Manchester City vs Chelsea a few quick thoughts
Dan Tracey
December 4, 2016
1,768 Views
- Chelsea look well minted after eight straight Premier League victories
- Victory yesterday over title rivals Manchester City has allowed to open up a 4 point gap over Pep Guardiola’s men
- The headlines will focus on the fact that City only ended the game with 9 men but the focus should be on how Antonio Conte’s men have laid down a marker on the rest of the Premier League side
- Again though Chelsea came back from behind and again their opposition failed to land a killer blow when they had The Blues on the ropes
- Last Saturday it was Tottenham and yesterday it was Manchester City but the outcome was the same and that was Chelsea punishing them with their ruthlessness
- It was a relatively cagey first half with the major flashpoint being David Luiz’s blatant obstruction of Sergio Aguero on the half hour
- How Luiz escaped even a talking to surprised many but the answer was that referee Anthony Taylor didn’t have a particularly good game. At times he was like a rabbit in the headlights and here he froze when a big decision was needed
- City were once again looking frail at the back with John Stones infuriating even neutrals with his refusal to clear his lines
- But it would be City who were the first side to have the ball in the net although they were foiled by the assistant referee’s flag after Fernandinho’s header was adjudged to be offside
- The home sides celebrations may have been short lived but they would definitely be the happy of the two sides at the break
- That’s because they were gifted the opening thanks to Gary Cahill
- The England international diverted Jesus Navas’ cross beyond keeper Thibaut Courtois to put City ahead at the interval
- Like last Saturday Chelsea certainly started the second half brightly but they rode their luck at the back and were it not for Kevin De Bruyne wasting a golden opportunity to double City’s advantage
- With the goal at his mercy he saw his effort from 3 yards cannon back off the bar
- And within minutes Chelsea would be level. It was a throwback to the 2014/15 season when Cesc Fabregas delivered an inch perfect pass to international teammate Diego Costa
- Costa controlled it with his shoulder and by the time Nicolas Otamendi had appealed for handball he had already been turned inside out with Costa firing hard and low to make it 1-1
- The balance of power had shifted in Chelsea’s favour with that goal taking the wind of the home teams sails
- And 10 minutes later the comeback would be complete
- Willian who had come on as a second half substitute for Pedro would race clear and fire his shot past the hapless Claudio Bravo to make it 2-1
- Chelsea were now well on their way to an eight straight league win
- If there was any doubt that they wouldn’t then that would be removed when Eden Hazard raced clear of Alexsander Kolarov and duly made it 3-1
- It was a good result for Chelsea, a bad result for Manchester City but then it was about to turn very ugly
- Sergio Ageuro caught David Luiz high and late and lit the blue touch paper
- Aguero was shown his marching orders while Nathaniel Chalobah was perhaps lucky not to be shown his for charging in and shoving Aguero
- But one man who would defintely see red was Fernandinho. The Brazilian kept pushing Cesc Fabregas until he had nowhere else to go but over the barriers
- That sparked another set too and the game was in danger of really getting out of hand. Anthony Taylor had seen enough and City finished the game with 9 men
- That ill discipline could prove costly as there is every chance that Aguero could be handed an extended ban
- Chelsea may have made people sit up and take notice after their demolition job of Everton but after two big wins in successive weeks they will for many now be the outright league favourites
- For Guardiola it’s a fourth straight game in which they have failed to win at home. He needs to make The Etihad a fortress if they are to have any chance of capturing a first league title
- While Chelsea are just rolling over anyone who gets in their way
- The fact that there are now European distractions could play massively into their hands
- This Blue machine is going to take some topping
- Good luck West Brom you are up next
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