Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca maintained his squad are not ready to sustain a title challenge, pointing to their messy 2-1 win over Brentford that took them to within two points behind leaders Liverpool.
It was Chelsea's fifth successive league win, but the chaotic nature of securing the three points only reinforced Maresca's thinking that his side lack the experience to keep biting at the heels of Liverpool, who also have a game in hand on their rivals.
Marc Cucurella and Nicolas Jackson struck for the home side at Stamford Bridge before Bryan Mbeumo's 90th-minute goal sparked a nervy finale.
Spain international Cucurella was then sent off in stoppage time but the 10 men held on for victory.
"For me no matter how many games we win, there are things [that show] we're not ready to compete for the title in this moment. A team who knows how to win wouldn't concede that goal," said Maresca, who has repeatedly shot down the idea of challenging for the title in recent weeks.
“On 90 minutes, a throw-in for us and we concede a goal. A team that knows how to win titles, that goal they’re not to going to concede. It’s why I continue to say that we are not ready for titles.
“Even if you don’t believe me. I would love the pressure to compete for the title. But we cannot concede the goal we concede and open the game and give them the chance to take a point here.
"The fans, they can dream and think. But us inside as a club, as a squad, as players, as coaching staff, we need to be realistic.
"I said we have many things we can do better and this [the red card] is one of them."
Maresca was frustrated by Chelsea's inability to kill the game off earlier as they dominated the West London derby for long spells.
But it was an ideal weekend for his side as Liverpool and third-placed Arsenal both drew at home on Saturday, while defending champions Manchester City fell further off the pace with a 2-1 defeat to Manchester United.
"We were in control of the game except the last 10 minutes where we concede," added Maresca.
"We created chances. We could have scored more. We deserved to win the game."
Cucurella, who played much of the game in midfield and continued his remarkable rise to become one of Chelsea’s best players this season, was sent off after the final whistle, shown a second yellow card for confronting Brentford’s Kevin Schade, and will serve a one-game ban.
“The referee said the second yellow card was for bad attitude,” said Maresca. “I was with the coaching staff celebrating so I didn’t see anything."
Saints sack Martin after Spurs defeat
Southampton sacked manager Russell Martin shortly after his side's 5-0 drubbing at home to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday left them rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table.
The humiliating defeat, in which Spurs scored five times in the first half, left Southampton on five points from 16 matches.
Martin was the second Premier League manager sacked on Sunday after second-bottom Wolverhampton Wanderers parted company with Gary O'Neil.
"The reality of our situation is clear. The board have supported Russell and his staff and been open and transparent regarding our expectations," a club statement read.
"We have all been on the same page in recognising the urgency of needing results to improve.
"We would like to take this opportunity to thank Russell and his staff for all the hard work and dedication they have given the club on and off the pitch over the last 18 months."
Martin, 38, was booed during his side's capitulation against Tottenham and missed the fifth goal as he had already gone to the changing rooms.
Martin was appointed in June 2023 and guided Southampton to promotion via the play-offs last season, earning plaudits for his side's attractive style of football.
This season, however, they have been brutally exposed in the top flight, losing 13 of their opening 16 games and seemingly on course for a quick return to the second tier.
Only one team in Premier League history has had fewer points after 16 games of the season.
After the defeat by Spurs, defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis said the players should take the blame.
"[The fans] want to see the team win, so it's normal. The booing should be on us players and not the manager. He's not creating the mistakes," Harwood-Bellis said.
Four Premier League managers have been sacked this season with Steve Cooper leaving Leicester City and Dutchman Erik ten Hag being dismissed by Manchester United.
James Maddison bagged a brace, opening the scoring after only 36 seconds, to give Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou a much-needed Premier League victory.
Spurs were winless in five ahead of this clash at St Mary’s and without nine players, but scored three times inside 14 minutes.
Son Heung-min and Dejan Kulusevski struck in quick succession, with Pape Sarr able to grab a fourth in the 25th minute before Maddison added another in first-half stoppage-time.
It failed to stop Tottenham’s noisy away support repeatedly calling for chairman Daniel Levy to leave the club, but this result – on the club’s first return to Southampton since Antonio Conte’s extraordinary rant in 2023 – moved them within four points of fifth-placed Manchester City.
