City 0 Chelsea 1
February 3rd 47,364
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WH Smith and the City shop
Despite having more possession than the visitors City failed to score at home for the first time this season and lost their first home league points. Mourinho's tactics worked well and the swift counter attacks caused problems in the City defence. The absence of Aguero, Nasri and especially Fernandinho made a difference. Demichelis was not the best of alternatives and Chelsea ware quick to make the most of a lack of pace in the City midfield. Only Zabaleta was in decent form. Oh for Barry or de Jong in front of the back 4!
With Negredo not fully fit he and Dzeko rarely did much up front and although Navas and Silva tried their best the fast inter passing which had been so prominent in other home games was lacking and things were just not working. Perhaps if Yaya Toure had scored from that early cross things might have been different but it was not to be and though the introduction of Jovetic after 57 minutes improved things Cech could not be beaten and now the league race is on. David Silva had an early chance too and failed to connect properly. Oh if only it had been Aguero. I wonder how significant the failure to sign our January targets will be. The antecedence was the highest this season but shame there was no time to announce the away side.
No Fernandinho was the major shock. Negredo was back after injury.
Despite the late Monday night start there was a full complement of Chelsea fans present
Cech has some early business to attend to!
A very good cross by Kolarov on 9 minutes ......
.... is just missed by Yaya Toure and its a big let off for Chelsea
Eto beats Hart but the flag had already gone up for offside
A cross from Navas finds Toure who shoots first time just over the bar
On 17 minutes a good run by Toure finds Silva in a perfect position but his shot goes wide- what a chance
a foul by Nastasic gives Chelsea a chance but the free kick by Luiz goes well over the bar
City forced several corners but Chelsea managed to clear them
A quick counter attack and Chelsea outnumber City four to one!
Hart saves well from Ramires....
.. and the ball comes out to Willian who tries an overhead kick but the ball goes over the bar
On 31 minutes Ramires has a shot blocked by Kompany but the ball runs out ...
..... to the unmarked Ivanovic who shoots past Hart to give Chelsea the lead
The Chelsea players and fans celebrate
The scorer is booked a few minutes later for a foul on Silva
Mourinho is the happier of the two managers
Demichelis is booked for a foul
A corner to City ends with Dzeko shooting wide
Just before half time Eto hit the bar following a good run by Hazard
Yaya Toure just shoots wide of the post
Matic hits the bar with Hart beaten
Willian is fouled by Toure
At a corner a Chelsea header hits the post and is cleared
Toure gets away from Luiz
Zabaleta has a chance.....
.... he passes to Dzeko who miss-hits it and it runs out to Jovetic ( on for Negredo) .....
...and his cross is cleared by Chelsea
A free kick to City in a good position
Silva's free kick is well saved by Cech
A Kompany effort goes wide
Silva puts the ball wide from a cross by Kolarov
Terry and Hart battle it out
Hart has to save from Ramires
Controversy when Nastasic blocks Oscar
Chelsea want a red card as there were no other defenders in sight but as the offence took place in the centre circle only a yellow is given
In the final few seconds cech has to save well from Jovetic and so City's run ends
Team
Hart 7.5: Zabaleta 7.5, Kompany 6.5, Nastasic 6, Kolarov 6.5: Toure 7.5, Demichelis 6, Navas 7, Silva 7.5, Dzeko 6, Negredo 6 ( Jovetic 7.5)
