Bony replaces Jovetic

<div><img src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/80816000/jpg/_80816384_bony-jovetic-main.jpg" /><a name="more"></a>Manchester City <span style="color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.2569389343262px; line-height: 24.4191665649414px;">have cut S</span></span>tevan Jovetic<span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;"> from their  Champions League squad in order to accommodate </span>Wilfried Bony<span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">.</span></div><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">Bony joined the Blues from Swansea City in January, and with no member of the club's European squad from the group stage leaving during the transfer window, Manuel Pellegrini faced a decision as to whether to bring the Ivory Coast international in.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">Financial Fair Play Punishment have left City with a squad of just 21 compared to the usual 25-man roster named by teams in Europe's elite club competition, and that means Jovetic misses out on a chance to play in the knockout stages.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><em style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;"><strong>Full Manchester City Champions League squad</strong></em><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><strong style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">Goalkeepers: </strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">Joe Hart, Willy Caballero</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><strong style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">Defenders: </strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">Pablo Zabaleta, Bacary Sagna, Vincent Kompany, Martin Demichelis, Eliaquim Mangala, Gael Clichy, Aleksandar Kolarov, Dedryck Boyata</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><strong style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">Midfielders: </strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">Fernandinho, Fernando, Yaya Toure, Jesus Navas, David Silva, James Milner, Samir Nasri, Frank Lampard</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><strong style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">Strikers: </strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">Sergio Aguero, Wilfried Bony, Edin Dzeko</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><div class="g-plusone" data-annotation="none" data-size="tall"></div>

Bony replaces Jovetic

Manchester City have cut S tevan Jovetic  from their  Champions League squad in order to accommodate  Wilfried Bony . Bony joined the Blues ...

Read more »

