Tomorrow's league match against Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge has now taken on significant proportions.
Only a win will be accepted by the fans and the players.
If the boys get it, then they will be five points adrift of leaders Manchester United.
Any other result and it's virtually the end of chelsea's hopes of retaining their title.
everton and Wigan are coming up and they are two tricky games.
chelsea have in the past two season, produced morale-boosting wins when under pressure, and sapped the energy of those trailing behind them.
Now the boot is on the other foot.
Apart from Andrij Shevchenko, the remaining players are producing the performances expected of them.
The loss of Petr cech is obvious now.
As much as Hilario is a fine third-choice goalie, he is just that a third choice.
cech would have saved the goal Flamini scored for Arsenal on Sunday.
Reports suggests that Cech will resume full training in mid-January.
Well it can't come a day too soon.
If the world's best stopper can get back into first-team action and regain his superb form around April time, then that could prove crucial.
But by then the title could already be heading to Manchester.
If we are still in with a shout then perhaps, just, chelsea might pull off the finest title race win in the history of the Premier League.
Joe cole is out of action until the middle of January.
Get back soon, Joe we need you.