Chelsea suffered their fourth defeat on the bounce at the Etihad Stadium as City moved further ahead in the race for second place.
Team News – For the trip to the Etihad Stadium, Rafa Benitez brought back several of those who sat out the Europa League fixture against Sparta Prague, Ashley Cole returned at left back, David Luiz partnered Gary Cahill at the heart of the defence, Frank Lampard returned to captain the side, Eden Hazard started in midfield and Demba Ba was preferred up front to Fernando Torres.
First Half – City got the action underway in a half in which they were to have the better chances. Very early on Petr Cech was forced into making a low save from a shot by Yaya Toure before Chelsea got a foothold in the game when Hazard and Ba combined to win a corner. Unfortunately, for Chelsea, the delivery was poor, something that was to be common place in the first half, with the kick being cleared at the near post.
City, almost camped in our half at times, forced Cech into making a great one handed save after Nastasic met a corner with a downward header. Yay Toure then saw Cahill block a shot that skidded away for a corner before Cahill then managed to block an effort from Jack Rodwell.
Lampard, being very optimistic, tried his luck from forty yards out but his shot was high and handsome. Rodwell, bursting into the box, headed over under pressure from David Luiz before Ramires was booked for a high challenge on Yaya Toure.
Cahill produced some more impressive defending getting a block, via his head, from a Zabaleta shot before, as half time approached, Cech was forced to tip over the bar a long range effort from Rodwell. From the resulting corner Cech produced another decent save from a header from Nastasic.
Second Half – Chelsea got the second half under way but City carved out the first chance when an acrobatic effort from Aguero flew wide. Chelsea responded with a low shot from Hazard that Hart saved before, with seven minutes of the half gone Chelsea had a glorious chance to go ahead.
Ba, chasing a long ball was brought down by Hart in the City goal. Lampard stepped up but his low shot was excellently saved by Hart and the opportunity was gone.
Mancini made a change on the hour mark, taking off Rodwell and bringing on Tevez. Cahill continuing his excellent defensive work, blocked an Aguero shot before another effort from the Argentine, with Cech rushing out, landed on the roof of the net.
With sixty two minutes gone through City went ahead when Silva slipped the ball back to Yaya Toure and his curled shot clipped the heel of Cahill to beat Cech at the far post. Benitez, six minutes later introduced Oscar and Moses for Lampard and Hazard but still offered little going forward.
A last substitution saw Torres replace Ba but City were to double their lead with five minutes of normal time left when Tevez hit a shot from twenty yards that gave Cech no chance.
Chelsea – Cech, Ivanovic, Cahill, D Luiz, Cole, Mikel (Torres-80), Lampard (Moses-68)), Ramires, Mata, Hazard (Oscar-68), Ba .
Unused Subs – Turnbull, Azpilicueta, Terry, Bertrand,
Chelsea Scorers – Nil
Chelsea Yellow Cards – Ramires
Chelsea Red Cards – Nil
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