Chelsea vs Man City Report

<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><h2><img alt="PA-22102671_remy" src="http://www.chelseafc.com/content/cfc/en/homepage/news/boilerplate-config/latest-news/2015/01/match-report--chelsea-v-manchester-city/_jcr_content/main/image_0.img.jpg/1422734264064.jpg" style="font-size: 13px;" />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.<h></h></h2></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">In the second half <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/management-team/jose-mourinho.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;">Jose Mourinho</a>’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 <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/news/latest-news/2015/01/match-report--chelsea-v-manchester-city.html#" id="_GPLITA_1" in_rurl="http://s.srv-itx.com/click?v=VVM6Nzk4Nzg6MzI4NTpjb250ZXN0czplMjlmNjRjMThiNDgxMDYzOGExMTJmMzQ5ZTZiODBhZjp6LTIyNDctMTYzODk3NTQ6d3d3LmNoZWxzZWFmYy5jb206MjM1ODQzOjU2NzUxYmMyNjg4NGJjYWM1M2MzZGJlYjk3MTc1ZDJkOjZiZTg2MDBiZTBhYzQxYmZiNjdkOGJhMjgwNzc2NTNjOjE6ZGF0YV9zcyw3Mjh4MTM2NjtkYXRhX2ZiLG5vOzo0NDA0MzI3&subid=g-16389754-54920e175bbe4d78b859a297411a5bb2-&data_ss=728x1366&data_fb=no&data_tagname=P" style="background: transparent !important; border: none !important; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block !important; float: none !important; font-weight: bold !important; height: auto !important; margin: 0px !important; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-transform: uppercase !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: auto !important;" title="Click to Continue > by InText">CONTEST<img src="http://cdncache-a.akamaihd.net/items/it/img/arrow-10x10.png" style="background: transparent !important; border: none !important; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block !important; float: none !important; height: 10px !important; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px !important; max-width: 100%; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; vertical-align: super !important; width: 10px !important;" /></a> 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.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/thibaut-courtois.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;">Thibaut Courtois</a> was called upon to make a couple of saves in the second half but the points were shared.     </div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><br /></div><h3 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0e1e7d; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 12px; text-transform: uppercase;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box;">TEAM NEWS</b></h3><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></b>It was Remy who was given the nod to take over centre-forward duties from suspended <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/diego-costa.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;">Diego Costa</a> in front of a familiar attacking midfield trio. With <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/cesc-fabregas.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;">Cesc Fabregas</a> and <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/john-mikel-obi.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;">John Mikel Obi</a> unavailable,<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/ramires.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;"> Ramires</a>played with <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/nemanja-matic.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;">Nemanja Matic</a> in the centre ground with <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/content/cfc/en/archived/players/kurt-zouma2.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;">Kurt Zouma</a> <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/news/latest-news/2015/01/match-report--chelsea-v-manchester-city.html#" id="_GPLITA_2" in_rurl="http://s.srv-itx.com/click?v=VVM6Nzg0NTc6NDpjb250aW51ZTphOWE2ZmFkNzdlZmZlMDNhNGNjZjNjYWNkOTE1MzA1Yzp6LTIyNDctMTYzODk3NTQ6d3d3LmNoZWxzZWFmYy5jb206MjMyMzI2OjFiZmM0MjM4YTA5Mjk4Y2Y3ODRhNmUzN2Y1NTFlY2JlOjAxMDk1OTY5MmRlMDRjODNiY2NhOWVmZjE4OWI5ZGFmOjE6ZGF0YV9zcyw3Mjh4MTM2NjtkYXRhX2ZiLG5vOzo0NDIwNzgw&subid=g-16389754-54920e175bbe4d78b859a297411a5bb2-&data_ss=728x1366&data_fb=no&data_tagname=P" style="background: transparent !important; border: none !important; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block !important; float: none !important; font-weight: bold !important; height: auto !important; margin: 0px !important; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-transform: uppercase !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: auto !important;" title="Click to Continue > by InText">CONTINUING<img src="http://cdncache-a.akamaihd.net/items/it/img/arrow-10x10.png" style="background: transparent !important; border: none !important; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block !important; float: none !important; height: 10px !important; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px !important; max-width: 100%; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; vertical-align: super !important; width: 10px !important;" /></a> in central defence alongside the skipper. <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/branislav-ivanovic.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;">Branislav Ivanovic</a> and <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/cesar-azpilicueta.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;">Cesar Azpilicueta</a> were the full-backs.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">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.