Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic out for three weeks with hamstring injury

The right-back's place in Jose Mourinho's side has been questioned this season

Tuesday 13 October 2015 15:11 BST

Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic is expected to be sidelined for three weeks with a hamstring injury.

The Serbian defender picked up the injury during his national team's 2-0 victory over Albania last Thursday and has since returned to London for scans.

Despite usually being a dependable and commanding presence at Stamford Bridge, vice-captain Ivanovic's form has been poor this season and many Chelsea fans have questioned his place in the side.

Chelsea vs Southampton player ratings

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1/22Chelsea vs Southampton player ratings

Chelsea vs Southampton player ratings

CHELSEA: Asmir Begovic - 5 out of 10

Aside from one nervy moment early on when trying to deal with Azpilicueta’s back-pass, the goalkeeper made several saves to keep his side in the match in the first half, but then conceded twice in the second period.

Chelsea vs Southampton player ratings

Branislav Ivanovic - 4 out of 10

Was never really troubled by Tadic or Mane as he had been in previous weeks by the likes of Porto’s Brahimi, Crystal Palace’s Bolasie or Swansea’s Montero in the first half, but was lucky when Tadic then outran him minutes after the break only to see his low drive to Mane go wide. However, he fell under more and more pressure by the Southampton winger and could not contain him as the game progressed.

Chelsea vs Southampton player ratings

Gary Cahill - 4 out of 10

Looked much more assured playing alongside Terry and was not afraid of coming out to clear the ball whenever Southampton pushed forwards but was completely outmuscled by Pelle when the striker set up Davis for the equaliser.

Chelsea vs Southampton player ratings

John Terry - 4 out of 10

Terry: 4 Was handed a start for the first time in weeks and the Chelsea captain did not disappoint in the first period as he commanded his back line well while never really being tested one-on-one. However, that all changed in the second half when he failed to stop Mane racing into the area to score and then did not do enough to marshal his back line for Southampton’s second and third goals.

Chelsea vs Southampton player ratings

Cesar Azpilicueta - 6 out of 10

Did not have any real problems down the left flank and kept Tadic quiet early on but should have done better for Pelle’s effort after leaving him with acres of space to get his shot in. Ramires: 5 Was lucky not to have given away a first-half penalty for his tackle on Mane inside the area although it did look like a spot-kick. Was hauled off at half time after picking up a booking for a foul on the Southampton winger.

Chelsea vs Southampton player ratings

Ramires - 3 out of 10

Handed the start after his heroics at Newcastle but the Brazilian was awful in the first half and was hauled off by Jose Mourinho at half-time for Nemanja Matic.

Chelsea vs Southampton player ratings

Cesc Fabregas - 4 out of 10

Linked up well with the likes of Hazard and Oscar to help build up Chelsea’s attacks in the first half, but completely lost Davis for the opener. As in previous games, the midfielder became more and more of a bystander as the game wore on.

Chelsea vs Southampton player ratings

Willian - 8 out of 10

Scored another superb free-kick to hand the Blues the lead although he could have pressurised Davis more ahead of the equaliser. Was brought off for Pedro just after the hour mark after seeing his impact on the game wane.

Chelsea vs Southampton player ratings

Oscar - 5 out of 10

Looked more positive in attack alongside Hazard and tested Stekelenburg with a shot in the first period but could not inspire Chelsea to another goal when they fell behind.

Chelsea vs Southampton player ratings

Eden Hazard - 4 out of 10

Won the foul that Willian scored the opener from and overall, looked more dangerous in attack, but clumsily gave the ball away that ended in Pelle scoring and giving Southampton a 3-1 lead.

Chelsea vs Southampton player ratings

Radamel Falcao - 5 out of 10

Looked full of energy but could not get the better of van Dijk or Fonte in the first half but should have got a penalty following Stekeleburg’s foul on him after the break.

