ats going on, Grichuk said. Weve got a great ballpark here, weve got a great fan base -- they bring it every night -- and its one of those things.Chen has surrendered 19 hom

Chelsea moved to within a point of the Premier League summit with their impressive 2-0 win over Southampton on Super Sunday.Eden Hazard and Diego Costa were on target as Antonio Contes side clinched a fourth consecutive Premier League victory at St Marys Stadium.The Blues are emerging as serious title contenders. Here, we look at some of the reasons why they could go the distance... The system worksA change of formation has been the catalyst for Chelseas recent improvement. Since switching from 4-2-3-1 to 3-4-3 after their 3-0 defeat by Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, the Blues have won all four of their Premier League games without conceding a goal.Its the system Conte has used throughout his coaching career, and its taken no time for Chelseas players to adapt. Defensively, the back three of Gary Cahill, David Luiz and Cesar Azpilicueta are afforded plenty of protection by Nemanja Matic and NGolo Kante, and theres added support from wing-backs Marcos Alonso and Victor Moses. Jamie Redknapp and Graeme Souness discuss how Chelseas players have bought into Antonio Contes coaching methods Weve worked hard on the shape the managers brought and were getting the rewards, said Cahill after Sundays victory. Opponents are struggling to create openings against Chelseas packed defensive ranks. Southampton only mustered one shot on target at St Marys, and the run of four consecutive clean sheets highlights Chelseas new-found solidity.Contes got them well-drilled, said Sky Sports pundit Graeme Souness. They sit in and defend their box. They have a lot of players who are good at defending in the air and on the ground.The new system has also unlocked Chelseas attacking potential. The Blues are lethal on the break and clinical in front of goal. They beat Manchester United 4-0 despite having just 43.9 per cent of possession, and they recorded a similar figure against Southampton. Souness described their first-half display at St Marys as a masterclass in counter-attacking football. Southampton wont be the last team who struggle to contain them. Conte lauds Chelsea work ethic Antonio Conte hailed his sides work ethic against Southampton. Hazard back to his bestHazard has been the biggest beneficiary of the change of formation. The Belgian grew disillusioned on the left flank last season, but he has been given licence to roam in the new system and doesnt have to worry about defensive responsibilities. According to Opta, his average position has been even more advanced than Costas in three of Chelseas last four games.Hazard is focusing on what he does best. His opener was brilliantly taken, and he has now scored more goals in 10 games (five) than he managed in 31 appearances last season. He was named man of the match for the second consecutive match after his starring role in last weeks thrashing of Manchester United, and this was arguably an even better performance. Eden Hazard shone at St Marys, scoring one and setting up another He combined brilliantly with Costa throughout, and his assist for the Spaniards goal was one of five chances he created across the 90 minutes. Hazard was a constant threat. Southamptons defenders were reduced to fouling him more often than any other player, and Gary Neville was impressed by some of the positions he took up in central areas.Its impossible for a right-back to go there, its impossible for a centre-back to come out, and its a nightmare for a midfield player to think about him, Neville said. Hes just free and released. Hes not stuck out on the left-hand side. Hes there and hes always got five yards of space.Hazard lost his way last season, but the 2014/15 Player of the Year is back to his old self under Conte, and Chelsea are feeling the benefits. When he plays like this, few players in the Premier League can match him. Conte has the smile and snarl Antonio Conte is striking the right balance with his players, says Jamie Redknapp. Clinical CostaCosta is another player who struggled to replicate his 2014/15 form last season, but, like Hazard, he is back with a vengeance under Conte. The 28-year-olds brilliant second-half strike was his eighth Premier League goal of the season, putting him top of the scoring charts ahead of Sergio Aguero and Romelu Lukaku.Hes a brilliant player to have in your team when hes playing like today, said Neville in the Sky Sports commentary box. Hes a handful up front, and he defended three or four balls out of his own six yard box as well.Its quite the transformation from last season. Costa is leading the line with tireless intensity again, and hes playing with confidence too. He has hit the target with 71 per cent of his shots compared to 53 per cent last season, and his conversion rate is up from 23 per cent to 33 per cent. He left the pitch to loud cries of Diego, Diego, Diego from the away end at St Marys. Costa is back and hes lifting Chelsea. Costa celebrates after scoring his sides second goal The Kante-Matic partnershipEvery title-winning side needs a strong central midfield pairing and NGolo Kante and Nemanja Matic are certainly providing it for Chelsea. Kante was a force of nature in front of Leicesters back four last season, and hes now producing a similar level of performance for his new team.He made more than twice as many interceptions (seven) as any other player on the pitch against Southampton, and he impressed with the ball, too, finding a team-mate with 92.2 per cent of his passes - a higher accuracy rate than any of his team-mates. It was a performance in keeping with his recent form. Southampton 0-2 Chelsea highlights Kante has injected energy and dynamism into Chelseas central midfield, and Matic has impressed alongside him. The Serb struggled last season, but he is playing with authority again now, taking it in turns with Kante to run from box-to-box. There was one particularly impressive moment in the first half when he robbed Steven Davis high up the pitch before sending Costa through on goal.Chelseas powerful pairing have dominated the midfield in each of