The salvage operation continues at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea edged closer to the European qualification place that would rescue their inconsistent season with a narrow win against Southampton.

However, while the Saints' woes continue in the wake of Glenn Hoddle's departure, some things in football never change.

For while Chelsea recorded their third consecutive league win for the first time this season and even reached the heady heights of fifth place in the table, it was all rather too close for comfort.

From Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's early miss to a series of opportunities squandered in the second half and a couple of defensive lucky breaks, the result was always in a measure of doubt.

However, the Blues showed commendable resolve in hanging on for victory, courtesy of Gustavo Poyet's 42nd-minute strike, which was itself fortuitous as the ball bounced over keeper Paul Jones.

Southampton certainly battled hard, but they still have no points and no goals to their name in the three games since caretaker boss Stuart Gray took over from Hoddle.

Their own European hopes are probably now over, but they were certainly well organised in the first half at Stamford Bridge, competing fiercely in midfield and attempting to strike on the counter-attack.

They should have been punished as early as the second minute when Hasselbaink broke through the offside trap onto a superb ball by Gianfranco Zola.

But although the Dutchman had plenty of time to pick his spot, his attempted chipped finish was saved by keeper Paul Jones and defender Claus Lundekvam hoisted the loose ball to safety.

Thereafter, Chelsea struggled to turn their possession into clear-cut chances, with Hasselbaink, Zola and Graeme Le Saux all shooting wide from the edge of the penalty area.

Southampton started to threaten sporadically themselves, with a neat one-two between Kevin Davies and Jo Tessem leading to the striker hitting a powerful drive narrowly over the bar.

Chelsea needed a stroke of luck and they received it three minutes before the break.

Le Saux's long cross was headed back across goal by fellow full-back Mario Melchiot for Poyet to strike a shot on the turn which went straight into the ground and bounced up over keeper Jones and in off the underside of the bar.

As is becoming almost customary at Stamford Bridge, Ranieri, the man often with an itchy trigger finger on the substitution board, made a half-time change, as Slavisa Jokanovic replaced Mario Stanic.

That meant Poyet pushing further forward and, just as in the first half, Chelsea almost made an immediate breakthrough, with only Petrescu's clearance off the line denying Marcel Desailly's flicked header from a corner.

However, the Blues also had a huge let-off four minutes later when Jason Dodd whipped in a cross that found Beattie unmarked six yards out and his header struck the inside of the post, with John Terry clearing the rebound.

It was by no means a convincing display by Chelsea, with their lead looking distinctly slender as Southampton increased the pressure in their search for an equaliser.

Former Chelsea defender Dan Petrescu broke clear on goal but rushed his shot and the ball flew straight into the arms of keeper Carlo Cudicini.

Chelsea, meanwhile, threatened through Zola, who went tumbling in the area only for his penalty claim to fall on deaf ears, saw a curling effort headed clear and had a free-kick deflected over the top.

They were still squandering chances to seal victory, with Jones saving well from Wise and Poyet, while Hasselbaink fluffed another opening, during a nervous final 15 minutes.

And they needed a strong tackle by Mario Melchiot on Petrescu, which actually earned him a booking, to save them after Cudicini was caught out of his goal, while Beattie's ensuing free-kick was deflected just inches wide.

At the Dell earlier this season, the Blues conceded a late winner. This time, however, they hung on and the relief was evident.

Teams

Chelsea: Cudicini, Terry, Desailly, Melchiot, Le Saux, Dalla Bona, Poyet, Wise, Stanic (Jokanovic 45), Hasselbaink, Zola.

Subs Not Used: de Goey, Babayaro, Gudjohnsen, Gronkjaer.

Booked: Terry, Jokanovic, Melchiot.

Goals: Poyet 43.

Southampton: Jones, Dodd, Richards, Lundekvam, Bridge, Petrescu, Draper (Kachloul 68), Oakley (El Khalej 79), Tessem, Beattie, Davies (Rosler 79).

Subs Not Used: Marsden, Moss.

Booked: Beattie, Draper, Tessem.

Att: 35,136

Ref: C Wilkes (Gloucester).