The Blues, looking to recapture our form of the previous month, did not truly spark in a first half which finished level at 1-1. The Leeds goal was a Raphinha penalty awarded for a foul by Marcos Alonso, but the Chelsea man then responded with an assist for Mount to equalise shortly before half-time, his third goal in his past four games.Marcelo Bielsa’s side came with a tactical plan to make it difficult for our wing-backs and for Jorginho as the fulcrum, but it was a strong end to the first half for the Blues and a better showing in the second.A Jorginho penalty gave us a 2-1 led after a foul on Toni Rudiger but Leeds still caused us problems and to much frustration, equalised in the 83rd minute with a good move and goal from substitute Joe Gelhardt who had only just come on.But there was still time, time enough for another foul on Rudi in the box and a second penalty scored by Jorginho, followed by joyous celebrations in the corner of the pitch.

At the final whistle there was a feeling Thomas Tuchel’s side shifted up a gear as this game progressed, hopefully standing us in good stead for the crowded fixture list ahead. And there was even a multi-player confrontation at the end, echoing Chelsea vs Leeds battles of yesteryear.

The selection

With Thomas Tuchel having made multiple changes for our final Champions League group game, it was no surprise to see him revert to a more regular selection today. There were seven changes overall from Zenit, with the availability of Jorginho and Ruben Loftus-Cheek allowing Reece James to revert to wing-back. Timo Werner’s two goals on Wednesday were sufficient for the striker to retain his place but this time on the left of a front three with Kai Havertz and Mason Mount, rather than in a pair with Romelu Lukaku. The Belgian started on the bench.

Following recent dropped points and the Blues slipping from first to third in the Premier League table following our defeat at West Ham last weekend, this really did have the feel of a must-win fixture if serious doubts about our title credentials were to be repelled.Leeds United started the day in 15th and had won once in the past five outings, and a mistake in the opening seconds led to the first Werner attack. Mount forced the first save with a shot from outside the box.It was a fair enough start by Tuchel’s team but the visitors were man-marking our wing-backs when in their half, a measure for when the pair moved inside towards the Leeds penalty area, and a foul on Alonso when making just such a run led to his opposite number, Reece James, taking the free-kick and trying to catch Illan Mesiler off guard with a shot towards the near post.It would have caused problems had it been on target. Instead it flew just wide to gasps from the Blues fans in the Shed End.

The Whites’ purple patch

It took until the 15th minute for Leeds’ first threat. That was a deflected Raphinha shot that was cleared behind by James. The Brazilian had another go five minutes later from a free-kick and struck it well. Mendy was extended fully in pushing the ball over his bar.With 25 minutes gone, Raphinha had his goal, scoring with a stuttering run from the penalty spot. Mendy did dive the right way but was deceived by the pause in the run-up. The penalty had been awarded when Alonso challenged Daniel James as the stand-in centre-forward pushed the ball past him. VAR looked at it but confirmed the decision.

Hitting back

Before half-time however, our Spanish left wing-back atoned when he pounced on a Leeds loose touch, exchanged passes with Werner and then pulled the ball back for Mount to instinctively ping it low into the net. It was 1-1 with three minutes to go to the interval and the score could have been 2-1 to the Blues had Alonso struck a free-kick a foot or two lower in the time remaining.

Havertz had a chance too when one on one with the keeper but Meslier saved. With Chelsea lacking the options we have when playing at our best, a level score to take into the dressing room for regrouping did not feel bad having gone behind, but we knew we would need to step it up in the second half.

Jorgi on the spot

Werner flicked a James near-post corner on target soon after the restart. That was saved but we did not have to wait long for a Chelsea lead. As soon as Raphinha made a ‘forward’s challenge’ with a sliding tackle on Rudiger in the Leeds area, the Matthew Harding lower tier that was only a few yards away were howling for a penalty.It took VAR and an instruction to review it on the pitchside screen for referee Chris Kavanagh to be convinced, but when Jorginho faced Meslier with the ball on the spot, he opted for the skip and sending it high into the net for a Chelsea 2-1 lead.

The good work would have been undone but for a very good Mendy save when faced with Daniel James who had escaped a tackle by Thiago Silva.At the other end, Thiago scuffed a shot wide before the Leeds equaliser with 83 minutes played. It was a very good move that opened up our defences down our right-hand side, a series of quick passes before Tyler Roberts squared the ball for Gelhardt, who had only just come on, to turn it past Mendy.It was a deflated Stamford Bridge at that point but with five minutes of added time being played, there was contact from behind on Rudiger, another VAR review, another verdict in our favour and Jorgi unerring from the penalty spot again. If Leeds felt aggrieved about a penalty conceded for that push, it could be argued they had escaped with one on Alonso earlier in the game. Is this result and the manner in which it was achieved given the stiff test from our opponents a corner being turned in our season, although a return to the defensive solidity we previously enjoyed would be welcome.

All-time record set against Leeds

Given the famous and long-time big rivalry with the Elland Road club, there is plenty to enjoy in Chelsea securing a fifth consecutive home league win against Leeds for the first time in our history with today’s result. Mind you, given the long gap when we were not in the same division, our winning run began way back in 2002.

What's next?

Chelsea (3-4-3): Mendy: Azpilicueta (c) (Christensen 74), Thiago Silva, Rudiger; James, Loftus-Cheek, Jorginho, Alonso (Lukaku 87); Mount, Havertz, Werner (Hudson-Odoi 74).Unused subs Kepa, Sarr, Barkley, Saul, Ziyech, Pulisic.Scorers Mount 42, Jorginho 58 pen, 90+4 penBooked James 34, Mount 61

Leeds (4-3-3): Meslier; Dallas, Ayling, Llorente, Firpo; Shackleton [Klich 59], Roberts, Forshaw; Raphinha (Geldhart 81), James (Cresswell 88), Harrison.Unused subs Klaesson, Summerville, Drameh, Jenkins, McCarron, McKinstry.Scorers Raphinha 28 pen, Gelhardt 83Booked Firpo 43, Shackleton 53, Klich 69, Meslier 90+3, Llorente 90+6

Referee Chris KavanaghCrowd 39,959