Frank Lampard scored a late, late winner to see off Wolves at Molineux this afternoon.
A venomous volley from close range restored the Blues' single goal advantage after Stephen Ward equalised with six minutes remaining a Ramires second-half opener.
It was just the result underfire Andre Villas-Boas needed as his side won for the first time in five Premier League games.
Chelsea may not win the title but if they continue to dig out results like this then fourth place is well within their ability.
The visitors had much of the opening exchanges but it was David Edwards shot on goal after one minute from 20 yards out which could have sent the home side into the lead.
Jose Bosingwa, who lost possession of the ball can thank his goalkeeper Petr Cech who easily dived to his right to snuff out the chance.
Chelsea should have taken the lead on nine minutes when a fine counter-attack, saw Frank Lampard feed Fernando Torres on the half way line.
The Spain hit man hit a fine cross;field ball which bisected the Wolves defence.
The ball fell invitingly for Juan Mata, but the midfielder could only chip the ball wide of Wayne Hennessey and to safety.
A similar smart move on 13 minutes again saw Torres dink the ball forward, this time to Lampard. again Hennessey was equal to the chance.
Ramires rattled the side netting a minute later as the visitors sought the early breakthrough.
The Brazil midfielder was at it again seconds later witha speculative over kick following a Juan Mata corner. But the effort was too weak to cause many damage.
Lampard was lucky only to get a yellow-card for a lunge on Adam Hammill on 26 minutes.
Hammill was then given a yellow for a foul on Ashley Cole a minute later as frustration started to take hold.
Wolves took advantage of a flurry of yellows which included one for Kevin Doyle to unsettle the Chelsea rearguard, and Roger Johnson saw a powerful header smash off Cech's right upright.
Stephen Ward should have given the home side the lead on 35 minutes but his header, unmarked in the six-yard box, went wide of goal. Chelsea finished the half in the ascendency with Terry flashing a Mata corner over the bar with a fierce header.
The last action being Doyle's misfired left-footer from the edge of the Chelsea area going wide.
Wolves made on substitution at half time bringing on Matt Jarvis for Anthony Forde.
But it was Hammill who almost opened the scoring on 50 minutes, but his low right-footed half volley was blocked by Terry.
He followed that up with shot from the edge of the Chelsea area, but the ball sailed high over Cech's crossbar.
But on 53 minutes, following a Mata corner the visitors scored.
Terry headed on the cross to Ramires who twisted and turned in one swift movement to rifle a righ-footer high into the top of Hennessey's net from eight yards out.
The Portuguese contingent of Ramires, Meireles, Bosingwa and Luiz then led a celebration dance with manager Andre Villas-Boas and the coaching staff in the dugout.
Ashley Cole and Terry entered the hugs late on.
Ramires sensing a second, forced a fine save out of Hennessey 10 minutes later.
Edwards nipped behind the Chelsea rearguard and glanced the through ball on, but the header had little power and Cech gleefully snaffled the ball.
Chelsea's first substitution of the game saw young Josh McEachran replace Mata on 83 minutes, and, a minute on later the home side levelled the scores.
A move involving Jarvis and Steven Fletcher, saw the ball fall into the path of Ward and he rammed home through a posse of players from just inside Chelsea's area.
But the lead lasted five minutes as Torres fed the ball wide on the left to Cole, who sent in a perfect byline cross to Lampard who volleyed home from close range much to the delight and relief of the Chelsea faithful in the 27,049 crowd.