Chelsea coach Ray Wilkins was extremely pleased with his side's efforts after their 2-0 win over Middlesbrough.
The Blues moved into second after the hard-fought win over Boro at Stamford Bridge, which came courtesy of two second-half goals from Salomon Kalou.
But Wilkins insisted that Chelsea knew they would need to battle against relegation threatened Boro and he was left very pleased.
"Was it harder than we expected? We expected a hard game as they are fighting for their lives down the bottom end of the Premier League, it was nothing more than what we expected," he told Sky Sports.
"They [Boro] were always going to put a couple of banks of four behind the ball on every occasion, and they made it very difficult for us but our persistence paid off through Salomon Kalou."
Wilkins admitted he could understand some frustration which was beginning to filter through from the fans before they opened the scoring on the hour.
"I think you get frustrated when you have the lion's share of the ball and we perhaps didn't use it like we should have, but it was nice to score a couple from dead-ball situations," he said.
Didier Drogba came on at half-time to play with Nicolas Anelka in a 4-3-3, but Wilkins insists that although manager Luiz Felipe Scolari prefers that system, he could yet play 4-4-2.
"It [4-4-2] hasn't happened in a while, and Felipe's preference is to play 4-3-3, it would be something we are not afraid of doing," he said.
"We have two great players and so if we have to that is not a problem, but if we have to put Nic on the right he has the ability to do this."
Wilkins admits the whole club are now relishing the Super Sunday clash with Liverpool.
"It is going to be very difficult every game, and none bigger than the one we have this Sunday against Liverpool, but we will just keep plugging away, playing our football as good as we can and hopefully getting the victories," he said.
"We are winning and that is vitally important to maintain our challenge and winning football is always very positive. We are creating lots of chances, probably not taking as much as we should.
"Every game we play is massive now, our game against Liverpool on Sunday is a great event and one our players will be looking forward to."
Wilkins insists that he does not envisage any comings or goings at Stamford Bridge for the rest of the transfer window.
"I mentioned a couple of days ago that nobody would be leaving and then Carlo [Cudicini] went, so I will have to be careful in my judgement but as far as I know nobody will be coming in or leaving," he added.
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