Chelseas last four games. Its bad news for Cesc Fabregas, but Conte will be hoping it continues.No European commitmentsThere were few positives to take from Chelseas 10th-placed finish last year, but not having to juggle European commitments this season could help their cause. The Blues new playing style demands high-intensity (they have outrun their opponents in each of their last three games) so the lighter load is especially beneficial. Watch NOW TV Watch Sky Sports for just ￡6.99. No contract. It also gives Conte more time on the training ground with his players. If you ask me if I prefer this situation, I dont, because Chelsea must be in this competition, he said back in August. But because we are not, I will have a whole week to train with my players. That gives me a chance to work with them more compared to other managers in previous seasons.The previous weekend of Premier League football was a good example of what can happen. Manchester City, Arsenal and Tottenham all failed to win after their midweek exertions in the Champions League, while Chelsea and Liverpool beat Manchester United and West Brom respectively after an uninterrupted schedule. Chelsea stand to benefit from a clearer fixture schedule than their rivalsAlso See:Conte lauds Chelsea work ethicConte has the snarl and smileWholesale NHL Jerseys Authentic . They hope to persuade the other team owners and commissioner Roger Goodell to put pressure on Redskins owner Daniel Snyder to drop the nickname they find offensive. "Given the way the meeting transpired," Ray Halbritter, an Oneida representative and leader of the "Change the Mascot Campaign," said Wednesday, "it became somewhat evident they were defending the continued use of the name. Fake NHL Jerseys . "It doesnt get any better than that," Giambi said. "Im speechless." The Indians are roaring toward October. Giambi belted a two-run, pinch-hit homer with two outs in the ninth inning to give Cleveland a shocking 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night, keeping the Indians up with the lead pack in the AL wild-card race. http://www.cheapnhlcustomjerseys.com/ . Numbers Game looks into the Canadiens securing the services of Thomas Vanek in a trade with the New York Islanders. The Canadiens Get: LW Thomas Vanek and a conditional fifth-round pick. Authentic NHL Jerseys Cheap . -- New England Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis is retiring after a 16-year career to become the goalie coach for the Los Angeles Galaxy. Wholesale NHL Jerseys Online . The 25-year-old Japanese star has officially been posted by his club team, the Rakuten Golden Eagles.ST. LOUIS -- There was no sugarcoating it. Defense, perhaps the St. Louis Cardinals biggest shortcoming all season, let them down again.Manager Mike Matheny cited the non-plays as much as the lone error that led to the tying run in a 7-6 loss to the Miami Marlins on Friday night.Whenever we had one, it hurt us, Matheny said. Just one of those days I know just about every decision I went to didnt seem to work, and that doesnt help.The Cardinals came out of the All-Star break with a major league-leading 68 errors and reliever Kevin Siegrists wild pickoff throw trying to catch 42-year-old Ichiro Suzuki napping in the eighth inning was the 69th.Two other plays were just as costly.Matt Holliday, getting his sixth start at first base, couldnt handle a long hop on a potential double play ball in the fourth that led to a run. Center fielder Randal Grichuk came in and couldnt retreat in time to harness Marcell Ozunas double in the ninth that led to the winning run.I felt like I had a good bead on it and I kind of had it and it just kind of tilted away, Grichuk said.Matheny gave Holliday, a career left fielder before this season, the benefit of the doubt, for the missed play in the fourth.No matter how much work he gets, its tough to prepare for, he said. Hes going to get better the more time we get him out there, but there is going to be a learning curve.Suzuki had a pinch-single in the eighth for his 2,991st career hit and scored to tie it and Miguel Rojas drove in the go-ahead run in the ninth in the Marlins fourth straight victory.Tommy Pham had two of the Cardinals four homers and drove in four runs. Stephen Piscotty and Grichuk also connected for St. Louis, which hit two each off Wei-Yin Chen and reliever David Phelps.Its just tough to be on this side of the equation when you had a good night like I did, Pham said. Of his curtain call after a three-run shot in the fourth, he said, Its horrible now.ddddddddddddThe hit was the first since July 4 for the 42-year-old Suzuki. Hes had just seven pinch-hit appearances and one start this month with the Marlins, who have a steady outfield rotation of Christian Yelich, Ozuna and Giancarlo Stanton.The Cardinals blew leads of 4-1 and 6-5 to fall to 19-27 at home, and are 27-16 record on the road. They were 55-26 at home last year, tied for best in the majors.Its incredible, I dont understand whats going on, Grichuk said. Weve got a great ballpark here, weve got a great fan base -- they bring it every night -- and its one of those things.Chen has surrendered 19 homers, among the league leaders. Phelps had given up just two in 46 innings but the bullpen rallied with Fernando Rodney (1-2) working a perfect eighth and A.J. Ramos earning his 28th save in 29 chances.Seung Hwan Oh (2-1), the Cardinals stand-in closer, lost on his 34th birthday.Suzuki singled off Siegrist with one out in the eighth and scored on Martin Prados two-out hit off Jonathan Broxton.TRAINERS ROOMCardinals: 1B-OF Brandon Moss (ankle) is eligible to come off the DL on Saturday but is still in a walking boot.UMPIRE DOWNThe umpiring crew worked a man short after plate ump Chad Fairchild took a foul off his right forearm in the bottom of the first. Jim Joyce went from first base to home.HAPPY BIRTHDAYLong-time Cardinals broadcaster Mike Shannon worked the booth on his 77th birthday.UP NEXTMarlins: Tom Koehler is 1-2 with a 7.56 ERA in three career starts against the Cardinals.Cardinals: Adam Wainwright (8-5, 4.49) is 50-28 with a 3.05 ERA for his career after the break. He is 2-0 his last two outings, allowing one run in 14 innings. ' ' '