Chelsea coach Luiz Filipe Scolari is beginning to make his mark at Stamford Bridge as he guided his side to the top of the Premier League for a few hours at least through a 2-0 victory over Stoke.
However it was his predecessor Avram Grant's final signing which made the difference at the Britannia Stadium.
Former Porto full-back Jose Bosingwa scored his first goal for the club then set up the second goal for substitute Nicolas Anelka.
Stoke was dealt a blow before kick-off when long-throw specialist Rory Delap was ruled out through injury. However Tony Pulis' side knuckled down and gave a gritty performance, especially in the second half.
Chelsea's class was apparent, however, and the visitors almost scored as early as the eighth minute.
Michael Ballack tried his luck from distance and goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen did well to tip his effort over the crossbar.
Ballack peeled away from his marker as Frank Lampard swung in the corner but Sorensen was able to make a comfortable save low down.
Chelsea created another chance in the 14th minute when Didier Drogba, latched on to a through ball from Lampard only for Sorensen to show good reactions from the striker's flick.
Lampard was seeing plenty of the ball and cracked in a shot in the 20th minute that was blocked by Salif Diao.
And there was a sense of anticipation among the travelling fans in the 31st minute when the England midfielder shaped to take a free-kick 25 yards out.
However Lampard failed to test Sorensen and sent his effort high, much to Stoke's relief.
Stoke hit back and from Liam Lawrence's corner in the 35th minute, Richard Cresswell picked out Mamady Sidibe.
But goalkeeper Petr Cech was alert to the danger and got down quickly to smother the ball.
A minute later Chelsea took the lead with Bosingwa making his mark in fine style.
The Portugal international cushioned a pass from Lampard on his chest before sending a shot beyond Sorensen into the corner via Andy Griffin on the line.
It was a superb finish from Bosingwa, who likes to get forward and join the attack and little wonder he celebrated in style.
Chelsea began the second half in the same attacking vein and Sorensen made two saves in two minutes to prevent the visitors extending their lead.
The Danish shot-stopper turned away a strike from Lampard in the 47th minute and then pushed Florent Malouda's effort onto the bar.
With only one goal in it, the home side was still in with a shout and one sensed it realised that.
Stoke was beginning to gain a lot of possession, especially after Ricardo Fuller stepped of the bench to replace Dave Kitson.
Leon Cort came close to marking his return to the side by equalising, only for John Mikel Obi to get back and clear his header off the line.
Chelsea launched a swift counter-attack in the 66th minute and Lampard took advantage of some poor defending to release Drogba.
He played the ball into substitute Anelka only for the France striker to blast his effort into the crowd.
Chelsea extended its lead, however, in the 76th minute after a mistake by Abdoulaye Faye.
The former Newcastle central defender only succeeded in chesting Boswingwa's cross into the path of Anelka and he took full advantage of the gift. Sorensen was furious and little wonder.
Ballack should have added a third three minutes later only to drag his effort wide of the post as Chelsea stretched its unbeaten run in the league to 27 matches.
English Premiership League
Stoke 0
Chelsea 2 (Bosingwa 36, Anelka 76)