CHELSEA BEATS MANCHESTER CITY 1-0 AT THEIR OWN FORTRESS
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Branislav Ivanovic scored the only goal as Chelsea ended Manchester City's Premier League home run with a 1-0 victory.
City had won their previous 11 league fixtures at the Etihad this season - and had scored at least in their last 61, stretching back to November 2010 - but their fortress was raided by their title rivals on Monday night.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyFrw9p8SHs
Best of the game
- Man of the match: There were plenty of candidates in the Chelsea side, but Matic gets the nod for an impressive showing in midfield.
- Goal of the match: Branislav Ivanovic's 25-yard thunderbolt was worthy of winning any game.
- Save of the match: Petr Cech did not have a lot to do, but got fingertips to a David Silva free-kick to tip it over the crossbar.
- Shot of the match: Matic unleashed a powerful shot from 30 yards out which smashed off the post with Joe Hart well beaten.
- Miss of the match. Samuel Eto'o hit the crossbar in the first half and although the angle was tough the striker still should have scored.
- Talking point: Have Chelsea shown how to set-up how to combat City at home ? Did Pellegrini make a mistake in playing Demichelis in midfield?
Jose Mourinho masterminded a narrow success that drew his Blues side level with City on 53 points - two behind leaders Arsenal - with 14 games left to play.
Chelsea were unfortunate not to win by a larger margin. After Ivanovic lashed the visitors in front from the edge of the area on 32 minutes, they hit the woodwork three times through Samuel Eto'o, Nemanja Matic and Gary Cahill.
David Silva threatened to snatch an equaliser as City pushed hard in the final stages, but Manuel Pellegrini could have few complaints about the result on a night when Chelsea displayed discipline and no shortage of skill, with Eden Hazard their stand-out performer in attack and Matic impressing in a central role.
City were without midfielder Fernandinho. The Brazilian was forced out injured, meaning Martin Demichelis moved into midfield and Matija Nastasic returned in defence. Alvaro Negredo was restored up front for the injured Sergio Aguero.
Chelsea left playmaker Oscar on the bench as they adopted a more defensive approach, with David Luiz and Matic replacing him and John Obi Mikel.
Silva turned the ball the wrong side of the post early on after good work by Yaya Toure, but City looked increasingly open at the back - Willian somehow squandering a four-on-two situation - and were punished just after the half-hour mark.
Ramires saw a shot blocked by Vincent Kompany and the ball fell to Ivanovic, who fizzed in a left-footed shot into the bottom corner giving Joe Hart no chance.
Important win for Chelsea
Referee Mike Dean booked two players from either side before the break as the match became more competitive, and Chelsea almost doubled their advantage on 44 minutes, only for Eto'o to see his shot from a tight angle come back off the crossbar after Hazard's pass had slid across the area.
Toure drilled wide from Dzeko's lay-off early in the second half and after Matic had seen a long-range effort clatter the bar, Stevan Jovetic replaced Negredo in the City attack on 57 minutes.
Jose plays down title talk
Ten minutes later, Chelsea had again tested the frame of the goal via Cahill's header from a Willian corner.
Silva had two sights of goal but Cech was equal to the first - a free-kick that was expertly pushed away - and the second moments later was poked wide under pressure.
Pellegrini frustrated
On 87 minutes, Mourinho was enraged when last defender Nastasic was only booked for hauling down substitute Oscar on the halfway line, but it was not a pivotal decision.
Cech was called into action once more in stoppage time to deny Jovetic's fiercely-struck effort, while Nastasic miskicked when left unmarked in the area at the death.
Chelsea hung on for a victory which saw them become the first team to do the double over City since Everton in 2010/11 - and they could now overtake both Pellegrini's team and leaders Arsenal if results go their way on Saturday.
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