N'Golo Kante's third goal of the season helped Chelsea consolidate their top four place with a narrow 1-0 win over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
The Frenchman struck five minutes into the second half to hand Maurizio Sarri's side all three points to move within two points of third-placed Tottenham.
But it wasn't plain sailing for Maurizio Sarri's side, who had recalled Olivier Giroud after starting Eden Hazard as a false nine in the previous four games.
Despite controlling the early possession, the Blues were lacking the fluency that saw them beat Brighton and Watford away from home, and it took a while for them to get going.
The Blues thought they had taken the lead when Olivier Giroud latched onto Jorginho's lofted pass and brilliantly powered a half-volley past Vicente Guaita.
The Frenchman, however, was dismayed to see the offside correctly raised, denying the 31-year-old a first Premier League goal since November.
Willian hit the post with a free-kick late in the first half before Ross Barkley, from the resulting corner, saw his overhead kick clip the outside of the same woodwork.
After the break, Chelsea broke the deadlock with a classy period of play. David Luiz picked out the run of N'Golo Kante and the midfielder chested it down superbly, before scuffing his effort beyond Guaita.
That took the pressure off the away side, who were far from their best, and forced Palace to come out of their defensive shape to press for an equaliser.
Read More
Roy Hodgson sent on Max Meyer and Connor Wickham as the home side searched for an unlikely equaliser, but lacked the quality in the final third as Chelsea held on for another vital three points in their quest for a top-four finish.
