CHELSEA'S emergence as one of the genuine contenders for the Premiership title has been hailed as a personal triumph for Claudio Ranieri's "softly, softly" approach.

Famously inconsistent in recent seasons, the Londoners have struck a rich and reliable vein of form under the Italian's guidance.

They go into Saturday's Reebok game on the back of five consecutive clean sheets that have taken them to third in the table, prompting former favourite Paul Elliott to suggest Ranieri is delivering the consistency that will bring success back to the Bridge.

"Chelsea could grind out an occasional result but now they are beginning to do it with more regularity," Elliott said. "If you want to finish in the top three or four then that becomes imperative.

"Everybody has their own aspirations and Chelsea's are to finish in that top four and make the Champions League. The signs are towards that, and if they are still there in March they will have a chance."

The Chelsea of old appeared to have returned when, in the space of eight days, they crashed out of the UEFA Cup in the first round and lost league games to West Ham and Liverpool.

Elliott says the recovery is down to Ranieri.

"He has quietly and effectively gone about his business and that week was a good test of his skills," Elliott added.

"He concentrated on the team ethic and managed to pull things round."