Avram Grant was happy to admit it was not our best performance in overcoming Middlesbrough, but it was the three points that really counted.

The win sees us keep pace five points behind Manchester United with six games remaining. Both the leaders and third placed Arsenal won yesterday, so the pressure was on Chelsea to deliver today.

We did, thanks in no small part to fortune being on our side as the visitors hit the woodwork three times, and twice within seconds, but Ricardo Carvalho's fifth minute goal was enough for victory.

'I cannot say it was our best game but after so many weeks of good football it was important for us to win today rather than the quality of the game because we are towards the end of the season,' Grant reasoned, adding: 'As Manchester United and Arsenal won yesterday it was important for us to win. We need to continue.

'I don't think that each of the three teams will take all their points. Since I am here we are chasing after other teams, we passed Liverpool, passed Arsenal, so now we need to keep winning.'

On today's game, the Israeli was impressed with how we came out of the blocks.

'I think we started very well and maybe because of this we thought the game would be very easy. Sometimes when you can make it 2-0 and you don't, the other team have chances.

'They hit the post twice in one set piece and one more, but we deserved the win, even if it wasn't the quality of the last games.'

Grant admitted that Gareth Southgate's side were unlucky, but believes that we too could have added to our tally.

'They were unlucky, they hit the post twice, but at the other end Shaun [Wright-Phillips] had chances to score but we also created, and had three good chances to score before.'

Southgate himself thought that they should have claimed a draw, but acknowledged our superiority in the early stages.

'First half I thought we had just come to admire Chelsea, but at half-time we spoke about having no regrets and I think that's what happened in the second half,' said the Middlesbrough manager.

'We created good enough chances and we can easily walk away and say we should have got a point, but we have to remember we were completely outplayed in the first half,' he added.

In the later stages Boro did attack more and threatened our goal regularly. Southgate explained why.

'I felt we were too deep which left our midfield too much space to cover. So we played higher as a back four and little things we adjusted gave us hope,' he said.
'We started to create a couple of openings because Chelsea are going for the title they got a bit edgy. It shows my players no matter how good the opposition are, their confidence can suffer as well.'

Our attention now turns to Champions League football, and Grant is hopeful that he can include Frank Lampard and Petr Cech in his squad to travel to Turkey after they both missed out today.

Lampard has been ill with a stomach bug, but Grant had promising news. 'Lampard was very sick, didn't train and didn't even come to Cobham. Today he came and we will see. If he can be available, yes he will go,' the manager said.

With regard to Cech, he offered a simple: 'We will see tomorrow.'

Finally, there was comment from the manager regarding the Premier League's decision to make us play at Everton on Thursday, April 17, three days after playing Wigan.

'I don't understand why we need to play on the Thursday. We play the Monday against Wigan, and I think it is unfair,' he argued.

'When you come to the end of the season, you need equal situation for all the teams. Now they have an advantage on us, and I think it is unfair what has happened. I don't understand why. I think we need to fight it any way we can.'

See the highlights on Chelsea Plus or the full 90 minutes on Chelsea TV from midnight tonight.