</div><h3 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0e1e7d; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 12px; text-transform: uppercase;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />FIRST HALF</b></h3><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></b>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.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">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.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">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.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">The match settled down into some good Chelsea pressing and winning of possession. There was a brief scare when<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/branislav-ivanovic.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;"> Ivanovic</a>, making his 300<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 10px; line-height: 0; position: relative; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline;">th</span> Blues appearance, lost the ball bringing it out of defence but City made little of the opportunity.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/eden-hazard.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;">Hazard</a> 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,<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/content/cfc/en/archived/players/kurt-zouma2.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;">Zouma</a> made an excellent tackle on Aguero inside our penalty area.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">Remy was halted in his tracks by the offside flag when a well-flighted<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/willian.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;"> Willian</a> pass over the defence looked to have played in the France international.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">Courtois made his second save of the game, this time from Aguero after Milner won the ball off<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/branislav-ivanovic.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;"> Ivanovic</a>in the Chelsea half.  </div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">Our best chance so far came with 29 minutes on the clock. Vincent Kompany dawdled and Remy was away. He crossed in low towards <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/eden-hazard.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;">Hazard</a> who dummied but Oscar couldn’t get enough bend on his shot and Hart saved.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">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.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">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.<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/branislav-ivanovic.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;"> Ivanovic</a> clipped a lofted pass over to <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/eden-hazard.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;">Hazard</a> 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.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"></div><div class="parbase image section" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></div><br /><div class="text parbase section" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><h3 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0e1e7d; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 12px; text-transform: uppercase;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;">SECOND HALF</b></h3><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></b>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<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/nemanja-matic.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: initial; text-decoration: none;"> Matic</a> who was starting to charge.</div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">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.</div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">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.</div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">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<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/thibaut-courtois.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: initial; text-decoration: none;"> Courtois</a> was equal to Fernando’s shot as play was waved on.</div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">The card came out for Fernando for a crude foul on <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/eden-hazard.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: initial; text-decoration: none;">Hazard</a> 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. </div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px;">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<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/willian.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: initial; text-decoration: none;"> Willian</a>. The Brazilian, who must have run as much as anyone this week, walked off down the tunnel.<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/didier-drogba.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: initial; text-decoration: none;"> Drogba</a> came on, as did <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/gary-cahill.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: initial; text-decoration: none;">Gary Cahill</a> and Ruben Loftus-Cheek in the closing stages during which Chelsea stayed firm at the back.  </div><div class="parsys main" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px;"><div class="text parbase section" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 10px;">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 <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/news/latest-news/2015/01/match-report--chelsea-v-manchester-city.html#" id="_GPLITA_5" in_rurl="http://s.srv-itx.com/click?v=VVM6NzcwOTg6MTQ0NDpsZWFndWUgdGFibGU6ZjE0OTNjY2YxMzdmMjY4NzJhY2IxN2I2NzViYmFmY2M6ei0yMjQ3LTE2Mzg5NzU0Ond3dy5jaGVsc2VhZmMuY29tOjIyODk2MDoxMzBmODE3Y2M2NGM2ZTRkNDYwMTgxODJkNDI1ZWE5Njo4NDdmYmJlOWNjMzA0NDUwOWU0ZWJkYzQwMmNjZTNjYjowOmRhdGFfc3MsNzI4eDEzNjY7ZGF0YV9mYixubzs6MTg5ODE0MDg&subid=g-16389754-54920e175bbe4d78b859a297411a5bb2-&data_ss=728x1366&data_fb=no&data_tagname=P" style="background: transparent !important; border: none !important; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block !important; float: none !important; font-weight: bold !important; height: auto !important; margin: 0px !important; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-transform: uppercase !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: auto !important;" title="Click to Continue > by InText">LEAGUE TABLE<img src="http://cdncache-a.akamaihd.net/items/it/img/arrow-10x10.png" style="background: transparent !important; border: none !important; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block !important; float: none !important; height: 10px !important; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px !important; max-width: 100%; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; vertical-align: super !important; width: 10px !important;" /></a>.  </div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 10px;">A midweek without a game now follows before our title quest <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/news/latest-news/2015/01/match-report--chelsea-v-manchester-city.html#" id="_GPLITA_6" in_rurl="http://s.srv-itx.com/click?v=VVM6Nzg0NTc6NDpjb250aW51ZTphYmU5ZDRhMGY1YjZhMjVjNWM5NGNkNzYwN2I3ODE4MDp6LTIyNDctMTYzODk3NTQ6d3d3LmNoZWxzZWFmYy5jb206MjMyMzI2OjFiZmM0MjM4YTA5Mjk4Y2Y3ODRhNmUzN2Y1NTFlY2JlOmNmZWU3ZWFiZDhjYTQyOGM5MjA1YTU4YWE3YjY0Mjk2OjA6ZGF0YV9zcyw3Mjh4MTM2NjtkYXRhX2ZiLG5vOzo0NDIwNzgw&subid=g-16389754-54920e175bbe4d78b859a297411a5bb2-&data_ss=728x1366&data_fb=no&data_tagname=P" style="background: transparent !important; border: none !important; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block !important; float: none !important; font-weight: bold !important; height: auto !important; margin: 0px !important; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-transform: uppercase !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: auto !important;" title="Click to Continue > by InText">CONTINUES<img src="http://cdncache-a.akamaihd.net/items/it/img/arrow-10x10.png" style="background: transparent !important; border: none !important; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block !important; float: none !important; height: 10px !important; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px !important; max-width: 100%; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; vertical-align: super !important; width: 10px !important;" /></a> at Villa Park next Saturday. </div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 10px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><b style="box-sizing: border-box;">Chelsea</b> (4-2-3-1):<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/thibaut-courtois.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;"> Courtois</a>;<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/branislav-ivanovic.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;"> Ivanovic</a>,<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/content/cfc/en/archived/players/kurt-zouma2.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;"> Zouma</a>, Terry (c),<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/cesar-azpilicueta.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;"> Azpilicueta</a>;<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/ramires.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;"> Ramires</a>,<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/nemanja-matic.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;"> Matic</a>;<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/willian.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;"> Willian</a> (Drogba 80), Oscar (Loftus-Cheek 92), <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/eden-hazard.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;">Hazard</a>; Remy (Cahill 86).<br /><b style="box-sizing: border-box;">Unused subs</b> Cech, <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/andreas-christensen.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;">Christensen</a>, Ake, Brown.<br /><b style="box-sizing: border-box;">Scorer</b> Remy 42</div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 10px;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box;">Man City </b>(4-2-3-1): Hart; Sagna, Kompany (c), Demichelis, Clichy; Fernandinho, Fernando (Lampard 77); Navas, Silva (Jovetic 89), Milner; Aguero (Dzeko 83).<br /><b style="box-sizing: border-box;">Unused subs</b> Caballero, Kolarov, Zabaleta, Boyata.<br /><b style="box-sizing: border-box;">Scorer </b>Silva 45<br /><b style="box-sizing: border-box;">Booked </b>Silva 50, Fernando 72.</div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box;">Referee </b>Mark Clattenburg<br /><b style="box-sizing: border-box;">Crowd </b>41,620.<br />Chelseafc.com</div></div></div><div class="sharebar parbase" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px;"><div class="social clearfix" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="gigyaSocialListContainer" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><ul class="gigyaSocialList" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><li style="box-sizing: border-box; float: left; list-style: none; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"></li></ul></div></div></div><div class="tagcloud" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></div></div>

