Florent Malouda scored a vital goal that secured three vital points against plucky Bolton Wanderers at Stamford Bridge tonight.
The Blues are now back in the dizzy height of fourth place leapfrogging Spurs.
But it was a less than impressive performance where the result was more crucial.
Carlo Ancelotti was given a bit of a breather from the flak directed at him from some quarters but the match against Aston Villa on Sunday is equally as important as tonight’s.
Chelsea, seven points adrift of leaders Manchester United at the start of the match are now just four..
Ancelotti made three changes from the humbling defeat at Arsenal on Monday – Nicolas Anelka returned as did Ramires and Jose Bosingwa.
The Blues were grateful to John Terry who disposed Kevin Davies early on.
Bolton, who could only name six substitutes, such were their injury problems could have gone ahead in the first half – Matt Taylor latched onto a poor Bosingwa clearance before letting fly a fine left-footer which inched past Petr Cech’s left upright.
Chelsea were unlucky when Frank Lampard sent Didier Drogba free, early in the second half, but the Ivory Coast striker could only groan when he saw his first time shot rebound off Bolton’s post.
But the champions finally got the breakthrough when, Malouda opened the scoring on 61 minutes, tucking home a neat left footer after Drogba escaped the offside trap.
Ricketts had a glorious chance to level soon after excellent approach play but the fullback blasted high over Cech’s crossbar from just outside the penalty area.
Cech spared Chelsea's blushes and produced a fine save tipping over a Holden header.
Ashley Cole tried his luck minutes from time but Jaaskelainen was equal to the task, scrambling the ball clear.
Chelsea saw out the remaining minutes to secure the points which keeps Ancelotti in a job - for now.
Chelsea (4-3-2-1): Cech, Bosingwa (Ferreira 90+2), Ivanovic, JT; (c) Cole; Ramires, Essien, Lampard; Anelka (Kalou 90), Malouda; Drogba.
Unused subs Turnbull, Bruma, van Aanholt, McEachran, Kakuta.
Scorer Malouda 60.
Booked Ivanovic 25.
Bolton (4-4-2): Jaaskelainen; Ricketts, Cahill, Knight, Robinson; Moreno (Klasnic 71), Muamba, Holden (M Davies 81), Taylor (Petrov 76); K Davies (c), Elmander.
Unused subs: Bogdan, Alonso, Blake.
Booked Taylor 42, Robinson 61
Referee Mike Jones.
Crowd 40,982.
Shots on Chelsea4 Bolton 2
Corners Chelsea 4 Bolton 3
Fouls Chelsea 12 Bolton 25
Offsides Chelsea 8 Bolton 3