Chelsea vs Southampton player ratings

SOUTHAMPTON: Maarten Stekelenburg - 5 out of 10

Couldn’t do too much about Willian’s goal but did well otherwise when Oscar tested him with a powerful shot in the first half. However, he was then fortunate to have not given away a penalty after bringing down Falcao in the box.

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Chelsea vs Southampton player ratings

Cedric Soares - 7 out of 10

The right-back was put under constant pressure from Hazard but he did not shy away from his defensive duties. A good performance from the defender.

Chelsea vs Southampton player ratings

Virgil van Dijk - 7 out of 10

The towering centre-half kept Falcao quiet for much of the match and defended well when under pressure.

Chelsea vs Southampton player ratings

Jose Fonte - 7 out of 10

The defender made two key clearances in the first half with the score goalless after dealing with Hazard and Falcao and played well alongside van Dijk.

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Chelsea vs Southampton player ratings

Ryan Bertand - 7 out of 10

The defender enjoyed a good return to his former club after keeping Willian quiet following the Brazilian’s first-half goal and defending really well as Chelsea began to look for the equaliser after going behind.

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Chelsea vs Southampton player ratings

Oriol Romeu - 4 out of 10

It was his tackle on Hazard that gave away the free kick from which Willian scored from. He never really had a grip on the Belgian and, after being cautioned in the first half, was replaced by Ward-Prowse.

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Chelsea vs Southampton player ratings

Victor Wanyama - 6 out of 10

Played out the first half struggling to contain Chelsea’s creative players but grew into the game.

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Chelsea vs Southampton player ratings

Sadio Mane - 8 out of 10

Didn’t really prove a threat in the first half, but after the break proved dangerous after first narrowly firing a shot wide before he gave the Saints the lead with his drive past Begovic and then setting up Pelle for the visitors’ third.

Chelsea vs Southampton player ratings

Steven Davis - 8 out of 10

Scored Southampton’s equaliser minutes before the break with his fine shot and regularly got involved in the visitors’ attacks.

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Chelsea vs Southampton player ratings

Dusan Tadic - 7 out of 10

Did not prove a threat in the first half but after outrunning Ivanovic in the second period to set up Mane for a good chance, started to cause the Chelsea right-back all sorts of problems.

Chelsea vs Southampton player ratings

Graziano Pelle - 9 out of 10

Got two assists at Stamford Bridge, first when he used his power to get the better of Cahill and chest the ball down into the path of David for the opener before his low drive found Mane for Southampton’s second goal. The striker then netted his side’s third goal with a fine low drive past Begovic.

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With Ivanovic's absence now certain, manager Jose Mourinho is expected to hand a first Premier League start to left-back Baba Rahman, who recently signed for the club for £21m from Augusburg.

Rahman's installation into the back four would see Cesar Azpilicueta switch to his natural position of right-back, in a move that many of the club's supporters have recently demanded.

The defending champions' defence, once thought of as near-impregnable, has conceded 17 goals in the league so far this season, the second-highest total in the division.

Mourinho has been reluctant to replace Ivanovic and bring Rahman into the side. The 21-year-old Ghanaian has only started against Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Champions League and against Walsall in the Capital One Cup since his arrival.

When questioned on his selection policy, the Blues boss cited Rahman's relatively short height and inexperience in the Premier League.

"Because Baba Rahman arrived in the last day, because he doesn't know what is is to play in this kind of championship," Mourinho said earlier this month.

"He had no pre-season with us. He needs time to learn, he needs time to adapt. If you don't have a minimum of five tall players good in the air, you are dead in set-pieces.

"When I play Azpilicueta on the right and Baba Rahman on the left and I don't play Ivanovic, I have only three, not ever four (players who are in the air). So we have to think about all the details. And I think about all the details.'

It has also been suggested that Mourinho is reluctant to play Azpilicueta on the right-hand side because, in his natural role, the Spaniard is prone to advance higher up the pitch and compromise Mourinho's typically solid defensive line.

Chelsea return to Premier League action on Saturday when they welcome Tim Sherwood's Aston Villa side to Stamford Bridge.

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