Chelsea reserves returned to winning ways with a 1-0 league victory over Portsmouth at Cobham on Monday night.
Gael Kakuta scored the only goal of the game after 15 minutes, but Chelsea could and perhaps should have added more after dominating long periods of the game.
Without a number of his younger players due to the youth team's trip to Dallas, coach Steve Holland was still able to name a strong starting line-up, with seven of the 11 having played first team football for Chelsea.
The side included Carlo Ancelotti's latest debutant, Patrick van Aanholt, and the manager and his backroom staff were there to observe the second string start brightly, Kakuta and Fabio Borini both denied by instinctive defending and goalkeeping in the opening exchanges.
Also present was captain Sam Hutchinson, who had completed 45 minutes against Fulham a week earlier. He would play an hour tonight.
He also played a major part in the goal. Playing at centre-half, he threaded a ball through the Portsmouth defence for Kakuta, who kept his composure, controlled and volleyed beyond goalkeeper Jon Stewart.
Despite the driving wind and rain Chelsea were passing the ball well, using the greasy surface to their advantage as the visitors were reduced to chasing spritely shadows.
Nemanja Matic was fouled five yards outside the away area on 24 minutes, Jeffrey Bruma's curling free-kick bouncing just in front of the goalkeeper before he turned it around the post.
Daniel Sturridge, who had again been causing problems, was replaced just after the half-hour by first year scholar Philipp Prosenik, recently recovered from a long-term knee injury.
From right-back, Bruma was causing Portsmouth infinite problems with his attacking play, while Matic was having joy in a more advanced midfield role afforded him by the disciplined Liam Bridcutt in the anchor role.
In contrast Portsmouth were hardly able to venture into the Chelsea half, such was the Blues' total control of the game. Steve Holland's only grievance would have been his side's wastefulness in front of goal, Prosenik, Jacob Mellis and Van Aanholt all guilty of not working the keeper hard enough after smart build-up play.
Pompey's first threat came with two minutes remaining in the first half, Nadir Cifti heading a corner wide after Nana Ofori-Twumasi had headed behind.
Just before the break Mellis excellently danced through the defence before his shot was parried away, and then from the follow up Borini's cross cum shot flashed across goal.
On 53 minutes Kakuta was denied by some alert goalkeeping as Stewart dived at the playmaker's feet to prevent a second goal after more impressive work down the Chelsea right.
On the hour Hutchinson and Van Aanholt were replaced by Chris Jones and schoolboy Reece Loudon, as Bruma moved inside to centre-half and Jones took up right-back duties.
The name may sound familiar; Jones is actually one of the club's fitness coaches, covering the absence of the Academy for one night only. He has experience at Blue Square Premier level.
With 20 minutes remaining Cifti drove a low free-kick narrowly wide and then Matt Richie curled one on to the bar, Jan Sebek's dive enthusiastic but well beaten.
At the other end Kakuta's stepovers and pass put Borini in but the Italian's left-footed shot was a little tame.
There would be no more goals, and so Chelsea earned another three points and a clean sheet with a solid all-round display, one or two players no doubt impressing Ancelotti, who departed with around three-quarters of the game gone.
