Ashley Cole spared Chelsea blushes with a late strike which won all three points against dogged Stoke City at Stamford Bridge this afternoon which extends the Blues' lead at the top of the Premier League.
His cooly taken toe-poke six minutes from time was enough to move the Blues four points clear of Manchester United who play tomorrow.
Cole was clearly the least likely Chelsea player to breach the Stoke net, such was the attacking talent on show. but he finally added to his last goal, against Wigan in May 2012 to secure three precious three points. Chelsea probably had 85 per cent of play, with the visitors content to hang back, frustrate and hopefully strike with a set-piece.
Chelsea stared off in a very aggressive and positive fashion forging several corners on the spin.
The third of these, on seven minutes, resulted in Fernando Torres getting his head to a Juan Mata left-footer curler. Sadly for the Spain forward, the effort when over the crossbar.
Despite excellent build-up play equal to Barcelona at their pomp, the Blues still have a look of a side bereft of a killer instinct up front.
Torres, certainly is running round making life difficult for the Stoke's rearguard, but not actually getting close to being in the end of the moves.
The result if this, is that Chelsea are restricted to long- orange efforts, notably Odcar, Hazard and Cole, all of which failed to produce a drop of sweat off Stoke goalkeeper Asmir Begovic.
The visitors almost struck the opener on 19 minutes, when a Glenn Whelan free-kick, halfway into Chelsea's half, on the right was met forcefully on the head from Jonathan
Walters from 10 yards out which saw the ball ping Petr Cech's crossbar with the goalkeeper beaten.
The Blues appealed for a penalty three minutes later when Ivanovic looked like he was tripped by Whelan but in fact the Serbia defender dived better than Tom Daley.
Torres fluffed his lines once again on 27 minutes when brilliant play by Eden Hazard and Mata saw the Spain midfielder chip the ball over the Stoke centre-back. In-running
Torres, chested the ball down, six yards out with only the keeper to beat, then completely miss kicked the ball, allowing Bergovic to grab it gleefully.
Luiz decided that a 35-yard free kick was the order of the day. But it failed to trouble Bergovic.
Six minutes from the end of the half, Marc Wilson decided that a 25-yarder might work. but Cech like his count part was Raul to the task.
But a minute later Cech was forced into a smart save when a firmly driven ball by Knighty smashed off Geoff Cameron forcing Cech to change direction to snaffle the ball.
Referee Michael Oliver decided that Oscar, on 50 minutes, dived when entering the box after a snazzy one-two with Hazard.
The kid from Brazil stayed on his feet a minute later and drove a daisy-cutter, on target from just outside the Stoke penalty area. Bergovic dived to his left to save.
Like the first half, the second followed a similar pattern, lots of Chelsea possession and attack up to the final third, with Stoke content to wait for a set piece or two before threatening the home side's goal.
Peter crouch, still buoyed from his fabled goal of last season attempted something a bit less ambitious when collecting the ball on 57 minutes. But his piece of juggling on the edge of the Chelsea area, saw his shot go into row Z of the Shed stand rather than the back of the net.
Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo had seen enough of the Blues inability to part the Red And White Sea that is the Stoke defence. So who did he call to part it, Moses of course and Victor duly entered the fray on 62 minutes, with Hazard making way.
Ex-England striker Michael Owen then came on two minutes later for Charlie Adam. Moses was almost the architect of a Chelsea goal on 6) mi utes, when the mazy midfield run by the former Wigan wide man, ended with the ball at Oscars's feet. His his low drive almost squeezed into the corner of the Stoke net, but Bergovic scrambled across and clutched it to safety.
The mercurial Oscar went closer still three minutes later, this time his drive, beat Bergovic, but inched wide of goal. Crouch's day was over with 15 minutes remaining, Kenwyne Jones replacing the beanpole striker.
Such was the paucity of goal-threat from Torres, that even defensive midfielder Mikel was forced to push forward, The Nigerian had a double effort on target, but Bergovic was unduly troubled.
Jones's aerial capability was soon in evidence when he out jumped Luiz and met a Wilson deep cross with a powerful header which Cech did well to counter. Perhaps Mikel's foray up front was not appreciated by Di Matteo replaced him with Frank Lampard with nine minutes to go.
Three minutes later and much to the relief of the majority of e 41,112, the Blues relentless pressure finally paid off. Lampard started the decisive element of the move which saw the ball zip across firstly to Ramires who pushed the ball further wide to Ivanovic.
His first-time ball was moved into the six-yard box, wher Mata let it run under his foot, leaving in-running Cole to clip the ball past a hapless Bergovic from close range.
Unlike Wednesday against Juventus, when the Blues let slip a two-goal lead, as Di Matteo failed to close the game down with a defence substitution, he did not make the same mistake. John Terry adding to the defensive mix in place of Mata with two minutes to go.
It worked and the Blues get back to winning ways following two draws Next up for the Blues is a home tie against Wolves, on Tuesday, in the Capital Cup at Stamford Bridge.
Teams: Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Cole, Luiz, Ramires, Torres, Mata, Oscar, Mikel, Hazrad, Cahill. Subs: Turnbull, Romeu, Lampard, Moses, Terry, Azpilicueta, Bertrand
Stoke City: Begovic, Cameron, Huth, Whelan, Wilson, N'Zonzi, AdM, Shawcross, Walters, Kightly, Crouch Subs: Sorensen, Jones, Owen, Whitehead, Upson, Etherington, Shotton.
Referee: Michael Oliver