Skipper John Terry scored the winner for the second successive week as Chelsea tightened their vice-like grip on the Barclays Premiership by increasing their lead at the top to 12 points with a 1-0 victory over Wigan.

Jose Mourinho wants his side to reproduce the same kind of form which saw them destroy their opponents during December and January last season, and it is difficult to see them faltering after they way they overcame a stubborn Wigan at Stamford Bridge.

Terry, who scored the only goal of the game against Middlesbrough last Saturday, produced another unstoppable header in the 67th minute to earn the reigning champions three more valuable points.

Last season Chelsea took a decisive grip on the title race by winning seven out of eight fixtures and conceding just two goals in an away draw against Arsenal during December and January.

Mourinho wants his troops do the same this term and although Wigan provided plenty of brave resistance, Chelsea were never in danger of slipping up.

Hernan Crespo, who had missed the last two games with a rib injury, was recalled to lead the attack.

But it was midfielder Michael Essien who had the first attempt on goal after just three minutes, his left-foot effort from the edge of the Wigan penalty area far too high to trouble Michael Pollitt.

Wigan responded six minutes later with a flashing volley from 20 yards by Graham Kavanagh, but, like Essien, he failed to hit the target and the ball fizzed past Carlo Cudicini's left-hand post.

Only a fine one-handed save from Pollitt prevented Chelsea from taking the lead in the 14th minute when Joe Cole collected a neat flick from Crespo and ran 30 yards before failing to beat the Wigan keeper.

Chelsea should have been awarded a penalty in the 24th minute when Lee McCulloch clearly hauled down Terry inside the area, but referee Howard Webb opted to ignore their appeals.

In the 31st minute Cole's dancing feet proved too much for Pascal Chimbonda, who brought him down on the left edge of the penalty area.

The resulting free-kick was quickly taken by Asier del Horno and Crespo's free header looked to have put the champions in front, only for Leighton Baines to clear magnificently off the line.

In the final minute of the half they almost engineered a breakthrough when Frank Lampard unleashed a left-foot volley from the edge of the box after Crespo had chested the ball to him. However, despite the accuracy of the England midfielder's effort, Pollitt dived low to his right to thwart the home side yet again.

Mourinho was clearly not satisfied with Chelsea's inability to break down Wigan in the opening half and replaced Damien Duff with Didier Drogba at half-time.

Drogba, who has been suffering with a minor knee injury since returning from international duty with the Ivory Coast last month, immediately took up a position alongside Crespo in attack, with Robben and Cole providing the width on the flanks.

It took Drogba less than two minutes to make his presence felt and only a fine save from Pollitt prevented him from opening the scoring after Essien had put him clear with a delightful volleyed pass.

But Wigan continued to frustrate their hosts without creating anything of their own in attack.

Chelsea refused to be outdone by the brave resistance of their visitors and it was Terry who turned out to be the hero for the second week in succession.

Lampard's fiercely-driven corner in the 67th minute was met by a full-blooded diving header from the Chelsea skipper which was too hard for Pollitt to keep out of the net.

It put Chelsea 12 points ahead of nearest rivals Liverpool at the Premiership summit and increased their sequence to six games without conceding a goal since their only defeat of the season to Manchester United last month.