Chelsea vs Man City Report

Today’s goals came in a short burst before half-time – Loic Remy on his second Premier League start for Chelsea netting his fifth goal of the season to put the Blues ahead following a well-worked attack, but David Silva equalised a minute before the interval.

In the second half Jose Mourinho’s men were called upon to show steel, good defending and resilience as Manchester City, who had a free midweek while Chelsea  were playing energy-sapping extra time in a keenly CONTEST cup semi-final, had the territorial advantage, but it was a sign of how well Chelsea stuck to the task that the visitors had better chances before half-time.

Thibaut Courtois was called upon to make a couple of saves in the second half but the points were shared.     

TEAM NEWS

It was Remy who was given the nod to take over centre-forward duties from suspended Diego Costa in front of a familiar attacking midfield trio. With Cesc Fabregas and John Mikel Obi unavailable, Ramiresplayed with Nemanja Matic in the centre ground with Kurt Zouma CONTINUING in central defence alongside the skipper. Branislav Ivanovic and Cesar Azpilicueta were the full-backs.

Having suffered defeat at home to Arsenal in their last league outing, the Man City line-up showed only one change from that game – former Gunner Bacary Sagna the preferred right-back with Pablo Zabaleta making way. Frank Lampard was on the bench.

FIRST HALF

Worldwide viewing for this encounter between the top two is believed to have hit new heights for a league match and there was certainly a big buzz around the Bridge as the floodlights dimmed and the teams walked out, with the Matthew Harding End proudly displaying our four European trophies banners.

Courtois was instantly called upon to save a straight shot from Jesus Navas and his counterpart Joe Hart was pressured into punt upfield inside the first minute.

The crowd, as they had before kick-off, burst into a chorus of ‘Diego, Diego,’ to show what they thought of the FA’s actions this week that meant this game was without the top-flight’s topscorer.

The match settled down into some good Chelsea pressing and winning of possession. There was a brief scare when Ivanovic, making his 300th Blues appearance, lost the ball bringing it out of defence but City made little of the opportunity.

Hazard skipped around Gael Clichy with 13 minutes gone and won a corner but both sides were looking solid without the ball. When City did get away with Chelsea a little stretched for numbers at the back,Zouma made an excellent tackle on Aguero inside our penalty area.

Remy was halted in his tracks by the offside flag when a well-flighted Willian pass over the defence looked to have played in the France international.

Courtois made his second save of the game, this time from Aguero after Milner won the ball off Ivanovicin the Chelsea half.  

Our best chance so far came with 29 minutes on the clock. Vincent Kompany dawdled and Remy was away. He crossed in low towards Hazard who dummied but Oscar couldn’t get enough bend on his shot and Hart saved.

Two minutes later City missed with their best opening to date. Chelsea had just had a handball appeal on the edge of the City area turned down and the ball was quickly up the other end. When Terry couldn’t clear it, Aguero was onto it but with plenty of goal to aim at, the Argentinean drove wide, much to his manager’s frustration.

The game had the hallmarks of one heading into the interval scoreless, but suddenly in the five minutes before the break the story took two twists. Chelsea grabbed the lead through a simple but very well-executed move. Ivanovic clipped a lofted pass over to Hazard who was in space on the left of the City area and vitally, the Belgian volleyed his cross over first-time. Remy had read it and was there for his own volley into the net from only five yards out.

SECOND HALF

There were no changes to the 22 players on the pitch for the restart, which soon had the game’s first caution, Silva booked for a trip inside the centre-circle on Matic who was starting to charge.

Courtois made the first save of the second half, tipping over a bouncing header from Fernandinho after Navas escaped behind the right-hand side of the Chelsea defence to cross.

City had enjoyed a good 10 minutes when Navas again found space to cross but Milner looped a header on to the top of the Shed End net. The question now was would the Chelsea players who went through extra time four days ago feel the effects.

Ramires certainly wasn’t as he skipped over the turf to bring the ball away from our area to safety before he was fouled, although not according to the ref. Fortunately Courtois was equal to Fernando’s shot as play was waved on.

The card came out for Fernando for a crude foul on Hazard with the game now inside the final 20 minutes. Chelsea were improving and giving Man City some defending to do again. Pellegrini introduced Lampard with 76 minutes on the clock. Our all-time topscorer would get a warm reception walking around the pitch after the final whistle. 

Ramires slightly overhit a long ball into the area for Remy to chase before Chelsea were forced into a substitution due to an injury to Willian. The Brazilian, who must have run as much as anyone this week, walked off down the tunnel. Drogba came on, as did Gary Cahill and Ruben Loftus-Cheek in the closing stages during which Chelsea stayed firm at the back.  

Milner, striking a shot across the six-yard box but wide, was as close as the visitors came to grabbing the win they needed, and when a stoppage-time corner, taken short, was repelled by the boys in royal blue, the final whistle instantly followed and it is as Chelsea were at the summit of the LEAGUE TABLE.  

A midweek without a game now follows before our title quest CONTINUES at Villa Park next Saturday. 

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Courtois; Ivanovic, Zouma, Terry (c), Azpilicueta; Ramires, Matic; Willian (Drogba 80), Oscar (Loftus-Cheek 92), Hazard; Remy (Cahill 86).
Unused subs Cech, Christensen, Ake, Brown.
Scorer Remy 42

Man City (4-2-3-1): Hart; Sagna, Kompany (c), Demichelis, Clichy; Fernandinho, Fernando (Lampard 77); Navas, Silva (Jovetic 89), Milner; Aguero (Dzeko 83).
Unused subs Caballero, Kolarov, Zabaleta, Boyata.
Scorer Silva 45
Booked Silva 50, Fernando 72.

Referee Mark Clattenburg
Crowd 41,620.
Chelseafc.com