With a seven-point gap to fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur after the weekend’s action, the 10 points gained from those late strikes could yet prove crucial as we try to secure our return to the Champions League next season.

Here’s a look at our match-winning heroes from those games, ranked in order of the lateness of their goals.

83:43 – Timo Werner v Southampton, 2 October

Denied a first-half goal against Southampton after a VAR review of an incident which occurred well before he found the net, Timo Werner’s hard work finally came good when he gave the Blues a 2-1 lead with six minutes left.

Bursting into the box as Ross Barkley swung over a cross-field pass to Cesar Azpilicueta, the German found himself in the right spot to turn in the Spaniard’s low cross as he restored our lead before Ben Chilwell added another five minutes later to make it 3-1.

88:31 – Hakim Ziyech v Crystal Palace, 19 February

There was a sense of weariness in Chelsea’s performance at Selhurst Park in February after we returned from winning the Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi but Hakim Ziyech’s ability to sniff out an opportunity assured us of a ninth consecutive win against Crystal Palace.

With four defenders converging on Kai Havertz and Romelu Lukaku in the middle of the box as Marcos Alonso swung in a cross from the left, no one paid attention to the Moroccan, who ghosted in at the far post and volleyed the ball between the legs of Jack Butland for the only goal.

88:38 – Kai Havertz v Newcastle United, 13 March

Coming just seven seconds later than Ziyech’s goal at Selhurst Park was the wonder-strike by Havertz which decided a tight contest against Newcastle United last month.

The Magpies held the Blues at bay for 88 minutes but they suffered their 10th straight defeat at the Bridge after a brilliantly executed effort by the German who controlled Jorginho’s searching pass with an exquisite first touch before flicking the ball home.

89:31 – Christian Pulisic v West Ham United, 24 April

West Ham must have thought they had escaped with a point from the derby after Jorginho missed a late penalty but the Blues showed you can never really relax until the final whistle when we are hunting for a win.

After repelling everything Chelsea could throw at them for 89 minutes, four Hammers defenders were unable to cut off a low cross from the left by Alonso which fell nicely for Christian Pulisic to despatch into the net with a first-time left-footed effort.

90:00+3:11 – Jorginho v Leeds United, 11 December

Jorginho may not have taken his opportunity against West Ham but we are indebted to him for the three points when we hosted Leeds United in December.

After conceding a penalty for a foul on Antonio Rudiger early in stoppage time, the visitors tried their best to throw off the Italian with their antics but he kept his composure and sent Illan Meslier the wrong way from the spot to seal a 3-2 win.