Luiz Felipe Scolari was quick to acknowledge we were not at our best in the north-west against Wigan, but was delighted with three points.

An early Deco free-kick was enough to seal a fourth consecutive victory at the JJB Stadium, and return us to the top of the Premier League table above Liverpool after two games.

Having watched his side huff and puff for the remaining 87 minutes of the game, Scolari was happy to admit it the performance didn't compare to last week's entertaining display against Portsmouth, but praised the efforts of Wigan's players.

'Wigan played better than Portsmouth and they have players that have power and pressured us. They played at home and the people helped more than if they played at Stamford Bridge,' he explained.

'I have this week many problems, Ballack played with al little injury, Essien has only trained for two days and had to play 90 minutes. Mikel is out, many players, and these players are injured but tried all that is possible and won the game.

'It's fantastic for Chelsea because we have more confidence and six points. We didn't play the same as last week but I understand why not.

'It's my first test outside Stamford Bridge and what I expected I saw today on the pitch - difficult. In the last two or three seasons when one club goes away and wins 1-0 it's the same as 10-0, because 1-0 in England is maybe 50 percent of games.'

Left-back Ashley Cole was forced to come off with eight minutes remaining, clutching his hamstring. Scolari was unable to add much more information.

'I don't have any news. I went to the dressing room and said congratulations to the players. Today is the birthday of Bosingwa, and I said to John Terry, make something for Bosingwa,' he joked. 'I didn't ask Ashley, but I wish for nothing.'

We registered just two shots on target all game, with Michael Essien's drive in the second half the only save made by Wigan's Mike Pollitt.

It was the goalkeeper at the other end that impressed Scolari, as the Chelsea custodian made save after save to deny an equaliser, the best coming just three minutes from time.

'If you choose three goalkeepers in the world, it may be Petr Cech, [Gianluigi] Buffon and another,' the Brazilian said.

'Petr trains very well every day. If you give him one hour in training, he wants two hours. His performance is very good all the games in pre-season and now.'

After praising Deco for his goal, Scolari talked a little about the Portuguese playmaker's relationship with Frank Lampard, and explained that it doesn't matter where the goals come from, as long as Chelsea win.

'Deco is intelligent, and when he ran to the ball and saw the keeper move one metre he changed. In training many days this week he shot in the other side, it's intelligent and shows why he is one of the best in the world.

'I am sure that Lampard makes minimum 15 goals this season, because he trains every day for this. If Deco or Lampard scores or not it's not important, it's important that Chelsea win. This is the philosophy that I want the players to understand,' he said.

Wigan manager Steve Bruce was impressed with his side's application, but found Chelsea were just too strong.

Asked whether he thought the Latics deserved a point, he said: 'In my opinion yes, the difficulty was sustaining the first half. All credit to them, they gave everything they had got, and apart from the goal, the goalkeeper hasn't made a save and that's probably unheard of against Chelsea.

'They get their width from the full backs who love to get forward and there is a quality about them.

Like Scolari, he had kind words for Deco, who scored his second outstanding Chelsea goal.

'Who is he by the way? Where has he been playing?' he joked. 'You can see why he plays at the highest level, and it was a wonderful finish.'

There is now another week's break before we entertain Tottenham at Stamford Bridge. Scolari will be keen for another three points, and a repeat of the performance seen last week rather than this.