Second-half goals from Branislav Ivanovic and Nicolas Anelka fired Chelsea back into the top four of the Premier League and eased the pressure on under-fire boss Carlo Ancelotti.
A disjointed first-half performance gave way to a commanding second-half display as the Blues showed signs of rediscovering their old swagger and suggested they may just be able to revive the defence of their title.
Both goals came from corners as Chelsea took advantage of some slack marking in the Blackburn defence to secure a win, which brought palpable relief to fans who had endured the club’s worst league run in almost 15 years.
And although Tottenham can regain fourth place with a home victory over Manchester United on Sunday, there were plenty of signs that the champions may have turned a corner.
In the build-up to the game, midfielder Frank Lampard suggested that the malaise at Stamford Bridge resembled the dying days of the Luis Felipe Scolari regime. But the Blues looked anything but a side lacking in confidence as they flew out of the blocks.
Only a last-ditch tackle from Michel Salgado denied Didier Drogba after a clever through-ball from Anelka and, from the resulting corner, Ivanovic flicked the ball on for Ramires, who lashed a half-volley against the bar.
At the other end, Nicola Kalinic, returning from a three-match ban, did his best to give Blackburn an outlet, teeing up Martin Olsson for a long-range drive which Petr Cech saved comfortably.
Having failed to score the early goal that would have settled their nerves, Chelsea’s play became increasingly ragged, with a failure to get behind the visitors prompting Drogba and Jose Bosingwa into speculative efforts from distance.
Meanwhile Blackburn, perhaps sensing their hosts’ fragile confidence, settled into the game.
Just after the half-hour mark the game sprung to life with a frantic passage of play, Lampard’s first-time ball releasing Drogba, whose slight hesitation allowed Gael Givet to produce a brilliant saving tackle.
And moments later, it was almost 1-0 to Blackburn as David Hoilett cut inside from the left and drew a sharp low save from Cech.
Chelsea saw out the half firmly on the front foot and had three further chances to take the lead. First Anelka curled a shot wide from just outside the box, then Lampard planted a header over the bar from Bosingwa’s cross.And just before the break, Anelka flicked a wicked low cross from Drogba onto the corner of post and bar.
The Frenchman went close again right at the start of the second half as his low shot from the right side of the penalty area drifted just wide of the far post.
Just as the Chelsea fans were beginning to direct their frustration at Ancelotti, their prayers were answered with the opening goal.A Malouda corner was flicked on by John Terry and the ball found its way to Ivanovic, who drilled a low shot under Paul Robinson from a tight angle.
Terry came close to doubling Chelsea’s lead when his header from Lampard’s mis-hit volley fizzed inches past the upright.
Then a disastrous back-pass from Christopher Samba presented Drogba with a gilt-edged chance but the Ivorian’s shot was saved by Robinson with his legs.
From the resulting corner, Ivanovic climbed highest to head towards goal and Anelka diverted the ball past Robinson. With the game safe, Chelsea’s players started to exude confidence. Robinson was at full stretch to palm away a curling effort from Lampard and Didier Drobga’s audacious chip sailed just over the bar.
Ancelotti took the opportunity to give further experience to youngsters Josh McEachran and Daniel Sturridge as the Blues comfortably saw out a crucial and morale-boosting win.