southampton substitutes prove a point

Instead, the fans saw the team find a new way of throwing away a match that should have been put to bed with the minimum of fuss once Eden Hazard had put Chelsea 2-0 ahead on the stroke of half-time. The second half should have been about intelligent game management and the scoring of a third goal that would have removed any doubt as to the end result. Unfortunately, complacency from the home side coincided with added intensity from the visitors and the advantage was wrested away along with two crucial points.

Whereas excuses could tenuously be made for Chelsea's previous midweek aberrations this month, there was little to fall back on this time. Against Queens Park Rangers it appeared as if the sheer weight of fixtures and travel that the players had been obliged to fulfil in the previous few weeks had taken their toll culminating in a lethargic performance. The defeat to Swansea in the Capital One Cup was more a case of bad luck rather than any major deficiencies, with two defensive blunders exploited in the face of relentless pressure from the Blues. In contrast, excusing this latest calamity is all but impossible.

When asked prior to this match why his team's form had been so poor at Stamford Bridge, Benitez pointed to the negative tactics often employed by opposing teams in a bid to stifle Chelsea's attacking play, relying on counter-attacking football to nick a goal. That reasoning cannot be used this time. Southampton certainly did not turn up simply to park the bus, rather they were happy to play the ball around and push forward when the opportunities presented themselves. Manager Nigel Adkins might have left the skilful Gaston Ramirez out of the starting eleven in a bid to add solidity to his line-up, yet his side did not lack in adventure. It appeared to be an act of folly after they shipped two goals in the first half but it did mean that they did not have to change their approach too radically when they sought to get back into the game after the break.

In fact, for a spell after Rickie Lambert halved the deficit, Southampton dominated territory and possession with Ramires and Frank Lampard chasing shadows. Just as in the Swansea match seven days previously, Benitez dithered in making his substitutions when it seemed clear that introducing John Terry from the bench and pushing David Luiz further forward to stiffen the midfield would have helped to redress the balance.

The continuing presence of Oscar was also mystifying, The Brazilian has gone completely off the boil in the last six weeks with his passing out of sync and his effectiveness dimmed. A young man in his first season in European football and playing in freezing conditions that he is unlikely to have ever experienced before, the 21-year-old can be afforded a bit of slack with next season earmarked as the time when he can really make his mark. However, that does not mean that he should be persisted with when his contribution is as minimal as it was on Wednesday night and the manager should have hooked him from the action rather than leaving him to play the full 90 minutes.

When the substitutes' board did go up, it was to remove Lampard, incurring a predictable chorus of boos. With a goal required, it was slightly surprising to see him brought off even though the club legend himself will probably admit that he did not have his best game despite being instrumental in Demba Ba's opening goal. To be fair to the crowd, there was very little rancour in the stands compared to the other home matches under Benitez's tenure. The supporters largely got behind their team even once the lead had been squandered and only voiced their understandable frustration once the final whistle was blown.

The match might have ended in a draw but there was one team who could be said to have ended the night as winners. Arsenal are a team at a low ebb yet will come to Stamford Bridge on Sunday knowing that they have every chance of getting a positive result. With Chelsea playing nervously on home soil and Arsenal equally as unsure of themselves in front of their own supporters, both teams are more comfortable on the road. On Sunday it could be the Gunners who start the match with the greater spring in their step.

Follow Phil Lythell on Twitter @PhilLythell

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