London // It is the absence of control that stands out: halting the progress of Martin O'Neill's Sunderland, a rare clean sheet, cutting the deficit to third-placed Tottenham Hotspur.
There was much for Andre Villas-Boas, the Chelsea manager, to be pleased with here, yet the overwhelming sensation was relief.
Chelsea allowed this match to go to the wire, their manager beating the air in relief as the referee ended it. Frantically pursuing a second goal until the final whistle underlined their new frailties.
As Sunderland spurned a succession of chances to equalise, some recalled the days when the Stamford Bridge home side closed out matches with studied ease.
"In the second half we missed at least five very good opportunities. That's too many," O'Neill said.
"I know scoring a goal is pretty difficult but it's not that difficult. And I'm not so sure you'd have to worry about getting someone who can score 20 goals to do that. A blundering full-back from about four leagues below could have stuck those in."
Welcoming "an important three points", Villas-Boas conceded that "we left the game on the edge which made things more difficult".
If the issue is with a tactical approach that emphasises creation over security, and personnel that may be only marginally improved by the imminent acquisition of Gary Cahill, the manager prefers to attribute it to his new environment.
"I think it represents the Premiership," he said. "I would say you always want your team to be more in control, but an opponent on such a run of inspiration creates a problem.
"As Sunderland came out we were also threatening opportunities we didn't put in the net. It was a game that could easily have finished 2-0 or 1-1, for sure."
When clubs change their managers they expect an immediate impact; with O'Neill it is all but guaranteed. Inheriting a much-criticised squad, the Northern Irishman has offered everyone an opportunity, using as many players in his first six games as Steve Bruce did in the 14 before his dismissal.
In the background, he has been crafty about his transfer budget. Some have been told that the instructions of Ellis Short, the owner, are for O'Neill to work with what Bruce left him. Others have been informed that there could be £10 million (Dh56.2m) to be spread between a striker and a midfielder. Steven Pienaar is an option there.
Chelsea's January reinforcements have begun with Cahill. Weeks of negotiations on personal terms concluded with a wage higher than the £50,000 they wanted to pay him. As the paperwork was not concluded in time for the central defender to play here, Villas-Boas continued with John Terry and David Luiz at the base of a line-up that demonstrated why he wants the next recruit to be a right winger.
Ramires took on that position as Villas-Boas shoehorned four central midfielders into his 4-1-2-3 formation. All had been instructed to deliver the ball to Fernando Torres as often as possible, told that it would be "good for all of them" if the Spaniard were to score for the first time since October.
Before Chelsea had an opportunity to test the theory, Sunderland should have had the lead. Befuddling Terry at the edge of the area, Stephane Sessegnon continued past Ashley Cole. Though his cutback to the six-yard box found James McClean, the burly winger could only mis-kick away from goal.
Next, Chelsea's other regular defensive error manifested itself as David Luiz rushed into a yellow-card challenge on Nicklas Bendtner. Though Sebastian Larsson drove the free kick at the top corner, Petr Cech was equal to it.
A goal changed the dynamic. Following his manager's instructions to the letter, Juan Mata crossed to his Spanish compatriot, whose spinning volley clattered off the underside of the bar. As Stamford Bridge exhaled at Torres's latest misfortune the rebound flew back in off a perfectly positioned Frank Lampard.
Now the impetus was with Chelsea. Mata strained Simon Mignolet from a set piece. Torres placed a header and swivel-shot on target to generous applause. On the touchline, Villas-Boas reprimanded Mata for a wasteful pass and stripped the ball off Terry as he attempted to take a throw. Sunderland lost Matthew Kilgallon to an ankle injury.
Home dominance, though, could not be sustained. At the top end of the second half Ramires failed from close range and Torres optimistically claimed a penalty as he teed up Mata for another miss. Sunderland were immediately denied a spot kick of their own as Cole elbowed Bendtner in the back. "A definite penalty," O'Neill said.
Phil Dowd balanced one error with a second by booking Torres for diving when the striker was clipped by Phil Bardsley. McClean reprised his first-half miss when played in by Larsson. Villas-Boas restored Michael Essien to action after a long rehabilitation from knee surgery, yet the extra holding midfielder did not restore control.
Craig Gardner shot first at Cech then past him. In the final minute, Bendtner shrugged off his marker to screw another chance wide. This Chelsea can deliver entertainment. Trophies may prove more problematic.
