When Eden Hazard scored after 56 minutes, doubling the advantage provided by Ramires’ 23rd-minute opener, Chelsea appeared to be cruising toward three points and a return to third place in the Premier League.

But Shaun Maloney seized on yet another defensive mistake to halve the deficit and the relegation-threatened visitors might have had a penalty when Ronnie Stam’s shot struck Ashley Cole on the arm.

Again it fell to Lampard, whose future is uncertain, to save the Blues, his 86th-minute third moving him within four of Bobby Tambling’s club goalscoring record of 202, before substitute Marko Marin added a stoppage-time fourth.

After three wins in the previous 10 matches in all competitions, finally Benitez has more Premier League points than his predecessor, Roberto Di Matteo, whom he replaced in November, albeit in two more games.

It is a result that is likely to at least delay Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, who is not renowned for his patience, reaching for the trigger.

Chelsea had won 12 and lost one of 15 prior Premier League meetings with Wigan, which was a welcome visitor to Stamford Bridge.

There were four changes from the Blues side which lost at Newcastle, with Lampard captain as a result of John Terry’s knee injury.

The future of Lampard is unclear, with contradictory speculation in midweek over whether the midfielder will be offered a new contract to extend his 12-year stay beyond this summer.

Petr Cech, who was playing with a finger injury, was tested twice early on, first when Franco Di Santo forced him to save smartly with his feet and then when Maloney curled a left-footed effort from the right channel to stretch the goalkeeper.

Hazard had an effort blocked before a Lampard free kick was flicked on by Torres and went narrowly wide.

A through ball from Branislav Ivanovic found Torres, who in his previous incarnation — such as under Benitez at Liverpool — might have had the confidence to shoot first time. Instead he hesitated and prodded right-footed straight at Ali Al Habsi.

Torres had a key role in the opening goal, turning provider when he dropped deep to meet Luiz’s pass and played the ball on first time for Ramires, rampaging into the right channel.

The Brazilian showed composure to lift the ball over the onrushing Al Habsi. The goal gave relief and confidence to Chelsea.

Cesar Azpilicueta, who made his Spain debut in midweek, then charged down the right and crossed for his compatriot Torres, who saw his powerful header tipped over by Al Habsi.

Lampard’s bouncing shot went narrowly wide from 25 yards and David Luiz ballooned an effort over soon after.

Wigan’s attempt to reply before halftime was aided when an Oscar pass hit referee Mike Dean and rolled in the visitors’ favor. Maloney crossed from the right and Azpilicueta had to head behind, with James McArthur lurking at the back post.

Oscar curled over as the first half came to a close and Lampard had an effort blocked after the half.

Di Santo fired well over from long range before he was freed by James McCarthy, but he was unable to find a teammate with a cross.

Chelsea doubled its advantage when Gary Cahill’s free kick found Azpilicueta, who cut inside and rolled a pass to Hazard.

He struck a first-time shot into the net to celebrate his return from a three-match ban for kicking a ball boy.

As has happened all too often lately when ahead, the Blues relaxed a little too much and Wigan pounced.

Maloney beat the offside trap wide on the right to meet McArthur’s pass and Cech raced to meet him. The goalkeeper was unable to reach the ball and was rounded by the Scot, who netted from a narrow angle.

Singlehandedly, Lampard tried to raise his side, beating McCarthy in the left of the area before shooting wide across goal.

Wigan appealed for a penalty when a Stam shot appeared to hit Cole’s arm before substitute Arouna Kone was allowed to make space for a shot, which did not trouble Cech.

It was tense until Lampard’s intervention.

Hazard took the ball down the left and passed to the edge of the area. Mata stepped over the ball, leaving it for Lampard, who drilled into the bottom corner with trademark precision.

A fourth came when Al Habsi could only parry a swerving shot from Azpilicueta and substitute Marin headed in the rebound for his first Chelsea goal.

Torres almost got in on the act in the 94th minute but saw his rebound from Ramires’ shot saved.

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Cole’s previous deal was set to expire at the end of the season and at one stage he was expected to leave the Champions League holders.

However the 32-year-old, who had been linked with Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, has agreed fresh terms at the club he joined from Arsenal in 2006.

Cole said on the club’s official website: “I am pleased I will be starting my eighth season at Chelsea.

“I wanted to stay at Chelsea because we are always fighting and challenging for trophies. That desire and the will to want to win things have not gone.”

Cole, who has played 293 games for Chelsea, added: “I have great memories here and I enjoy coming to training every day. The staff are amazing and I enjoy training with the lads.

“I have been able to fulfil nearly all my ambitions at Chelsea. I have won the Champions League, the League, I have won FA Cups here but of course you don’t want to stop winning trophies and being at a big club, you are always fighting to win a trophy.

“Being here for seven years and being at Arsenal before that playing for trophies, you never lose that hunger. I wanted to stay at Chelsea because we are always fighting and challenging for trophies. That desire and the will to want To win things have not gone.”

With Chelsea, Cole has won one Premier League title, four FA Cups, one League Cup and was also part of the team that defeated Bayern Munich in last year’s Champions League final.

Cole said there was a slight sense of trepidation at what might have occurred had he left Chelsea.

Discussing his stay at the club, he said on Chelsea TV: “It’s gone quick. After six or seven years and the trophies I’ve won here and the great memories I’ve got here it was a little bit scary and sad thinking I could have left. But I’m glad to have signed and stay here for another year.”

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Chelsea officials met the 27-year-old’s representatives on Sunday night and the deal on the table reportedly did not come close to meeting the point where he would consider leaving St James’ Park.

According to the Daily Mail, Ba earns £20,000 per week plus £20,000 in appearance fees and hoped to double that figure with his new contract, a prospect at which Chelsea balked.

However, while the Ba camp has indicated that the Senegal international does not now expect to be playing his football at Stamford Bridge next month, it is likely that the impasse represents only the initial skirmish in a battle which could run and run.

The Blues are among a series of clubs to have been linked with the former West Ham frontman, who scored his 12th and 13th goals of the season at Arsenal on Saturday, with the £7million release-clause ($11.3 million) in his contract due to become active once again on Jan. 1.

The Daily Mail is reporting that Ba would receive £2million ($3.2 million) himself from the buyout.

However, as yet, the Magpies insist they are yet to receive a bid that would trigger that clause.

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew is growing increasingly weary of the Ba saga, saying Monday he feels “sorry” for Ba because he feels he’s getting bad advice.

“In some respects, I feel a little bit sorry for Demba as well because I think people who are representing him are not actually representing him,” he said. “There are people out there who are saying this who are not actually involved or want to be involved, and that’s the sort of world we are in.

“The contract is what it is, we are all aware of that, and for me as the manager I need it resolved as quickly as possible. That’s the best situation for our fans and for the club.”

Newcastle have spent recent months attempting to negotiate a new contract with Ba which would remove the clause and that remains on the table.

However, Pardew insisted it would not do so indefinitely.

“The situation with that is that it’s getting close to the point where we say ‘no more’, but the offer is still there,” he said.

The deal Ba signed when he joined Newcastle during the summer of 2011 was intensely complicated as a result of the medical condition of his knee, and they have spent recent months attempting to renegotiate it.

However, the two sides have been unable to reach agreement and with the player’s network of representatives clearly active behind the scenes, the waters are becoming increasingly muddied by the day.

What is clear is that any deal would cost significantly more than £7million ($11.3 million) when he signs after and agent fees, as well as a lucrative wage packet, are taken into consideration.

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