1) Chelsea Fc 3 - 0 Manchester City

20th August 2006 A confident Chelsea hit two goals more than on the two previous opening day fixtures under Jose Mourinho. Manchester United were dispatched 1-0 on the corresponding day of the manager's first competitive fixture here while Wigan suffered a similar loss last season. No-one could describe those wins as comfortable although Wigan troubled Chelsea more than Alex Ferguson's side. Against the blue half of Manchester today the story was different as Mourinho's men began the campaign in a high gear. It was familiar names who found themselves on the first scoresheet of the season, the Blues opening up a lead already on the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal. In the wake of Man United's thumping of Fulham earlier in the day, a good showing and plenty of goals were on order from a packed Stamford Bridge. John Terry, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba delivered the goods. Visitors Man City had to play the majority of the second-half with ten men but by that stage, the game was all but out of reach. Chelsea had put clear blue water between the sides before half-an-hour was up. Mourinho's promise that he would cram as many forward-running players into his selections this season without committing suicide at the back was upheld with a team sheet that contained Shevchenko, Drogba, Robben, Wright-Phillips and Lampard. Even without the injured Ballack, the goal potential in that line-up was clear for all to see. The shape was fluid. Although based round a 4-1-3-2 formation, at times Chelsea played with four up front, and no-one was stopping Lampard getting forward either! The opening exchanges contained some neat passing moves yet the breakthrough came from that enduring Chelsea strength - a set-piece. An echo of England's opener last Wednesday, a mere ten minutes had passed when Ferreira was up-ended illegally by a trademark Ben Thatcher tackle. Robben drilled the free-kick in from the right touchline and no-one, not even hefty marker Richard Dunne was going to prevent Terry getting his head to the ball first. From eight yards out, the captain had opened the season's scoring. A couple minutes later a surging run from the back by Essien was halted by a Dabo trip that earned a yellow card. Lampard was not too far away with the 25 yard free-kick that followed.

If Terry's goal was not already enough similarity between this first-half and England's against Greece at Old Trafford, Lampard joined in the fun by scoring the second goal, for the second time in a week via a deflection. Richard Dunne was the Man City defender struck by the edge-of-the-area effort, diverting the low shot past his wrong-footed keeper. But if there was a touch of fortune in that, nothing should detract from the superb Lampard turn that proceeded the strike, nor the good work by Robben and Essien in the approach. With 25 minutes gone, last March's 2-0 home win over this opposition had already been matched. There was a rare drop in concentration in the Chelsea defence ten minutes before the break that allowed Corradi space to attack Sinclair's punt forward but fortunately the Italian's stretched-out boot failed to make contact. With four minutes to go in the first-half, Distin misjudged a long bouncing ball under pressure from the attentive Drogba, allowing the Chelsea man a shot on the run. He sliced well wide. There was still time for Essien to unleash a piledriver from over 30 yards out that Nicky Weaver dived spectacularly to push away. Wearing the most luminescent kit since Barcelona's last visit to the Bridge, the keeper's efforts were not hard to spot. Chelsea settled for two goals without reply to take into the dressing room at half-time. As opening 45 minutes to seasons go, it had been bright, it had been breezy and it was halfa-job well done. Corradi became the second booking of the game just three minutes into the second-half for a wild lunge at the escaping Ferreira. For a brief spell following, the game became ragged. Consequently the Chelsea defence was asked to do some work. City made early substitutions, bringing on Vassell and Dickov for Samaras and Dabo. Their initial 4-4-1-1 became 4-4-2 with Vassell operating down the right. All tactical planning by Stuart Pearce went out the window just a few minutes later. Corradi, inexplicably and inexcusably, went in late on Essien and received his second yellow card 14 minutes after his first. Referee Steve Bennett was keeping count so City would have to play the last 28 minutes with ten men. Essien was booked for his reaction to the foul which involved a tug at Corradi's hair. Dickov would follow into the book soon after, the ever levelled-headed striker cautioned for misdemeanours at a City corner. The third goal was the goal of the game. It came with 75 minutes on the clock after Chelsea had completely opened up the visitors down our left through wonderful overlapping play by Wayne Bridge.

Flying forward, the left-back exchanged passes with Robben and crossed low. Not too low however for Drogba to dive at the near post and brilliantly turn the ball inside Weaver's near-post with a low-flying header. It must have been a great boost to Bridge's confidence and credit too goes to Robben who had looked sharp throughout. It was his last contribution to the game. The winger was the second of three late substitutions that allowed youngsters Kalou, Diarra and Mikel into the action with a midfield diamond adopted. Lampard was put through by the influential Essien in the final five minute but his shot was deflected just off-target. A goal for the quiet Andriy Shevchenko on his Premiership debut would have been the icing on the cake but he was denied by an offside flag after finding the net in stoppage time. So the end result was three goals and a clean-sheet for Carlo Cudicini that puts him second in the all-time Chelsea list for shut-outs. If this was what an under-prepared, not fully-fit Chelsea side can achieve, all looks promising for the weeks ahead. Chelsea (4-1-3-2) Cudicini; Ferreira, Carvalho, Terry (c), Bridge; Essien; Wright-Phillips (Kalou 70), Lampard, Robben (Diarra 76); Shevchenko, Drogba (Mikel 82). Scorers Terry, Lampard, Drogba. Booked Essien. Manchester City (4-4-1-1) Weaver; Richards, Distin, Dunne (c), Thatcher; Sinclair, Barton, Dabo (Vassell 56), Reyna (Ireland 70); Samaras (Dickov 56); Corradi. Booked Dabo, Corradi, Dickov. Sent-off Corradi.