Chelsea moved within three points of leaders Arsenal, but hardly looked like title contenders in a workmanlike victory over lowly Sunderland.
Avram Grant's early talk of free-flowing, adventurous football seems somewhat premature.
Not for the first time during his reign, Chelsea failed to inspire in front of their own fans against a team content to sit back and soak up home pressure.
Despite prolonged domination, a goal looked unlikely until Andriy Shevchenko threw himself at a Salomon Kalou cross to head Chelsea in front in the 23rd minute.
And it took a dubious penalty from Frank Lampard 15 minutes from time to secure the points in a largely forgettable game.
Grant didn't seem remotely bothered and accused Sunderland of ruining the game as a spectacle.
"Sunderland came here to defend. It's not easy and we had to be patient. But I don't agree that we are not playing attacking football.
"You can't say we didn't try. We had most of the possession and I was pleased we showed patience in scoring the goals.
"Obviously it would have been easier if we had killed the game off earlier but that's football and you have to get on with it.
"At least we are getting used to this kind of approach from teams that come here but as long as we are picking up points I'm happy."
Grant even refused to use the likely loss of Didier Drogba for 11 weeks following yesterday's operation on his knee as an excuse.
"We have had to cope with injuries before and we will again.
Obviously it's disappointing but what can you do? I never came into this job expecting an easy life."
Black Cats boss Roy Keane claimed the Blues' late penalty wrecked his side's chances of salvaging anything from the game and was clearly annoyed by Liam Miller's sending off two minutes from time.
"I think we had a go and we had a decent spell at 1-0 down. But the penalty killed us.
I haven't watched the replay on TV but from where I was sitting it seemed harsh.
"But when there is a coming together in the box at clubs like Chelsea, Arsenal or Manchester United the referee invariably favours the home side.
"We just have to keep plugging away. I'm not surprised to find us where we are it's panned out as I expected.
There are three leagues in this division and we are in the third.
"I know it's going to be a long, hard season. But it doesn't help when you lose players to suspensions with two minutes of the game to play.
"I can't defend the lad. When you raise your arms you leave the referee with no choice so I can't have any complaints."
Chelsea started explosively with a succession of early corners almost broke the deadlock when Joe Cole crossed and Kalou's towering header came crashing back off the bar.
The Wearsiders, looking to avert another thrashing following their 7-1 defeat at Everton in their last away game, continued to invite trouble as they sat perilously deep, inviting Chelsea forward.
With Kenwyne Jones employed as a lone striker the service was largely negligible and it seemed only a matter of time before Chelsea opened their account.
Shevchenko justified his selection in the absence of Drogba by scoring his fourth goal of the season. The Blues broke swiftly and when Kalou picked up the ball on the left of the area he sent over a cross the Ukrainian striker headed home.
Sunderland's first effort on goal came as late as the 33rd minute of the half but Jones's goal bound drive did not trouble Carlo Cudicini in the Chelsea goal.
The break brought no change with Sunderland content to park a bus in front of the goal and soak up home pressure. Yet for all their possession Chelsea struggled to create clear-cut chances.
Keane's decision to take off Jones in the 66th minute was perplexing, given that he appeared to be the only real threat in their side.
And a fortuitous penalty sealed the points for Chelsea 16 minutes from time.
Alex attempted to get on to Frank Lampard's driven freekick and referee Peter Walton harshly judged Danny Higginbotham had held him back.
Lampard made no mistake, sending Ward the wrong way with a clinical spot-kick, his fifth Premier League goal of the season.
Sunderland's misery was compounded two minutes from time when Miller was shown a straight red card for pushing Chelsea sub Claudio Pizarro in the face.
It was harsh on Miller though, whose only crime appeared to retaliate to blatant provocation from the Peruvian striker.
STAT ATTACK
STORY OF THE GAME
Chelsea v SUNDERLAND
71% POSSESSION 29%
3 SHOTS ON TARGET 2
8 SHOTS OFF TARGET 7
10 CORNERS 2
8 FOULS CONCEDED 16
2 OFFSIDES 0
0 YELLOW CARDS 1
0 RED CARDS 1
HOW THEY RATED
CHELSEA
Cudicini 7, Cole 7, Shevchenko 7, LAMPARD 8, Cole 7 (Sidwell 7), Mikel 7, Kalou 7 (Pizarro 6), Wright-Phillips 6, Terry 7, Alex 7, Belletti 7.
Manager Grant 6
SUNDERLAND
Ward 7, Halford 6, Etuhu 6, McShane 7, Whitehead 7, Miller 6, Higginbotham 6, Collins 6, Jones 7 (Murphy 6), Leadbitter 6 (Stokes 6), Wallace 6.
Manager Keane 5
Referee P Walton 8
NEXT 4 PREM FIXTURE
CHELSEA
ARSENAL (A), BLACKBURN (A), ASTON VILLA (H), NEWCASTLE (H)
SUNDERLAND
ASTON VILLA (H), READING (A), MAN UTD (H), BOLTON (H)
HEAD TO HEAD
John Terry v KENWYNE JONES
England captain Terry rarely gave Sunderland's lone striker breathing space on the few occasions when he threatened. A few early crunching tackles put paid to his effectiveness.
Man of the MATCH
FRANK LAMPARD
A touch of class from Chelsea and England midfielder Lampard didn't go amiss in an uninspiring game that was short of any real quality
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Jonathan Pearce
ALEC STEWART
THE MOLE