A solitary strike from Demba Ba lifted the Blues above West Brom on Saturday and also above Tottenham in third on the English Premiership League log, boosting their hopes of securing a Champions League football place.
It was comfortable thereafter for Chelsea, although more abuse came the way of Benitez as sections of the home crowd sang “stand up if you hate Rafa”.
Peter Odemwingie did threaten late on but Chelsea were worth the three points.
Manchester United need only 19 points from their remaining 10 games of the season to lift the title after a routine 4-0 victory over Norwich at Old Trafford.
Ryan Giggs, who is on the cusp of his 1,000th game for club and country, was left out of the match day squad, but United still had enough firepower, with three goals from Kagawa making the difference before Wayne Rooney completed the rout.
Norwich barely offered a threat to the league leaders and they were finished off 13 minutes from time, Kagawa finding another classy finish to a flowing move as thoughts turned to Madrid.
Kagawa may well have played himself into Sir Alex Ferguson’s thoughts for that European tie, completing his treble in style in the closing minutes, before Rooney dropped a shoulder and lashed home a beauty for the fourth.
Queens Park Rangers are now only four points from safety after a potentially crucial 2-1 triumph at Southampton. Harry Redknapp’s side saw Loic Remy’s strike cancelled out by Gaston Ramirez, but Jay Bothroyd found a priceless winner in the 77th minute.
Everton are within six points of fourth-placed Tottenham after they saw off Reading 3-1 at Goodison Park, leaving the Royals a point adrift of safety at the bottom. Marouane Fellaini, Steven Pienaar and Kevin Mirallas were on the scoresheet for David Moyes’ men.
The Toffees started well on home soil, with Nikica Jelavic close to finding an opener, and Fellaini made the breakthrough after Seamus Coleman stood up a lovely cross for the Belgian.
Pienaar doubled Everton’s lead on the hour when he drove at Ian Harte before finding the corner, and he then turned provider for Mirallas to net the third. Hal Robson-Kanu netted a consolation for the Royals, but the comeback specialists left themselves too much to do.
Swansea’s homecoming party following their Capital One Cup success threatened to be spoiled by Newcastle, but Luke Moore struck ten minutes from time to claim a 1-0 win at the Liberty Stadium. The Swans moved seventh with victory, while Newcastle have further cause to look over their shoulders towards the drop zone.
Elsewhere, Sunderland, six points from safety, are yet to feel comfortable planning life in the Premier League next season after they drew 2-2 at home to Fulham. A highly controversial Dimitar Berbatov penalty – which appeared to be awarded after a change of heart by the referee – opened the scoring for the Cottagers, who doubled their lead when Sascha Riether completed a fine counter-attack.
However, another soft penalty award – this time for a nudge on Danny Graham – allowed Craig Gardner to halve the deficit before the break, and then Stephane Sessegnon’s long-distance effort found its way past Mark Schwarzer for the equaliser.
Stoke suffered a 1-0 defeat to West Ham at the Britannia Stadium. Jack Collison netted the winner on the stroke of half-time for the Hammers.
Saturday’s results
Barclays Premier League
Chelsea 1-0 West Brom
Everton 3-1 Reading
Manchester United 4-0 Norwich
Southampton 1-2 QPR
Stoke City 0-1 West Ham Sunderland 2-2 Fulham
Swansea City 1-0 Newcastle
