This was a much-improved performance from Chelsea.

The positives were, far and away, a newly enlivened Eden Hazard – showing all the right moves, as his feet danced in that defence-defying way that has been absent for so long; and a solid and controlling display from Nemanja Matic.

Chelsea certainly had a few good men.

The biggest negative was Diego Costa, who despite his goal, was often one of the outsiders when chances arose.

Jose Mourinho was right that Chelsea could have scored three, four or five – but that wasn't down to poor luck, or officiating, but a profligacy in front of goal that continues to blight the side's performances.

So, with false dawns going back as far as roughly the mid-point of the last title-winning season, and the 0-5 freak win at Swansea, does this mean the firm is back on form?

Is this the long-awaited, and oft-cited, turning of the corner for Chelsea?

The initial chances of stringing a run together are good, with the benefit of what should be a straightforward 90 minutes against Maccabi Tel Aviv in Haifa on Tuesday.

Whatever the outcome there, it will of course count for little once it comes the Sunday lunchtime trip to White Hart Lane being a very different prospect.

In pictures: Chelsea's win over Norwich

Spurs were rampant at the weekend against West Ham; though a return from the even more distant Baku, a full 48 hours after Chelsea have unpacked their Israeli duty-frees, is not going to help their preparation.

Already, I've seen people suggesting Chelsea dust-off John Mikel Obi for a side-passing masterclass, and an attempt at a shutout.

Tottenham, of course, is where all of this started: with the 5-3 New Years Day hangover, after the cocktail party before.

Looking at the two sides right now, the only things really standing between logic and a similar scoreline is that it's difficult to see where Chelsea might pull three goals from.

Certainly, a performance of the order that overcame Norwich will not be enough, and Mourinho will need to locate reserves in his side, of the sort that have only really been revealed against Arsenal this campaign, in order to achieve the win that is fast becoming mandatory if a top four finish is to follow.

A Saturday evening win at home to Bournemouth would usually be considered within the grasp of most sides of Chelsea's pedigree, and the following final Champions League group stage match at home to Porto could already be deemed more or less for exhibition purposes should both sides win their games in this penultimate round.

The title, written off by most who follow Chelsea a long while ago, was deemed by Mourinho to be 'Mission: Impossible' – saying that Tom Cruise might be able to do it from here, but that he couldn't.

He insisted a top four finish, despite the steep mathematical curve needed to achieve it, was still possible.

Though, on the basis of this performance from Costa, reaching that target may require some risky business, showing the colour of their money in January for a new top gun.