Chelsea enjoyed a positive start and took a deserved lead through Tosin Adarabioyo midway through the first half when the centre back scored with a composed finish.

Matt Doherty pulled level from a corner in first-half injury-time but the Blues regained control with two goals around the hour mark.

Marc Cucurella scored with a close-range finish to put us back in front before Noni Madueke applied the final touch after Trevoh Chalobah looked set to score on his Chelsea return five minutes later.

Duo return

Tonight was Chalobah's first Chelsea appearance of the season after he returned from a loan spell at Crystal Palace, as the Academy graduate lined up alongside Tosin in the heart of defence, with Levi Colwill missing due to injury.

There was a first Premier League start of the season for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, as Enzo Fernandez and Romeo Lavia were also absent with injury.

There were five changes from the team that drew 2-2 with Bournemouth a week ago, as Reece James, Tosin and Pedro Neto were all promoted into the XI, as Josh Acheampong and Jadon Sancho moved to the bench.

Chelsea started the game brightly and had won a corner within 20 seconds of kick-off. Chalobah made an immediate impact as he flicked on the resulting set-piece and Nicolas Jackson volleyed wide.

The Blues applied continual pressure early on and Madueke's good control and strength saw him drive into the box before having an effort diverted wide.

It was wave after wave of pressure. Jackson's challenge on Jose Sa almost saw Dewsbury-Hall bundle home, Cole Palmer shot wide and the England star had an effort parried by the goalkeeper - all after little over a quarter of an hour.

Jackson's workrate continues to cause Premier League defenders problems and it was his pressing and tackle which saw the Senegalese win the ball inside his own half and drive into the box. The striker was tackled but it did lead to Palmer and James both having shots blocked.

Chalobah's long passes forward and wide were also posing problems for the opposition and it was from his accurate ball that Doherty headed beyond his oncoming goalkeeper and almost into the path of Palmer, before the away side recovered just in time.

Breakthrough

Our dominance finally paid off midway through the half when the resulting corner ended up at the feet of James. His shot was deflected into the path of Tosin and the centre back controlled well just outside the six-yard box before slotting into the bottom corner. Offside was given initially but the VAR check confirmed the 27-year-old was in line with the defender.

Wolves responded well and Matheus Cunha had an effort from the edge of the area blocked by a combination of Tosin and Cucurella soon after.

And in first-half injury-time the visitors equalised when a Wolves corner to the near post was not collected and Doherty was there to stab home the leveller.

The Blues pressed for their second goal early in the second half, as Madueke had a shot saved and then latterly blocked, and it arrived on the hour.

Ahead once again

Madueke's inswinging cross from the right was flicked on by Dewsbury-Hall and Cucurella controlled well with his chest before scoring with a close-range shot into the bottom corner.

The advantage was then extended five minutes later. Great hold-up play and skill by the corner flag from Jackson won a free-kick and when the delivery was hung to the far post by Palmer, Chalobah leapt highest to head towards the far corner and Madueke made sure by nodding home on the line.

Jackson almost added a fourth Chelsea goal when he was slid through by Palmer but the offside flag was raised as soon as the striker found the bottom corner.

Cunha fired a warning shot with ten minutes remaining, as Sanchez palmed his effort away for a corner, but the good news kept coming for the Blues, as Tyrique George came on for his Premier League debut with six minutes remaining.

Jorgen Strand Lauren had a shot saved and Nicolas Jackson fired wide as we entered the final ten minutes but there was to be no more goals and we managed to hold on for the three points with relative ease.

What it means

Our 3-1 win tonight sees us move up to fourth in the Premier League table, four points below Nottingham Forest in third and two above Saturday's opposition Manchester City in fifth.

What's next

The Blues now head to Manchester City on Saturday. Kick-off is at 5.30pm and the fixture will be shown live on Sky Sports in the UK.

You can also follow all the action as it happens in the Manchester City vs Chelsea Match Centre on our website and app, where there will be audio commentary and minute-by-minute updates.

The teams

Chelsea: Sanchez; James (Disasi 77), Tosin, Chalobah, Cucurella; Caicedo, Dewsbury-Hall (Gusto 77); Madueke (George 84), Palmer (Joao Felix 84), Neto (Sancho 62); Jackson
Subs not used: Jorgensen, Acheampong, Nkunku, Guiu
Bookings: Tosin 45+7, Caicedo 70, George 88, Sanchez 90+4
Goals: Tosin 24, Cucurella 60, Madueke 65

Wolves: Sa, Semedo, Doherty, Bueno, Agbadou, Ait-Nouri (R Gomes 74), Andre (Bellegarde 74), J. Gomes, Sarabia (Guedes 74), Cunha, Strand Larsen
Subs not used: Johnstone, Dawson, Doyle, Forbs, Hwang, Lima
Bookings: Andre 41
Goals: Doherty 45+5

Referee: Simon Hooper
Attendance: 39,221