Demba Ba has scored freely since joining the Blues © PA Photos Enlarge

Demba Ba believes Chelsea's indifferent form on home soil stems from their failure to overcome the negativity of their Stamford Bridge visitors.

Wednesday night's 2-2 draw with relegation battlers Southampton continued an alarming run that has seen the Blues win just one of the first six games manager Rafael Benitez has taken charge of since he succeeded Roberto Di Matteo, and Ba admits it is a trend that needs to end.

"It's different when teams come here because they just want to defend and don't want to lose," Ba told Chelsea TV. "When we go away, the opponents always look to take their chances and they think they can win at home. That's why the games are always more open when we play away, but at home we need to get back to winning ways.

"We had some good moments against Southampton, but some bad ones as well. They were lucky to only go in at half-time 2-0 down because it could have been more, but we need to finish all the chances we have and put the ball in the back of the net.

"At the end of the day, though, we conceded two goals, and went back home with only a point. Southampton came back and we let them believe they could get something from the game and they took their chance."

Chelsea have yet to win at home in 2013 and after Pep Guardiola turned his back on the chance to take over as Blues boss next summer to join Bayern Munich, speculation over the long-term future of Benitez is beginning to gather momentum.

The Stamford Bridge faithful offered up more jeers to the Spaniard after his latest disappointment on home soil, with Jose Mourinho now installed as a the favourite to make a return to his former job as Chelsea chief Roman Abramovich appears to be running out of options as he looks to make his next permanent managerial appointment.

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