Chelsea are going to make hard work of this
Five points clear, and with their only title rivals dropping to defeat at Burnley, this was the perfect opportunity to forget the failings of Wednesday and push on.
But this was an awkward game, where their defence looked more than occasionally iffy, and their visitors took every opportunity to deny them going forward.
After all that, the resultant six points plus a game in hand cushion is certainly not to be sniffed at.
But the players who have been very nearly ever-present look wiped; and those who haven't had much of a look in still seem short of what is needed.
Chelsea will win this title – but it will be a long old slog yet.
Mike Dean guessed wrong for the penalty
In the 19th minute Nemanja Matic and Sadio Mane battled for a ball in the box.
The Chelsea man got the ball, and his opponent went down – with no real sign of contact.
Mike Dean, 15 yards away and on the blind side of the incident, pointed straight to the spot and – no conspiracy or campaign – he got it plain wrong.
There was surely no way he could have seen an offence worthy of a penalty from that position – not least, because there was no such offence.
Referees do a very tricky job, especially in these days of 360 degree replays. But we deserve a bit better than the guesswork we saw here.
But he seemed to see the error of his ways at half time
With Matic on a yellow from that non-penalty, the Serb made it very easy for Mr Dean immediately after the break.
Clashing with Mane again, this time outside the Blues' box, he sent the Senegal international flying.
As the referee reached for his pocket, a deadly quiet fell over Stamford Bridge.
And then he seemed to think again, and pointed only downwards for a Southampton free kick.
Chelsea were let out of jail – and few seemed clearer on that than Mourinho, who took off Matic shortly afterwards.
His Chelsea certainly didn't need more match time without their midfield powerhouse.
The search party is yet to find Oscar's form
What has happened to the Brazilian that Mourinho insisted would be at the heart of his team?
Anonymous, off the ball, off the pace, and having no real impact on match after match of late – he looks nothing like the young star some were touting for a World XI not two seasons back.
Mourinho not so long ago said that only a King's Ransom would see Oscar taken from the Blues.
It'll be interesting to see how that resolve holds up in the summer months.
Mothering Sunday should be kept for mums
The switching of this game to lunchtime on Mothering Sunday was just the latest in a series of decisions that show football's authorities give not a hoot for the supporters.
And the consequence of that was unsurprising – loads of spare tickets doing the rounds all week, and a crowd made up of more than a few who were less familiar with the Stamford Bridge songbook than their usual cohorts.
This and Easter Day are days for families – not for football. Perhaps, if the Premier League fancies doing the same next season, they can leave a bunch of flowers on every seat in the ground, for it's occupant to take home to mum?
Or, even better, they can stop meddling in the home lives and family events of the people who pay for the game.
