Relief rang around a small section of Vicarage Road yesterday evening after the final whistle was blown by David Coote.
That big exhale came from the Chelsea dugout and their supporters in the stands.
They knew the team had been put up against the ropes by Watford, taken a few heavy blows, but were still standing by the last bell.
Mason Mount and Hakim Ziyech’s strikes saved the Blues’ blushes, on a night that could’ve easily slipped away from them.
Claudio Ranieri’s men battled and battered the league leaders at times.
The Hornets were certainly worthy of their equaliser on the stroke of half-time.
A winner was just out of their grasp, however, as Chelsea rallied their expensive firepower from the bench to clinch the victory.
Wiping the sweat away
Perhaps the most grateful man for the turnaround in fortunes was Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
It was his error that led to Watford’s leveller.
The 25-year-old tried to swivel away from Moussa Sissoko inside the centre circle, but was instead dispossessed by the Frenchman.
Sissoko powered forward and passed to Emmanuel Dennis, whose deflected shot beat Edouard Mendy at the far post.
Thomas Tuchel could’ve axed the former England international at the break, yet decided to remove his midfielder partner Saul Niguez in place of Thiago Silva.
Ziyech’s introduction for the injured Trevoh Chalobah meant Loftus-Cheek dropped slightly deeper, a position he appeared more comfortable in.
Milestone for Ruben
With Romelu Lukaku being the third and final substitute, it meant the Cobham academy product lasted the entirety of the match.
Having started and finished the previous game at home to Manchester United, Loftus-Cheek has now completed the full 90 minutes in successive Premier League fixtures for the first time in his Chelsea career.
Quite a remarkable feat, considering he has played 63 times for the Blues in the top-flight.
Hopefully, this run can continue long into the campaign.
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