Chelsea bounced back from conceding a Jay Rodriguez goal after 13 seconds to beat Southampton 3-1 and move within four points of Barclays Premier League leaders Arsenal.
Goals from Gary Cahill, John Terry and substitute Demba Ba earned Chelsea's sixth home win from seven games this season to extend Jose Mourinho's unbeaten Premier League record at Stamford Bridge to 67 games.
Mourinho was fuming with his team at times but would have been pleased with the response to the early blow.
Captain's performance: John Terry's goal gave Chelsea the lead for the first time on Sunday afternoon
Jumping for glory: As he has done so many times, the defender sprung highest to score for Chelsea
Athletic dive: But Southampton's substitute goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga could do little to keep the header out
Nathaniel Clyne's ball down the right fell for Essien, who hooked it
hopefully backwards over the head of Cahill and Rodriguez coolly
side-footed in.
There was jubilation from Mauricio Pochettino and the visiting bench, knowing Southampton had won all six previous games in which they had opened the scoring this season.
Torres tried to spark a revival, surging into the area before tripping under the attentions of Jose Fonte as he prepared to shoot.
Boruc saved an Oscar shot before James Ward-Prowse curled a free-kick wide for Saints, as the visitors gave as good as they got.
There was jubilation from Mauricio Pochettino and the visiting bench, knowing Southampton had won all six previous games in which they had opened the scoring this season.
Torres tried to spark a revival, surging into the area before tripping under the attentions of Jose Fonte as he prepared to shoot.
Boruc saved an Oscar shot before James Ward-Prowse curled a free-kick wide for Saints, as the visitors gave as good as they got.
The equaliser: Seven minutes before, Gary Cahill had levelled for Chelsea from just in front of goal
Joy: And Gary Cahill, John Terry's central defensive partner, knew the importance of his goal
Essien was off the pace as Saints enjoyed midfield supremacy and the
Chelsea man was booked for diving after losing the ball next to Morgan
Schneiderlin in his own half.
Torres' persistence down the right almost paid off when he crossed for Oscar, whose header was saved by Boruc before the Brazil attacking midfielder went off injured, with Frank Lampard coming on.
Boruc was at full stretch to deny Torres as the striker met Eden Hazard's cross and Lampard was unable to reach the follow up as Southampton cleared and reached the break with their lead intact.
Mourinho had seen enough and retreated from his technical area furious at his team's first-half display before referee Michael Oliver had blown for the break.
Torres' persistence down the right almost paid off when he crossed for Oscar, whose header was saved by Boruc before the Brazil attacking midfielder went off injured, with Frank Lampard coming on.
Boruc was at full stretch to deny Torres as the striker met Eden Hazard's cross and Lampard was unable to reach the follow up as Southampton cleared and reached the break with their lead intact.
Mourinho had seen enough and retreated from his technical area furious at his team's first-half display before referee Michael Oliver had blown for the break.
Important goal: Chelsea cannot afford to let Arsenal to build too big a lead at the top of the Premier League
Going close: Many of Chelsea's attempts on goal came in the air, from the likes of Fernando Torres
Essien, who spent last season with Mourinho at Real Madrid and was named
'The Wall' by the man he calls 'Daddy', did not return for the second
half as Ba joined Torres up front.
A Lampard free-kick had Boruc back-pedalling and the goalkeeper palmed the ball over, but from the resulting corner the Pole was beaten and Chelsea were level.
Mata's set-piece found Branislav Ivanovic, whose header was redirected by Ba on to the post.
The ball ricocheted back, deceiving Boruc, and Cahill headed the ball in.
A Lampard free-kick had Boruc back-pedalling and the goalkeeper palmed the ball over, but from the resulting corner the Pole was beaten and Chelsea were level.
Mata's set-piece found Branislav Ivanovic, whose header was redirected by Ba on to the post.
The ball ricocheted back, deceiving Boruc, and Cahill headed the ball in.
Frustration: Juan Mata earlier could do little to hide his disappointment at the fact Chelsea were trailing
Injured: Chelsea's talented Brazilian Oscar was replaced by Frank Lampard in the 42nd minute
Early striker: England international Jay Rodriguez shocked Chelsea with the finish that put the Saints one up
There was a lengthy pause following the goal as Boruc went off.
Gazzaniga's first act was to retrieve the ball from his net as Lampard returned a half-cleared corner to Mata and Terry rose highest to head into the Southampton net.
Chelsea were still well below their best despite squeezing Southampton into submission.
Ba did well to meet Cesar Azpilicueta's lofted pass behind Fonte, but dragged his shot wide with the goal gaping.
Gazzaniga's first act was to retrieve the ball from his net as Lampard returned a half-cleared corner to Mata and Terry rose highest to head into the Southampton net.
Chelsea were still well below their best despite squeezing Southampton into submission.
Ba did well to meet Cesar Azpilicueta's lofted pass behind Fonte, but dragged his shot wide with the goal gaping.
Fast start: Classy Southampton forward Jay Rodriguez gave his side an unexpectedly early lead
Great start: And his team-mates wasted little time in joining him to celebrate the first-minute goal
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