This late win thrust the holders to within three points of Manchester United at the top, with a trip to Old Trafford to come next weekend. Sir Alex Ferguson had left the arena 15 minutes before the final whistle quietly content, the Premier League trophy apparently within his grasp; had he stayed, he might have ended crying conspiracy.

Even freakish good fortune is propelling Chelsea on to the leaders' shoulders at present. Both their goals here were laced with controversy, the kind of rewards that would normally be flagged down by the officials and, if only grudgingly, later conceded as correct calls. Yet, when the holders needed them most, they reaped the benefits from critical oversights.

This was an eighth win in nine league games. Such luck would never have been with them back in a dire mid-winter when a run of 10 points from 11 matches seemed to have wrecked their chances. Their luck has now turned.

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