Demba Ba struck another priceless goal following his Champions League heroics to keep Chelsea firmly in the Premier League title race.

Ba’s 68th-minute strike finally broke 10-man Swansea’s Liberty Stadium resistance for a 1-0 win that leaves Chelsea two points behind leaders Liverpool with four games remaining.

And it followed the winner he struck against Paris St Germain five days ago that booked the Blues’ place in this season’s Champions League semi-finals.

Chelsea, who visit Anfield in a fortnight’s time, were made to sweat and toil by the Swans following Chico Flores’s 17th-minute sending off.

Flores was dismissed on receipt of a second yellow card — his cautions came just over two minutes apart — but Swansea scrapped for everything before Ba struck and left Garry Monk’s men just three points above the relegation zone.

Much of Chelsea’s performance was hesitant, especially in attack, but Ba ultimately came up trumps when it really mattered — as he did at Stamford Bridge to dump PSG out of Europe on away goals — and it keeps the heat on Liverpool.

Swansea, in contrast, head to Newcastle next Saturday, knowing they are far from safe, especially following a weekend when two of the clubs below them — Fulham and Cardiff — both won.

A fast opening saw Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech save low down from Pablo Hernandez, before Mohamad  Salah missed a golden sixth-minute opportunity for the visitors when he side-footed wide from inside the penalty area.

Chelsea displayed their trademark patience in attempts to break Swansea down but keeper Michel Vorm had still to be seriously troubled as the game moved towards half-time.

Mourinho made a double substitution for the second half, sending on Oscar for Ramires and Samuel Eto’o instead of Andre Schurrle.

Eto’o had a glorious chance to fire Chelsea ahead in the 58th minute, yet his miss from just 10 yards out epitomised the Blues’ blunt attacking threat as Swansea remained on level terms.

Ba finally destroyed Swansea’s hopes of a point and ensuring Chelsea retain hopes of title silverware.