Branislav Ivanovic blasted Chelsea seven points clear at the top of the Premier League as his strike downed Aston Villa 2-1 at Villa Park.
The league leaders went ahead on seven minutes through Eden Hazard before being pegged back three minutes after the second-half restart.
Those vital three points when set against second place Manchester City 1-1 draw at home to Hull City mean Chelsea are seven points clear at the top.
The Blues were right on top of their game from the off with the home side's tactic of disruption and cynical challenges the only real on-pitch opposition.
So it was not a surprise that there was a yellow card for Tom Cleverley after just four minutes after he hacked down Cesar Azpilicueta in midfield.
But three minutes later the Blues took the lead, their dominance of possession dictated.
And it was Eden Hazard who neatly tucked home from six yards,
Drogba initially set Oscar clear on the right. He passed the ball to Willian who passed it on in-running Hazard whose right-footer from six-yards out zipped past a prone and exposed Brad Guzan and into the corner of the net.
Villa had two unjustifiable shouts for penalties waved away as they attempted to score for the first time in six league games. Gabriel Agbonlahor saw a clear Thibaut Courtois crossbar as they home side took advantage of some sloppy play by Hazard. On the counter, on 22 minutes, Oscar had a great chance to double the lead but his angled shot was parried away for a corner by Guzan.
The Blues had a penalty shout of their own denied when Aly Cissokho handled the ball back to Guzan following a corner.
Neither side made a change at half-time, but the visitors almost levelled straight away through Andreas Weimann and then by Cleverley.
Sleepy Chelsea then did concede, three minutes after the restart, when Jores Omore headed in past Courtois from a Carles Gill cross. It was 660th minutes since the home side last scored a league goal.
Agbonlahor then had a header inch wide as Chelsea struggled to get themselves into the game.
Two shots by Willian offered some respite for the Blues, both times his effort just missed Giuzan's right post.
Jose Mourinho opted to bring on Loic Remy for ineffectual Drogba on 64 minutes.
Two minutes later and the league leaders were back in front. Excellent work by Azpilicueta who raced into the Villa penalty are forced a weak clearance by Villa and Branislav Ivanovic pounced like a striker to bury a fierce left-footer high and wide into Guzan's net.
Mikel and debutant Juan Cuadrado entered the fray as Mourinho attempted to manage the final 13 minutes. Oscar and Willian made way.
This, once again he did successfully.
Next up for Chelsea is a trip to Stamford Bridge, on Wednesday, of Everton.
Teams: Chelsea; Courtois, Ivanovic, Ramires, Oscar, Hazard, Drogba, Matic, Willian, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta
Subs, Cech, Zluma, Ake, Mikel, Remy, Cuadrado, Loftus-Cheek
Aston Villa; Guzan, Okore, Clark, Cleverley, Weimann, Agbonlahor, Westwood, Delph, Hutton, Cissokho, Gill
Subs, Given, Vlaar, Bacuna, Sinclair, Cole, Beneke, Sanchez.
Referee: Neil Swarbrick
Ends