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 th...

Read more »

Team news: Chelsea v Manchester City

<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><span class="summary-text" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #595959; font-size: 19px; font-weight: 600; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 15px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><img src="http://www.chelseafc.com/content/cfc/en/homepage/news/boilerplate-config/latest-news/2015/01/team-news--chelsea-v-manchester-city.img.png" style="background-color: transparent;" /><span style="color: #595959; font-size: 19px; font-weight: 600; line-height: 24px;">Loic</span></div><a name="more"></a> Remy is the striker chosen to replace the suspended <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/diego-costa.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3886de; font-size: 19px; font-weight: 600; line-height: 24px; text-decoration: none;">Diego Costa</a><span style="color: #595959; font-size: 19px; font-weight: 600; line-height: 24px;">.</span><br /><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/cesc-fabregas.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3886de; text-decoration: none;">Cesc Fabregas</a> has not recovered from the problem that forced him off against Liverpool so<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/ramires.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3886de; text-decoration: none;">Ramires</a> comes into an otherwise unchanged midfield.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/content/cfc/en/archived/players/kurt-zouma2.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3886de; text-decoration: none;">Kurt Zouma</a> continues as <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/john-terry.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3886de; text-decoration: none;">John Terry</a>’s partner in central defence. <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/branislav-ivanovic.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3886de; text-decoration: none;">Branislav Ivanovic</a> is fit and at right-back so makes his 300<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 9.75px; line-height: 0; position: relative; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline;">th</span> Chelsea appearance, 200 of those Premier League games. He is the fifth overseas player to reach the triple century mark for Chelsea.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">There is a young look to the Chelsea bench with Academy products <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/andreas-christensen.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3886de; text-decoration: none;">Andreas Christensen</a> and Ruben Loftus-Cheek joined by 18-year-old striker Izzy Brown. He was previously among the subs for the Capital One Cup tie at Shrewsbury.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">For Man City, there is one change from their defeat against Arsenal. Bacary Sagna replaces Pablo Zabaleta at right-back.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">Chelsea are expected to line up in the following 4-2-3-1 formation:</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">Courtois;<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/branislav-ivanovic.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3886de; text-decoration: none;"> Ivanovic</a>,<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/content/cfc/en/archived/players/kurt-zouma2.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3886de; text-decoration: none;"> Zouma</a>, Terry (c),<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/cesar-azpilicueta.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3886de; text-decoration: none;"> Azpilicueta</a>;<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/ramires.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3886de; text-decoration: none;"> Ramires</a>,<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/nemanja-matic.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3886de; text-decoration: none;"> Matic</a>;<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/willian.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3886de; text-decoration: none;"> Willian</a>, Oscar, <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/eden-hazard.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3886de; text-decoration: none;">Hazard</a>; Remy.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">Subs:<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/petr-cech.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3886de; text-decoration: none;"> Cech</a>,<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/gary-cahill.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3886de; text-decoration: none;"> Cahill</a>, <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/andreas-christensen.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3886de; text-decoration: none;">Christensen</a>, Ake, Loftus-Cheek, Brown,<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/didier-drogba.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3886de; text-decoration: none;"> Drogba</a>.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">Man City are expected to line up in the following 4-2-3-1 formation.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">Hart; Sagna, Kompany (c), Demichelis, Clichy; Fernandinho, Fernando; Navas, Silva, Milner; Aguero.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">Subs: Caballero, Kolarov, Zabaleta, Boyata, Lampard, Jovetic, Dzeko. </div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">The referee is Mark Clattenburg.  </div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">Chelseafc.com</div>

