Chelsea have moved to within two points of fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League after a 4-2 win over Aston Villa at Villa Park.
It was the Blues who started the stronger and Fernando Torres so nearly opened the scoring after six minutes with an effort inside the box, but Shay Given pushed the ball to safety.
Chelsea did take the lead minutes later, however, when Daniel Sturridge tapped home from close range after good work from Torres.
Villa might have levelled the match after 20 minutes with a header from James Collins, but he placed wide when he might have done better.
Torres remained a threat, however, and might have grabbed a goal after 24 minutes, but he fired wide from close range before Juan Mata rattled the post.
Villa searched for the equaliser in the latter stages of the half, but struggled to carve out any real opportunities against a strong Chelsea outfit.
Petr Cech was called into action late in the half, however, to deny Gabriel Agbonlahor a chance for the home side.
Chelsea moved into a 2-0 lead just moments into the second period when Branislav Ivanovic poked home from close range.
Chances remained few and far between as the second half approached its latter stages, but Villa secured a route back into the match after 77 minutes when Collins rose highest in the area to thump a header past Cech.
Villa levelled the match at 2-2 courtesy of Eric Lichaj after 80 minutes, but Ivanovic grabbed his second of the match after 83 minutes to move Chelsea into the lead.
Torres secured a fourth for the away side late on to secure a welcome three points in their fight for a Champions League place.
Matt Law
