All managers have to believe that consistently dominant performances will deliver results eventually. That thesis had surely been testing the patience of Enzo Maresca of late. This time, their avalanche of shots was not in vain.

36 days after their last Premier League win, Chelsea made good on a level of control over Wolves akin to that which they have had over other times in their five-game unbeaten league run. The difference was a clinical edge in front of goal.

Tosin Adarabioyo in the first half and then Marc Cucurella and Noni Madueke after the interval were on hand to apply the finishing touch for Chelsea, who took 18 shots over the course of the game, having shot 26 here against Bournemouth on Tuesday night and still managed to drop points.

A return to winning ways though this 3-1 win was, it was not without the usual self-inflicted jeopardy.

Robert Sanchez inexplicably dropped Matheus Cunha’s corner into the path of Matt Doherty to shunt home an equaliser in first-half stoppage time. Sanchez now trails only Ipswich goalkeeper Arijanet Muric for players who have made the most errors directly leading to goals in the Premier League this season. A situation in need of addressing eventually. Chelsea will win precious little if they do not upgrade.

After a string of sorry results that has halted momentum, Maresca was looking for anything other than continuity at Stamford Bridge. He set about trying to produce a first league win in six games with some heavy surgery to his team, making five changes, though some were enforced by injuries picked up against Bournemouth to Levi Colwill, Enzo Fernandez and Romeo Lavia. Cole Palmer had a knock too, but of course he was passed fit.

Those absences paved the way for a first league start for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall after a wait months longer than he surely expected. Though the stats say he assisted Madueke for the second, he was fine. Just fine. Perhaps that’s why he hasn’t started sooner.

And having been bullish enough to plaster over a supposed centre-back shortage by re-calling Trevoh Chalobah early from a Crystal Palace loan he was so enjoying, Maresca decided to go the whole hog.

Chalobah was straight into the team, partnering Tosin Adarabioyo. “I have said many times that the reason he is back is because I think he can help us,” Maresca said of Chalobah.

And he was right. The cheer from the Chelsea fans was audible as Chalobah slid in to tackle Jorgen Strand Larsen for his first meaningful contribution of the game and of Chelsea’s season. Chalobah headed across goal for Madueke’s tap-in and was a contender for man of the match.

The next time a Chelsea player received a similarly warm reception from the home fans at Stamford Bridge after Chalobah’s early tackle was his defensive partner, Tosin, whose opening goal was awarded thanks to VAR.

From a recycled corner, his shot was initially chalked off, but VAR replays showed Matheus Cunha was playing the former Fulham man on. Chelsea, in command, had the lead midway through the first half — for Tosin, three goals in his last three games. Not bad for a centre-half.

Chelsea, who leapfrogged Newcastle and Manchester City into fourth, simply had too much for Wolves after the interval. Moises Caicedo broke up the visitors’ ventures forward at source, Madueke and Palmer began to stretch their legs, and once the lively Jadon Sancho was introduced on 62 minutes, it spelt goodnight for a Wolves defence already pulled and pushed this way and that by Maresca’s starting men.

At last, three points to go with a performance deserving of as many.