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Tom Coley

Worrying Graham Potter record surfaces for Chelsea as Nathan Jones sacked by Southampton

All four of the Premier League's bottom sides have now sacked their manager (at least once) this season. Chelsea have lost to two of those teams. It accounts for 25 per cent of the wins that those two sides, Leeds and Southampton have had all season.

For Saints, they have sacked their second manager of the season already. It was Ralph Hassenhuttl that beat Thomas Tuchel's Chelsea early on in the season but he was quickly dismissed. At Leeds Jesse Marsch's side battered Tuchel's Blues 3-0.

Now it's Nathan Jones that has been and gone on the south coast. After just 14 games the former Luton man has been given his marching orders. Slightly ironically it's a trip to Stamford Bridge that is up next for the bottom placed side.

READ MORE: Rio Ferdinand and Joe Cole agree on major penalty incident in West Ham vs Chelsea clash

Chelsea fans may well already be imagining a doomsday scenario involving the wretched and dreaded 'new manager bounce' but in reality it is a game that could turn even the staunchest of Graham Potter fans should his men fail to register a victory.

The draw to West Ham on Saturday was the third draw in a row, making it just two wins in the last 13 league games for Potter. Although there were signs of positivity and attacking play of the likes which have been all to rare in recent weeks it is the frustrating results angering fans.

With Potter having now been in charge for six months - seemingly long enough to draw reasonable conclusions by modern day standards - he can't boast a better record of wins than Jones. Although this has been skewed by cup results, Southampton won five of their 14 matches under Jones dating back to his first match on November 12.

In the same time, Chelsea have won just two of 11. It's a period that has seen frustration grow to new levels at Stamford Bridge. On the face of it Potter has inherited a team with over £550m worth of new players - over £250m of his own signings from January - and yet tangible progress is lacking.

The reality is that Chelsea are not only waiting for their new bodies to bed in and gel but injured stars are slowly returning too. Whilst just two goals in four games is a major disappointment there have been three clean sheets in that time. For another comparison, it is also worth noting that whereas Chelsea won just three of their first eight league games under Potter on xG they have had higher totals in six of their most recent eight.

This shows signs of progress that transcends the result at the end of 90 minutes but the worrying fact overall is that since November 12 it is Southampton that have had more wins than the Blues. Boil it down to league wins and Saints have just one in eight whilst the Potter is marginally better, two wins and three draws in nine.

Points wise over the course of the past three months Jones only got three from a possible 24, condemning them to relegation favourites. Chelsea's own form has been ropey but 10 points from 27 present a different picture to the win counter alone.

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