Team news: Chelsea v Manchester City

Loic Remy is the striker chosen to replace the suspended  Diego Costa . Cesc Fabregas  has not recovered from the problem that forced him o...

Read more »

Mancity trashed out by Boro

<div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><strong>GOALS from Patrick Bamford and Kike swept Boro in to the fifth round of the FA Cup on a proud afternoon for the club. Writes GORDON COX from the Etihad Stadium.<a name="more"></a></strong></div><div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">Both sides named strong line ups. </div><div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">Tomas Kalas missed the game after taking a kick against Cardiff on Tuesday so Dean Whitehead dropped to the right side of defence. Tomas Mejias, as he was for the third round tie at Barnsley, was in goal with Connor Ripley on the bench. That meant a place in the starting line-up for former City ballboy Adam Clayton.</div><div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">City arrived back last night from a five day break in Abu Dhabi. Included in today’s line-up was Dedryck Boyata who made his City debut in a third round tie at the Riverside in 2010.</div><div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">Willy Caballero was named in goal with Joe Hart on the bench. </div><div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><div>After an opening few minutes where there the was a respectful approach from both sides on the pitch and plenty verbal jousting between the fans off it, City moved down the left, Aleksander Kolarov swept over a low cross only just out of the reach of Stevan Jovetic.</div><div><br /></div><div>Sergio Aguero was next to try and take the lid off the can as he slid in Jesus Navas. The legs of Mejias came to Boro’s rescue.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>The precision of City’s passing was a notable feature as they dominated possession, though Boro did have the ball in the net when Patrick Bamford flicked on to Lee Tomlin who headed in. The problem was a linesman’s flag had been raised earlier in the move.</div><div><br /></div><div>City continued to search left and right for a way through and a low shot from Aguero flew in to the side netting. </div><div><br /></div><div>Moving forward Boro looked efficient, they just couldn’t do it often enough against a side whose class was evident.</div><div><br /></div><div>On a rare raid a Bamford cross picked out Vossen whose overhead kick was deflected for a corner.</div><div><br /></div><div>Back came City, at one stage lining up to take shots from the edge of the box. Jovetic going close, Boyata shooting well over and James Milner bringing an excellent save from Mejias with a low drive from 20 yards.</div><div><br /></div><div>Boro stuck in, Ben Gibson defended well, so too Daniel Ayala as City probed through the middle and Grant Leadbitter put in a thundering challenge to clear danger and start a moved in one go.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>Two more smart saves from Mejias kept Boro in the game. The first denied David Silva who struck powerfully from 24 yards, then Jovetic was denied from 10 yards closer to goal.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>Bamford headed just over from a Dean Whitehead cross in the closing minutes of the half, closing a period where Boro had seen more of the ball.</div><div><br /></div><div>The final attack of the half saw Albert Adomah set up Lee Tomlin whose low shot from the edge of the box was deflected for a corner. City dealt with and were on what could have been a telling break when referee Phil Dowd blew for half-time.</div><div><br /></div><div><strong>Half-time: Manchester City 0 Middlesbrough 0</strong></div><div><strong><br /></strong></div><div><div>Two yellow cards, one per side, interrupted the flow at the start of the second half. The one shown to Ayala was his tenth of the season and he will miss the next two games.</div><div><br /></div><div>With 52 minutes played Boro swept forward through the middle, Jelle Vossen threaded to Adomah who looked to have lost his chance to shoot. He carried on, forcing a save from Caballero. But the ball ran to <strong>Patrick Bamford</strong> who tucked home from close range.</div><div><br /></div><div>City’s fans were stunned and Boro almost made it two a few minutes later when Leadbitter struck fiercely low and Boyata produced an excellent block.</div><div><br /></div><div>City flew forward and for a short while peppered Boro’s penalty area, but the best two chances in the ensuing minutes fell to the visitors as first Adomah, set up by Tomlin, strode through the middle but his lob was grabbed by Caballero before Tomlin, through the middle, beat the goalkeeper with a low shot which thudded back off the left-hand post.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>Approaching the midway point of the half Manuel Pellegrini made two changes, but apart from when George Friend produced an excellent block to deny Aguero City didn’t threaten as much as they would like.</div><div><br /></div><div>Boro did and from an Adomah cross Vossen made great contact on a volley which needed a smart save to prevent Boro from going two up.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>It took the post to prevent City from drawing level in the 89th minute when Frank Lampard shot from the D, Clayton did all he could to block and ball looped up  and thudded back of Mejias’ left-hand post.</div><div><br /></div><div>In the third minute of injury-time Boro sealed the win. Bamford was fouled on the edge of the penalty area but referee Dowd played an excellent advantage as the ball rolled to Kike who stroked a low shot beyond Caballero.</div><div><br /></div><div>On the whistle Boro’s coaching staff joined the players on the pitch in applauding the Boro fans. It was reciprocated long and loud.</div></div><div><br /></div></div><div><strong>Scorers</strong> Bamford 52, Kike 90+3.</div><div><br /></div></div></div><div>*Earlier today Boro’s U18s consolidated their position at the top of the table when winning 5-1 away to Sunderland. Jordan Jowers (2), Harry Chapman, Alex Pattison and Joe Wheatley the goalscorers. </div></div><div><br /></div></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><strong>Manchester City:</strong> Caballero; Kompany (Capt.), Zabaleta, Kolarov, Boyata, Fernando (Dzeko 78), Milner, Navas (Lampard 66), Silva, Jovetic (Fernandinho 66), Aguero. <strong>Subs:</strong> Hart (gk); Sagna, Clichy, Demichelis.  Order of subs on 66: 1) Lampard 2) Fernandinho.</div><div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><strong>Middlesbrough:</strong> Mejias; Whitehead, Ayala, Gibson, Friend, Tomlin (Reach 80), Leadbitter (Capt.), Clayton, Adomah, Bamford Wildschut (90+4), Vossen (Kike 86). <strong>Subs:</strong> Ripley (gk); Husband, Woodgate, Omeruo.</div><div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><strong>Referee</strong> Phil Dowd</div><div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><strong>Bookings</strong></div><div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><strong>Manchester City </strong>Kompany 51, foul; Fernandinho 70, foul.</div><div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><strong>Middlesbrough </strong>Ayala 49, foul; Whitehead 71, time-wasting at free-kick.</div><div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"></div><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><br />credit http://www.mfc.co.uk</span>

Mancity trashed out by Boro

GOALS from Patrick Bamford and Kike swept Boro in to the fifth round of the FA Cup on a proud afternoon for the club. Writes GORDON COX from...

Read more »