Graham Potter, the manager of Chelsea, felt less pressure when his team defeated Crystal Palace 1-0 at Stamford Bridge for their second Premier League victory since October.
As the hosts celebrated the £62 million signing of Ukraine winger Mykhailo Mudryk, who was paraded on the field at halftime, with a crucial victory to trim the distance on the top four to eight points, Kai Havertz headed the winning goal shortly after the hour.
A number of Gianluca Vialli's old teammates came back to pay their respects on a somber day in West London as Chelsea recognized the passing of the Italian player before the game.
It helped the club put the last week, which culminated in new acquisition Joao Felix receiving a red card in a loss at Fulham last Thursday, behind them and fostering a sense of camaraderie among players and fans at Stamford Bridge.
After 20 minutes, Michael Olise allowed the ball to drop over his shoulder and drilled a shot from 25 yards towards Kepa Arrizabalaga's top corner, which the Chelsea goalkeeper brilliantly finger-tip behind at full stretch. This was Palace's first real opportunity of the game.
The best opportunity of the opening period, however, fell to the home team when Havertz rose unmarked to meet a whipped cross from Hakim Ziyech in the 33rd minute. From six yards out, the forward could only direct his header onto the roof of Vicente Guaita's net.
Conor Gallagher broke free down Palace's right just before halftime and fired a low ball across goal that Lewis Hall couldn't angle home with a first-time effort at the back post. Then, as Chelsea finished the half strongly, Ziyech saw a fierce drive from the edge of the area deflected by Guaita.
As the second half progressed, the home team's confidence increased, and Havertz once more came within inches of scoring when he grabbed onto Gallagher's through pass down the left, but the Palace goalkeeper made a good save on his low shot.
Pierre-Emerick Potter brought on Aubameyang on the hour after he had recovered from a back injury; he was the first of the manager's several absentees to play again, and Chelsea took the lead in less than a minute.
Ziyech received the ball close to the left touchline, and Havertz rose highest to plant his header beyond Guaita from six yards away as Ziyech's whipping cross eluded Palace's defense.
When he sprinted past the defense to meet Mason Mount's driven cross, Havertz should have put the game beyond Palace, but this time his direction was weak and a wonderful opportunity to seal the victory was lost.
Cheick Doucoure fired a stinging shot from 30 yards minutes later, and Chelsea nearly paid the price when Arrizabalaga made a fantastic save to keep his team ahead. But the hosts persisted, giving Potter a break and giving their season new life with Mudryk now officially on the books.
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