A much needed win, and Diego Costa answered the call with the only goal of the game against a plucky Norwich City at the Bridge, this afternoon.
With only two home league wins all season, and sitting 16th in the league, Chelsea signalled their intent with a composed performance, where winning was the sole objective.
But for some wayward finishing, the champions would have won this encounter in a canter.
John Terry almost recreated the famous Gianfranco Zola goal against Norwich from the FA Cup in 2002, when he flicked at the near post a corner from Cesc Fabregas.
Sadly for the skipper, the ball inched wide of John Ruddy's net.
Norwich, always playing on the counter-attack almost cut the Blues apart on 19 minutes when Dieumerci Mbokani flashed the ball over Asmir Begovic's crossbar.
Quite how Diego Costa missed a sitter on 25 minutes is anybodies guess as the hit man side-footed a virtual open goal from six-yards over the Norwich net.
A venomous Fabregas shot was parried away by Ruddy as Chelsea turned the screw on the Norwich defence.
But on the break, the visitors are dangerous and on 33 minutes the Canaries thought they had a penalty when Willian appeared to bundle over Robbie Brady. But referee Craig Pawson ignored the justified pleas.
Pawson then ignored Chelsea's call for a penalty when Costa went down in the box after some rough physical pressure by Sebastien Bassong with six minutes left on the first-half clock.
A sensational stop by Terry prevented Norwich from taking the lead from a Bassong strike. Straight away Chelsea raced up the pitch and should have scored but Ruddy did well to deflect a Costa daisy-cutter away for a corner.
There were no changes of personnel at half time.
The first attack of the restart fell to Willian and his dipping 20-yard free-kick was well held by Ruddy.
This was quickly followed by Zouma who blazed a volley over the Norwich crossbar.
Inevitably the breakthrough came, and it was under fire Costa, who, taking advantage of a quick free-kick by Fabregas, took one touch and planted the inch-perfect right-footer beyond the departing dive from Ruddy.
Zouma almost doubled the lead on 67 minutes, smashing the Norwich crossbar with a volley from a Willian free kick.
A Matic solo effort almost killed the game off, but Ruddy was equal to the task to keep Norwich in the game right to the end.
A flurry of substitutions by Jose Mourinho, to use up the remaining minutes worked a treat and the Blues recorded their third home win of the season, much to the fans relief.
Teams, Chelsea, Begovic, Ivanovic, Fabregas, Zouma,Hazard, Kendy, Pedro, Costa, Matic, Willian, Terry
Subs, Blackman, Ramires,Oscar, Traore, Remy, Cahill, Azpilicueta
Norwich City, Ruddy, Wisdom, Bassong, Howson, Mbokani, Brady, MuluMbu, Redmond, Olsson, Bennett, O'Neil
Ref, Craig Pawson