Chelsea beat relegation-threatened Wolves 3-1 at home on Monday, with defenders Tosin Adarabioyo and Marc Cucurela scoring and winger Noni Maduk scoring the third. First win in six Premier League games.
The victory moved Chelsea, who had been second last month, above Manchester City and Newcastle United into fourth place, while Wolves were just outside the bottom three ahead of Ipswich on goal difference.
The hosts hoped to get back on track and compete for a place in next season's Champions League. In the 24th minute, Tosin scored with a side kick from close range to take the lead.
But in first-half stoppage time, goalkeeper Robert Sanchez took a corner kick and Matt Doherty scored to equalize for Wolves.
Home fans feared a repeat of recent games when Chelsea squandered the lead until Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall took over on his first league start for the Blues After Maduk's cross, Cucurela suddenly appeared in the attack and scored.
Maduk nodded in five minutes later, ensuring that Trevor Chalobah (who returned to Stamford Bridge after a loan spell at Crystal Palace) headed over the line.
"It's instinct. Attacker's instinct," Marduk told Sky Sports. "I knew it had crossed a line. I apologized to Trevor afterwards. I had to put it in the net."
"He said 'There's no way you're going to achieve what I'm going to do,' but I said: 'You've got to understand, that's what they're paying me for.'"
Chelsea have 40 points from 22 games, 10 behind leaders Liverpool and four behind second-placed Arsenal and Nottingham Forest. They are two points ahead of Manchester City and Newcastle.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca was encouraged by the return of club captain Reece James, who made his first start after a string of recent injury absences.
Maresca told the BBC: "We were playing really well until the 40th minute and then we struggled in the last five minutes. They scored a goal and we lost a little bit of confidence, which has happened this season. Several times.”
"We need to learn to handle these situations better. We started the second half well and scored. Overall, I think we deserved to win the game.
"We responded well in the second half. It's not easy to do that after five games without a win. So it's important to win the game."
Chalobah has also strengthened the Blues' backline after Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashle were ruled out through injury.
Defender Levi Colwell and midfielders Romeo Lavia and Enzo Fernandez are all missing from the squad ahead of Chelsea's match against champions Manchester City on Saturday.