An own-goal was probably the only way that Chelsea were going to find their way past Southampton keeper Paul Jones on Glenn Hoddle's return to Stamford Bridge, given the continuing profligacy of the Chelsea strikers.

And so it proved, earning them a 1-1 draw.

But that it was defender Dean Richards who headed into his own net on 74 minutes to earn the home side a point - just six minutes after Jo Tessem had given the Saints the lead - was particularly harsh.

For the centre-back had otherwise been in inspired form at the heart of the visitors' defence, alongside Hassan El Khalej amid a determined Southampton display.

The result was still a cause for some degree of satisfaction for Hoddle, the man who started the Stamford Bridge revolution during his three years at the club before taking over as England coach in 1996.

He suffered an ignominious return to another former club, Tottenham, a fortnight ago as the Saints were overwhelmed in a 7-2 defeat, despite Spurs' previous goalscoring problems.

Southampton were far better organised this time around but, like Tottenham, Chelsea have similarly squandered far too many chances this season, especially in the Premiership.

And they again lacked a cutting edge up front, despite fielding three strikers - George Weah and Chris Sutton with Gianfranco Zola in behind them.

Although the Blues deserved their point on the basis of their clear possessional advantage, they can ill afford to continue to squander so many openings when they take on the likes of Leeds next weekend, or Barcelona in the Champions' League.

That an Englishman other than Dennis Wise scored for Chelsea was also something of a novelty, although there were four English players in their starting team after the entirely overseas line-up used in the defeat by Lazio in midweek.

Wise clearly had a point to prove to the former Blues manager, who consistently left him out of the England set-up amid concerns over his disciplinary record.

Chelsea had badly missed their captain when they surrendered their unbeaten home European record against Lazio in midweek, but with the impressive Jody Morris alongside him, they were a different proposition in central midfield against the Saints.

Defender Emerson Thome was the first to threaten as, after Sutton's shot had been deflected wide, the Brazilian rattled the crossbar from the ensuing corner with a powerful header.

Sutton was battling hard without reward and he was aggrieved when referee Dermot Gallagher waved away appeals for a penalty when the centre-forward appeared to be pushed by Richards as they jumped to meet a Zola cross.

Sutton also failed to connect with an attempted back-flick in front of goal, but still Chelsea could not make the breakthrough.

Even when Zola struck a superb free-kick past both the wall and keeper Jones, Richards acrobatically cleared the ball off the line, while Dan Petrescu's shot was well-saved after a thrilling move involving Sutton and Weah.

The visitors, meanwhile, with Kevin Davies and Hassan Kachloul pushing on threateningly down the flanks, were intermittently posing their own threats.

Kachloul curled a free-kick just over the bar, while Tessem scuffed a shot off-target.

Chelsea attempted to force the pace after the restart and camped in the Southampton half, only to continue to squander chances.

Sutton was again denied a penalty claim as he tangled with Richards, Morris fired off-target and then Weah volleyed wide from point-blank range from Wise's pinpoint cross.

The Blues were duly made to pay for their wastefulness when Chris Marsden dispossessed Sutton, found Kachloul, who fed Wayne Bridge and then Tessem was given far too much time to take aim with a 20-yard shot that flew past De Goey.

Six minutes later though, Chelsea earned a reprieve when Wise's hopeful high ball was inexplicably headed back into his own net by Richards.

He was under little pressure, but may have thought that team-mate El Khalej, who was covering behind, was an opponent.

The goal ironically came just after Sutton, who has scored just three times this season, was replaced by Gustavo Poyet.

A long-range effort by Tessem, which flew just a couple of feet wide, gave Chelsea renewed cause for concern but the Blues were dominant in the final 15 minutes as they chased a winner.

In the latter stages Marcel Desailly headed wastefully wide, Poyet and Morris had efforts saved and an attempted cross by Jon Harley was tipped over the bar by Jones as the Saints held on valiantly for a draw.

Teams:

Chelsea: De Goey, Ferrer, Desailly, Thome, Harley, Petrescu, Wise, Morris, Zola (Ambrosetti 86), Sutton (Poyet 74), Weah.

Subs Not Used: Hogh, Di Matteo, Cudicini.

Goals: Richards 75 og.

Southampton: Jones, Dodd, Richards, El Khalej, Bridge, Tessem, Marsden, Oakley, Pahars, Kachloul, Davies.

Subs Not Used: Lundekvam, Le Tissier, Moss, Benali, Soltvedt.

Goals: Tessem 69.

Att: 34,956

Ref: D Gallagher (Banbury).