Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas

Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas believes it may take only one goal for the floodgates to open for Fernando Torres after watching the striker go within inches of ending his latest drought.

Saturday's Barclays Premier League game against Sunderland saw Torres produce arguably his best performance at Stamford Bridge since his £50million move from Liverpool almost a year ago, with the striker desperately unlucky not to have netted the winner.

That honour went to Frank Lampard, who was happy to admit afterwards his goal owed everything to what Villas-Boas hailed as an "amazing" scissor-kick from Torres, which crashed back off the underside of the crossbar, against Lampard and into the net.

Luck also deserted Torres when he was denied two penalty claims, the second even seeing him booked for diving when he appeared to have been tripped.

But there seems no doubt the 27-year-old, who has not scored in the league for almost four months, is benefiting from the run in the side he has been given as a consequence of Didier Drogba's African Nations Cup participation.

"He's still not scoring but is ever so close to scoring, which is already good," said Villas-Boas, who felt one goal could be the trigger for a glut to follow.

"Could happen. We will have to wait and see.

"Maybe a goal would help on the personal, inspiration level but we are not worried because he is doing well.

"Obviously, his confidence is improving and his form is improving."

Villas-Boas felt sure Torres' luck would change provided he maintained his current level of performance.

"It's down to luck when things like this happen," he said.

"Of course, a goalscorer gets goals.

"But he's very willing to change his fortune and I think the goals will come."