Chelsea returned to the top four of the Premier League with a 1-0 win over London Rivals Tottenham, because the second half of Enzo Fernandez proved decisive.
Fernandez flowed home after an excellent cross from the recurring Cole Palmer in the 50th minute, because the blues earned three points at Stamford Bridge.
The Argentinia International was completely unmarked six meters out when he was selected by Palmer, who ended an almost three-month waiting time for a Premier League objective.
Chelsea had been by far the better side for the goal of Fernandez, with Micky van de Ven who struck his own pole in the first minute and Guglielmo Vicario a stunning salvation to deny Jadon Sancho.
They thought they had a second goal shortly after making the breakthrough when Moises Caicedo sent a thumping volley past Vicario, but the decision to grant the goal was destroyed after a VAR assessment, with Levi Colwill in the structure.
That offered Spurs Hope, and when Pape Sarr home from the reach of a moment after the bank's step, it seemed that they had found a route back in the game.
But after another VAR assessment, this one at the monitor, referee Craig Pawson ruled that Sarr Caicedo had contaminated in the run-up.
Son Heung-Min wasted Tottenham's any other chance of bill, with Robert Sanchez equal to his sliding effort while the Windless Run of the visitors extended to four league matches.
They remain 14th, while Chelsea goes back to fourth place after winning for midweek for a large number of other hopeful Champions League.
The Blues from Enzo Maresca is at a point for Manchester City, two free from Newcastle United and four above Aston Villa.
Data Debrief: Palmer back with a bang, Enzo The Derby Hero
A muscle problem ensured that Palmer missed the 1-0 defeat of Chelsea near Arsenal prior to the international break, and he also skipped the first matches of England under Thomas Tuchel.
After a quiet first half, he stepped up with his first assist in 15 Premier League matches, and his first target involvement of a description since he had set up in a 2-2 draw with Bournemouth in January.
In the meantime, Fernandez had an outing to remember against Spurs, who also scored when Chelsea won the reverse fixture 4-3 in December.
He is only the third Chelsea midfielder who scores at home and gone against Spurs in a single Premier League season, after Roberto di Matteo (1996-97) and Gus Poyet (1998-99).
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