A freak shin shot from Essien re-ignited Chelsea`s ambitions of League glory as City recorded yet another defeat away from Eastlands.
Things didn`t get off to a good start for the away side when Chelsea had the ball in the back of the net inside 60 seconds. Lampard managed to flick the ball into the net, but all cheers were quickly extinguished as the linesman correctly ruled for an offside.
Chelsea began to get in full flow, and had a couple of chances to test Given but City`s nervous defence managed to block everything with last ditch tackles. However from a foul on the 18th minute, City`s defence finally caved.
free-kick, just inside City`s half was taken quickly and found the unmarked Essien who had time and space to loop the ball around Given and into the top corner. A clinical finish? I don`t think so but they all count and if the task wasn`t had enough for City, now it looked impossible.
City finally managed to get themselves in the Chelsea half, and from the passing, Caicedo produced a shot that he dragged wide. Down the other end, arms where raised when Anelka went to the floor after tangling with Onuoha. From my view it looked like a penalty but City escaped having their deficit doubled.
However Chelsea should have doubled the lead six minutes later. Drogba wriggled free in the area before back-heeling the ball right into the path of Ballack but the German`s shot flew inches wide. Chelsea should have been two goals to the good, it was quite a miss!
ity then posed their first threat. Robinho`s cross-cum shot went towards Caicedo on the back stick, but Carvalho got in front of the bulky forward. Another half chance then followed when Ireland produced a great run before feeding Caicedo who ran out of room and the danger was cleared.
Halftime: Chelsea 1 Manchester City 0.
Chelsea`s dominance continued at the start of the second half with Drogba being denied two great tackles, which ironically happened at the same time. Onuoha was then on hand to deny Anelka, but the Frenchman managed to get a shot off shortly after but he dragged it wide.
A good move from Chelsea saw Bosingwa pass to Drogba but this time if was Given who managed to stop Drogba scoring. The in-form striker produced a shot from a tight-angle which Given had to parry from his near-post. Shortly afterwards Hughes made his first change of the game. Caicedo was replaced by Evans.
sense of nervousness was entering the stadium but City could not string more than 6 passes together never mind a positive attack. In fact it was Chelsea who went close again when Belleti`s drive crashed against the post. Kelvin Etuhu then replaced Elano on the 66th minute as Hughes proved even more that he has no clue to what he`s doing anymore. I mean Etuhu proved he can try when he fired his shot wide within seconds of coming on, but we lacked quality on the pitch and taken off Elano who was lazy but could have changed the game with one pass was surely a mistake.
A substitute I wish happened earlier finally took place with around 8 minutes left. Bojinov was introduced and within minutes City had their first proper shot on goal and it was the Bulgarian who produced it, however his smart volley flew straight at Cech.
Dunne then had to clear off the line as both teams tried to find the crucial goal, but where Chelsea were creating the chances, City just lost the ball once they entered Chelsea`s half.
Fulltime: Chelsea 1 Manchester City 0.
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