Pre match news: Debuts galore today, with Pablo Zabaleta and Robinho making their first appearances in the blue of Manchester City. Jo finally starts a game at the City of Manchester Stadium, and, of course, Shaun Wright-Phillips made his long-awaited return, receiving a heroes’ welcome when the teams were announced pre-match.
The Match
Five minutes were on the clock when the record signing showed off his skills for the first time, jinking onto his left to supply Wright-Phillips, whose weak shot rolled a long way wide of Cech’s left post. Frank Lampard had the first shot on target five minutes later, but it flew straight at Joe Hart.
And we only had to wait another three minutes to see some true Brazilian magic as City took the lead. Carvalho hauled Jo down on the edge of the box, dead centre, Robinho lined it up and curled a beautiful goal into the left corner of the net! Cech was motionless, the ball having deflected off Mikel, and the stadium exploded with noise.
But the lead lasted just three minutes – a corner fell nicely to Joe Cole, who touched it back to Ricardo Carvalho, and the defender made up for giving the earlier free kick away by slamming the ball high into the net with Joe Hart unsighted behind Cole.
There was no let up to the frantic pace, with John Terry’s blatant body-check on SWP going unpunished, The Chelsea skipper appeared to handle the ball seconds later, but to Mark Hughes’ disgust this also was ignored by Mark Halsey.
Stephen Ireland went close at the half’s midway point, his shot from the edge of the area following a nice lay-off from Jo just inches over the bar with Cech well beaten. Four minutes later the visitors nearly took the lead, Malouda just staying onside and heading Joe Cole’s cross onto the bar with Hart grateful that the ball rebounded right to him.
Jo’s curled shot off his left foot was deflected over on 34 minutes, and four minutes later Malouda looked to have gone close with a flying header from inside the box, but thankfully the ball ended up going well wide. Zabaleta’s misplaced pass out of defence went straight to Anelka on 40 minutes, but the former City man’s poor shot did not test Hart. Ashley Cole’s effort in stoppage time skimmed the bar to bring the curtain down on an entertaining first half.
No changes came at the break, and Frank Lampard had the first chance of the second half. Joe Cole’s pass took a huge deflection off Ball and landed perfectly for the England man – but he snatched at the chance and the ball went over the bar.
But unfortunately he made amends on 53 minutes. Kompany was hustled off the ball in Chelsea’s half, the visitors broke at pace downfield, and after an exchange of passes Frank Lampard was in City’s box to bury the ball past Hart with his left foot with a clinical finish.
The London side were in the ascendency now, with Anelka looking for a penalty on the hour just before John Terry’s header from a corner went just past the post.
SWP broke free on 64 to set up Ireland, but after taking a touch to line his shot up, the Irishman was blocked by Carvalho’s last-ditch dive. Lampard tried to make it a double at the other end with a well-hit shot going straight into Hart’s bread-basket.
Nicolas Anelka made up for his earlier miss when he scored once more against his former side. Joe Cole’s slide-rule pass home from inside the box,split the City defence and the French striker ruthlessly drilled the ball, giving Hart no chance.
Nicolas Anelka made up for his earlier miss when he scored once more against his former side. Joe Cole’s slide-rule pass home from inside the box split the City defence and the French striker ruthlessly drilled the ball, giving Hart no chance.
Just as we thought the visitors would coast for the rest of the game, a moment of madness from John Terry reduced his side to 10 men with 14 minutes left. Jo broke clear past the England skipper, who after trying to get him with his foot decided to pull the Brazilian back anyway. Mark Halsey loked to have no option but to show the red card, although the current move to show respect for the referee appeared to go out of the window when five Chelsea players argued the toss.
City tried desperately to make the man advantage count, Stephen Ireland looking to get into a good position with seven minutes left but then choosing to find Ball – who shot straight at Cech.
Danny Sturridge replaced Ball and had City’s last chance, having his shot from inside the area blocked by Alex inside stoppage time.
That was the last action of the game, which had begun perfectly for City with Robinho’s superb free kick, before Chelsea asserted themselves to take a comfortable win.
