With two late goals in a 3-1 victory at Bournemouth, Frank Lampard earned his first points since returning to Chelsea in his 100th game as a Premier League manager.
Benoit Badiashile and Joao Felix scored goals in the closing eight minutes to give the Blues their first victory in nearly two months and end their six-game losing record under interim manager Frank Lampard.
As soon as Conor Gallagher's early header was cancelled out by Cherries defender Matias Vina, the west London team appeared to be doomed to a draw on the south coast.
Before the late drama, Bournemouth also had the better opportunities, but Dango Ouattara wasted a wonderful opportunity by heading the ball over from inside the six-yard box.
However, Badiashile and Felix chastised that wastefulness, allowing visiting supporters to celebrate the long-overdue victory with mocking chants of "we are staying up".
The two-time European champions now have 42 points, three more than their hosts, despite still being in the lowest half of the standings after their victory in Dorset.
It was Lampard's first win in 17 games, including his time with Everton, and his first with Chelsea in 832 days, going back to a 3-1 FA Cup triumph over Luton in January 2021 during his first managerial stint.
Following Tuesday's poor 3-1 loss at Arsenal, the former Blues and England midfielder chose to make five changes, with Raheem Sterling and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang among those who were left out. The Cherries remained unaltered from the 4-1 thrashing of Leeds.
The in-form hosts of Gary O'Neil started off stronger, but Chelsea took the lead in the ninth minute after Jefferson Lerma, who scored twice last weekend, shot just wide.
N'Golo Kante was given time and space to deliver an inviting cross from the right flank thanks to Trevoh Chalobah's pass, and recalled midfielder Gallagher beat Adam Smith to the ball to divert a straightforward close-range header past goalkeeper Neto.
After their team scored for the first time in nine games, Chelsea fans celebrated the early goal with derogatory chants like "we've scored a goal" and "we're avoiding relegation."
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