Didier Drogba scored his 100th Premier League goal to keep a perfect record for interim Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo in a 1-0 win over 10-man Stoke on Saturday.
The Ivory Coast striker struck in the 68th minute after a pinpoint through ball from substitute Juan Mata. After a heavy first touch, Drogba rounded Stoke goalkeeper Asmir Begovic.
Playing its first league game since firing Andre Villas-Boas, Chelsea provisionally drew level on points with fourth-place Arsenal and maintained its push for a Champions League place next season. Arsenal plays Newcastle on Monday.
Making his first league start since the start of 2011, Stoke forward Ricardo Fuller was given a straight red card in the 25th for stamping on Branislav Ivanovic's groin.
Former Chelsea player Di Matteo saw his team beat Birmingham 2-0 in an FA Cup fifth-round replay on Tuesday.
''With the events of the last week, it was important for us to get that win,'' Di Matteo said. ''You could feel a bit of nervousness but better times will come.''
However, Chelsea was far from convincing ahead of its Wednesday's Champions League second-leg match against Napoli, despite the man advantage.
Chelsea should have been ahead inside four minutes, Stoke captain Ryan Shawcross going close to back-heading an own goal and an unmarked Ivanovic powering over from the recalled Frank Lampard's corner.
Gary Cahill drove forward from the back and unleashed a 10th-minute fierce shot which Begovic palmed behind.
Cahill had to rescue Chelsea with a block after a slip from John Terry - playing his first league match since returning from knee surgery - let in Jonathan Walters, who was then hauled back by John Obi Mikel, prompting a yellow card.
Raul Meireles dragged wide when well placed on the edge of the area as Chelsea tried to make the extra man count. It almost did just past the half-hour when Terry's downward header from Lampard's corner bounced up on to the crossbar.
After the break Begovic got away with spilling an early shot from Lampard before Stoke threw on Wilson Palacios and Matthew Upson for Diao and Wilson, switching to three at the back and remaining ultra-defensive.
Terry drilled narrowly wide from 25 yards (meters) and Chelsea forced Begovic into a superb save when Drogba's 66th-minute free-kick was clawed out of the top corner.
That did not stop Di Matteo sending on Daniel Sturridge for Mikel in search of a goal, keeping Fernando Torres on the bench.
The breakthrough immediately followed after Mata put Drogba through to score a day before his 34th birthday.
Stoke finally began to venture from its own half and suddenly Chelsea was on the ropes. Andy Wilkinson even tried his luck with a 45-yard (meter) lob.
The home side was still in control but another mistake from Terry seven minutes from time let in Cameron Jerome, who flashed past the post under pressure from Cahill.
Sturridge twice shot wide from the edge of the box either side of Mata's superb 30-yard free-kick clattering the upright as Chelsea eventually eased home.
