Frank Lampard's first-half goal moved Chelsea to the top of the Barclays Premier League through a 1-0 win over Portsmouth at Stamford Bridge.
Lampard produced his strike just past the half hour, but it will probably be better remembered for a disastrous blunder by Pompey stopper David James, who did not do his case for an England berth any favours by failing to gather in Lampard's kick in front of national manager Steve McClaren.
Chelsea began in its customary attacking fashion and almost took a first-minute lead when Claudio Pizarro sent a low drive just beyond the reach of James and his right-hand upright.
Portsmouth has never beaten Chelsea in eight meetings since returning to the Premier League in 2003 and, although it had taken five points from three games prior to this trip to Stamford Bridge, Harry Redknapp's side showed little desire to change that record.
But the visitors did enough to stifle the home side and such was their success that Jose Mourinho spent much of the first half berating his side for not taking the game to their opponents.
But Chelsea broke the deadlock in the 31st minute thanks to England midfielder Lampard.
The goal owed much to the bravery of Didier Drogba, who collected a kick in the face for his efforts as he found Lampard with a flick-on.
Lampard ran clear of the Pompey defence to drive the ball under James. The England stopper should really have done better but, although he got a hand to the drive, he could not prevent it going in.
It was the signal for Chelsea to increase the pace and moments later Shaun Wright-Phillips skied an 18-yard effort high over the crossbar.
It was all Chelsea now and in the 42nd minute Wright-Phillips almost managed to get on the end of a cross from Drogba.
Moments later, Lampard almost made it two but James was equal to his quickly-taken free-kick and managed to save comfortably.
Chelsea began the second half where it left off and a clever move involving Malouda and Drogba ended with Wright-Phillips shooting just wide of the target from the edge of the penalty area.
A minute later, Portsmouth should have equalised when Davis collected a neat pass from Kanu only to fire over the crossbar from eight yards.
The visitors squandered another opportunity in the 58th minute when a counter-attack caught Chelsea's defence napping but Gary O'Neil could not find the target from the edge of the penalty area when presented with a clear shot at goal.
Portsmouth continued to push for an equaliser but Cech gathered the ball safely when Sylvain Distin looked to prosper from Sully Muntari's long ball into the penalty area in the 67th minute.
Yet, Chelsea showed it was very much in charge when Malouda sent a 20-yard effort just inches wide two minutes later.
James was at his best to prevent Drogba from adding a second goal fives minutes from time when he took advantage of a fine pass from Malouda to deliver a stinging drive which the Pompey did well to hold on to.
But Chelsea was lucky to escape three minutes from time when a header from Hermann Hreidarsson was cleared off the line by Ashley Cole.
English Premiership League
Chelsea 1 (Lampard 31)
Portsmouth 0