Despite bossing the majority of the game, the Blues went behind against the run of play just before the break, but David Silva scored in first-half injury time to restore parity.
City then pinned Chelsea back in their own half for virtually all the second period without creating a clear-cut opportunity.
A point, in the grand scheme of things is a decent result – but the Blues will surely feel they missed a chance to return home with all three points.
Though the majority of the build-up had centred on the absence of the suspended Diego Costa and, to a lesser extent, Cesc Fabregas, City had notable absentees of their own with Samir Nasri and Eliaquim Mangala failing to fully recover in time for this game - not to mention those on ACoN 2015 duty
...Chelsea 1 City 1..
The champions went into the game five points adrift of leaders Chelsea knowing a defeat would mean the gap would go from manageable to sizeable and though there are still plenty of games to go, the task of retaining the title would become that much harder.
The hosts, boasting a 100% home record in the Premier League, had erased the memory of last weekend’s bizarre 4-2 defeat to League One Bradford City by booking a place at Wembley following a 1-0 midweek Capital One Cup win over Liverpool.
City, keen to avoid a third straight defeat having lost against Arsenal and Middlesbrough in the past fortnight, began knocking the ball around confidently and were rarely troubled in the opening half-hour, going close to taking the lead when Aguero chased Vincent Kompany’s long ball before narrowly shooting wide as he drove into the box.
With four minutes to go before the break, however, it was Chelsea who struck first after a rare attack caught the Blues flat-footed.
The ball was swept wide by Ivanovic for Eden Hazard on the left flank and the Belgian’s low cross was turned in by Loic Remy from close range with Kompany pulling out of a clearance, perhaps fearing any connection would likely to deflect past Hart.
It was harsh on City who had been much the better side with Fernandinho, Jesus Navas and James Milner all winning their personal duels and impressive throughout.
To go in a goal behind to a Jose Mourinho side at Stamford Bridge would have left any team with an uphill task after the break, but that scenario never materialised as the Blues stormed back straight away
...Chelsea 1 City 1..
Silva, Bacary Sagna and Jesus Navas worked the ball well with Sagna eventually setting Navas free and his cross was flapped clear by Thibaut Courtois where Aguero was waiting to drive the ball back goal-wards and the lurking Silva slid the shot home from four yards out.
It was no more than the Blues deserved and Manuel Pellegrini’s men carried the momentum into the second-half, dominating for large periods by pinning the Pensioners in their own half, though clear-cut chances were few and far between.
Fernandinho’s downward header forced Courtois to push the ball over the bar, while at the other end, Hart was a virtual bystander for almost the entire half – not too many opposing keepers could claim to have been that against Chelsea this season, home or away - in fact, the hosts had their fewest shots on target at home for more than a decade!
.
Frank Lampard received a warm ovation as he came on with 15 minutes to go, but he didn’t find the winning goal the home fans were probably dreading would inevitably happen - and had happened in the meeting at the Etihad Stadium earlier in the campaign.
Ultimately, it was Chelsea, with only three attempts on goal in the whole game, who hung on for a draw with the champions threatening right up until the final whistle to take all three points having been the better team from almost start to finish.
An impressive performance by City with the tireless Milner and Navas outstanding.
