29) Manchester City 0 - 1 Chelsea Fc

Thu, 15th Mar 2007 Chelsea easily moved to within six points of Manchester United by winning at Manchester City through Frank Lampard's first-half penalty, his 20th goal of the season. But it was a drab affair lacking top class quality. John Terry returned to Chelsea's defence and City were prevented from achieving even one shot on target. When the Chelsea team was read out pre-match, the announcement of the final substitute, Shaun Wright-Phillips, was met with warm applause from the home fans. City had a carefully prepared shape to counter Chelsea. They played 4-4-2 with Sun surprisingly ahead of right-back Richards in midfield, and on the left Ireland was tucked well in opposite Ballack, so that Vassell had to drop deep wide on the left when Chelsea were in possession to make a 4-5-1. Then when Robben switched to Chelsea's left Sun dropped almost to making City's defence a five, in order to give them both him and Richards on the flying Dutchman. Clearly their manager Stuart Pearce felt that the combined threat of Cole and Robben required the most defensive response. Chelsea's problem was that the wide men were losing possession too much. In trying to beat the full-backs they were giving City too much ball. The game slowly gained pace but was rolling along in neutral. Then in the 27th minute Ballack swept a pass out to Kalou after Robben had kept possession on the right, and Kalou's acceleration outside Richards into the area led to a rash challenge which brought him down. It was the third penalty he has won this season. Lampard dispatched it with careful power and precision to score 20 goals for the second season running. City lost a little cool. When Sun's lack of technique allowed a ball to slice away for a goal-kick for the second time they claimed a corner, then Barton went down when Makelele challenged and claimed a penalty, instead receiving a firm lecture from referee Wiley. They did, however, mount some spirited attacks and Chelsea's defending had to be focused and strong. Unfortunately, the counter attacks lacked the same resolve. The penalty was the first-half's only on-target shot by either side. The second-half started in much the same way: spirited City, dogged Chelsea. Five minutes into it Chelsea won the first away corner of the match and, in the melee that followed Lampard's kick, Terry managed to force a shot on target, the second of the game. It was an easy hold for Isaksson.

Cech dropped City's first corner of the second-half and had to re-grab it. The 1-0 scoreline was in turns a wide canyon and a brittle boundary. Chelsea conceded four fouls in the first 10 minutes of the second-half giving City too many opportunities to cross balls into the area. But Cech, the one error aside, was imperious in the air. Chelsea finally responded. Lampard raced on to a Robben chip and lobbed the advancing Isaksson only for Richards to get back and head away from inside the six yard box as the ball looked goal bound. The first booking of the evening went to Hamann for a rash dive in on Drogba, taking his ankles, as he kept possession on the touchline. The second, eight minutes later, went to Dunne for fouling Robben from behind. City's spirit remained high but they still hadn't managed a shot on target. By now the tactics had been pared down. City had Vassell, or latterly substitute Miller, running at Gérémi and long throws and free-kicks with all their big men forward. Chelsea had the front three running at City's back line. The ball went to and fro. It all added up to Makelele, back from sickness and a spell of being substituted when the team was chasing games, as the one sound user of the ball which he allied with his normal outstanding covering. It needed a change, and Mourinho selected Wright-Phillips to replace Robben. Immediately he took Kalou's pass from the left and zipped a shot from over 25 yards against the top of the bar. City's best chance of the night came 10 minutes from time when Ireland broke through the middle running at Chelsea's back line with support, and fed Barton who shot badly wide. A minute later Richards lost his cool with Drogba and squared up to him, it wasn't clear why, but referee Wiley booked both. The decision seemed to lack the same direction and quality as the game. There were five minutes left when Drogba tested Isaksson with a fierce volley on the turn which he beat away well. That was Chelsea's fourth effort on target. Ballack was booked with two minutes left for a rash stretch on Miller who had left him behind. It was Chelsea's 10th foul of the half. Another long ball was launched into the area. It was easily battled away. Stoppage time was firstly a succession of uncontrolled volleys all over the pitch, and then a fine Ballack free-kick which brought another save from Isaksson. The whistle went with no great shocks to the system having happened all night. The quadruple remains a possibility.

Manchester City (4-4-2) Isaksson; Richards, Dunne (c), Distin, Ball; Sun (Miller 62), Hamann (Dabo 79), Barton, Ireland; Mpenza, Vassell (Samaras 72). Booked Hamann (59), Dunne (67), Richards (81). Chelsea (4-3-3) Cech; Gérémi, Carvalho, Terry (c), A Cole; Ballack, Makelele (Diarra 90+2), Lampard; Robben (Wright-Phillips 77), Drogba, Kalou. Scorers Lampard (pen) (26). Booked Drogba (81), Ballack (88).