Chelsea came from a goal down within a minute to rattle home three goals against a fine Southampton side to record a 3-1 win and go second in the Premier League.
Chelsea's centre-back duo of Gary Cahill and John Terry can stop goals at one end but in this instance were the architects of this excellent victory.
The defenders scored the goals which at first, equalised the visitors' sensational opening goal in less than a minute and then propelled the Blues into the lead.
Substitute Demba Ba added the final touch with his first league goal in nine months with the final whistle beckoning.
Chelsea now go clear into second place of the Premier League just four points behind Arsenal.
But it could have been ever so different as the home side conceded early.
Direct from the kick-off, after three touches by Southampton players, Michael Essien made a cardinal sin of just hacking the ball away. Sadly for him and his teammates it was directed back over his own defence and straight into the path of in-running Jay Rodriguez who rifled home past check with just 13 seconds on the clock.
The error from Essien may have something to do with it being his first league start of the season and his first start since May 2012.
Chelsea recovered from this early setback and settled down to attack the visitors. A shot on target by Oscar on 20 minutes, which Artur Boruc did well to parry away was the first attack on goal for in 110 minutes for the Blues.
Chelsea failed to muster an effort in Switzerland in midweek during their 1-0 Champions League defeat to Basel.
James Ward-Prowse had a decent free-kick which just dipped over Petr Cech's crossbar on 26 minutes.
While Chelsea had the majority of the possession, they seemed to be waiting for someone else to spark them into action.
Three offsides in quick succession, suggested a lack of patience and composure by the home side.
Oscar missed a glorious chance with four minutes of the half to go when his downward header from six yards out, was unchallenged, but also weak and was easily held by Boruc.
That was the last action for the Brazil midfielder, who, minutes earlier injured himself, when he collapsed to the ground, after falling over the ball.
A sensational save by Boruc from Torres two minutes later prevented the Blues gaining a deserved equaliser. The build-up play between Eden Hazard and Juan Mata on the left was sensational too, But the Poland goalkeeper's dive to his left to claw out a low header from Torres from close range was top class.
Jose Mourinho decided at half-time that he had had enough and brought on striker Demba Ba for the ineffectual Essien.
The second half started with a tad more aggression and a spate of tackle by Ramires.
And it seemed to work as the Blues levelled the score 10 minutes in.
A fine header by Branislav Ivanovic went to Ba at the far post but his outstretched lunge could only turn the ball onto the post. The ball came out to Gary Cahill who managed to head the ball back and over the Southampton goal line.
That was also the last action for Boruc, who must have injured himself when he collided with the post in his vain attempt to prevent the goal. He was then replaced by substitute stopper Paulo Gazzangia.
The first touch of the ball for the 21-year old Spain goalkeeper was to take the ball out of the back of his net as the Blues took the lead in the 62nd minute.
From a Mata corner, the ball was cleared. It went to Lampard who sent the ball back on the left to Mata. He had time then to swing the perfect curling ball into the penalty area, where John Terry rose to perfectly direct the ball past the outstretched dive from Gazzangia.
It was a nice way for Chelsea skipper to celebrate his 400th league match for the West Londoners.
Ba had the chance to seal the game when he raced clear but could only cut the ball across goal and out to safety.
With a lead secured Mourinho made what he felt would be his final tactical change, bolstering the midfield with Mikel at the expense of Torres with six minutes to go.
But Dani Osvaldo had two efforts to level the score late on, a clipped half volley and a shot over the bar.
But it was the Blues how completed the comeback in emphatic fashion in the 90th minute.
Excellent work on the left by Ramires eventually saw the Brazil midfielder sent in a low drive into the penalty area. Demba Ba was first to react and toe-poked the ball past hapless Gazzaniga.
Chelsea can take a step closer to overhauling their north London rivals when they visit Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Wednesday.
But they will need to show the same passion and determination as they did this evening to overcome adversity and take all the points.
Teams: Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Essien, Ramires, Torres, Mata, Oscar, Hazrd, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta
Subs: Schwarzer, Cole, Lampard, Mikel, Schurrle, Ba Willian
Southampton: Boruc, Clyne, Schneiderlin, Lovren, Fonte, Rodrigeuz, Wanyama, Ward-Prowse, Osvaldo, Lallana, Shaw
Subs: Gazzaniga, Yoshida, Lambert, Davis, Cork, Chambers, Hooiveld
Referee: Michael Oliver