Eden Hazard and Gary Cahill are delighted to have put title race pressure on Tottenham after helping Chelsea beat Southampton on Tuesday evening.
The Belgian opened the scoring before the defender headed home minutes before half-time and Diego Costa netted twice after the break to secure a 4-2 victory.
In recent weeks Chelsea have been forced to watch Tottenham play - and win seven on the trot - before taking to the field, a pattern which has switched this week and for the coming weekend action.
Both players underlined the importance of securing the points first, with Hazard telling Sky Sports: "It's always good to play before [Tottenham] and put pressure on them."
Cahill added: "It does feel like a massive step. First time for a long time we've played first [before Tottenham in the league].
"Marcos Alonso popped a nice ball across and it's great for a defender. It was a great timing [the second goal] and a big boost before half-time. Most important thing is that we get the win."
Tottenham now travel to face a Crystal Palace team fresh from beating Liverpool, having also claimed the scalps of Arsenal and Chelsea during April.
Up next for Chelsea in a trip to sixth-placed Everton, arguably their toughest match of a relatively straightforward run-in, and will again kick-off before Spurs host the Gunners later on Sunday.
Cahill said: "This result leaves us in a good position. We have a big game this weekend [at Everton]."
