Manchester City – Chelsea

1. Join us at 1730GMT for Chelsea's visit to Manchester. Should be a cracker as City look to halt a run of seven draws.

2. Hello, and welcome to our live commentary for Chelsea's visit to City. Some team news for you:

3. Chelsea are as they were for the game against United. A strong lineup with Ballack and Deco back in midfield. Ivanovic is at right-back and Essien is holding in the middle of the park. Anelka and Drogba up front.

4. No Ireland for City, instead De Jong and Barry are there. Robinho plays on the left, with Tevez and Adebayor up front.

5. Seven draws on the go for City, and Man United - winners over West Ham today - will hope there will be another. Or even a win for their city rivals.

6. Both sides have a lot to prove here. City, that they belong in the top four; Chelsea, that they can win the league. Should be a cracker...

7. Don't know about you, but I fancy City to get a draw today. What would be their 8th in a row. Chelsea have been in great form though, so you can't write them off.

8. These look like two very good teams, if I was picky I'd want Bosingwa in there as well, maybe Ireland, but it's pretty much full strength. Adebayor vs Drogba is a really tasty affair.

9. Don't forget, if you're in the UK, you can join the boys on the TV coverage - channel 417. But of course we want you here too...

10. Weather is not great in Eastlands. Some fans are looking pretty cold and there are some blue moons being projected on giants screens. It's pitch black. How odd.

11. Well, they do like a show at Eastlands. They tried this against Arsenal in midweek. Reminds me of the NBA, when they all run on to some pumping music.

12. Now we have light again. And the players are on the pitch. This is the game of the weekend, and we're almost at kick-off.

13. 1'

    Here we go. City kicking left to right, and we're off in the pouring rain.

14. 1'

    Lampard threads the ball through with his first touch on the floor, and Drogba is caught offside.

15. 1'

    Adebayor already wants a change of footwear. Good planning there.

16. 1'

    Adebayor shows a poor touch there, might blame it on the footwear. Chelsea are controlling possession at the moment.

17. 2'

    Great ball from Anelka over the top, Cole runs down the left and there's a good tackle from Richards.

18. 2'

    Good work from Wright-Phillips in his own corner, he smashes it up to Tevez who runs and beats Terry. Great cross, but Ivanovic makes the clearance.

19. 3'

    Robinho is taken down after a one-two with Tevez. Ballack and Ivanoic stop him. Illegally. Foul just outside the box.

20. 4'

    Tevez plays it square.. to Howard webb.. no.. to De Jong, who strikes it wide. Bit of a waste. Maybe Webbo should have had a go.

21. 5'

    Bridge is almost caught by Anelka, the ball breaks and Drogba is onto it. Toure with a great tackle in the box though.

22. 5'

    There was no room for error there. Bridge looked very slow there though.

23. 6'

    Lescott now dwells on it. Him and Bridge were awful against Burnley and they don't look much better.

24. 7'

    Bridge was miles out of position. The ball finds Drogba who is free on the right side. Given makes the save. Such an open game!

25. 7'

    Drogba hit his shot with his left, if that had been on the other side City would have been in real trouble

26. 8'

    GOAL! An own goal. Adebayor there.

27. 8'

    Corner comes in and Ballack makes room. Drogba heads it back across goal, with Anelka running onto it. Great save from Given. Bounces back out, for another Anelka shot which Given saves and it comes off the back of Adebayor to go in.

28. 8'

    Incredible stuff already. Everything is so open. Given did so well to save it three times. Pretty poor defending though.

29. 9'

    Replays have shown that it wasn't a corner in the first place, so the goal drama may never have come into being. Oh well, Chelsea have probably deserved it so far.

30. 10'

    Chelsea fans are making all the noise. No sign of those blue moons now.

31. 11'

    City trying to keep the ball. But Bridge wastes it with a 40 yard effort that is easily blocked. Now he's out of position as they break.

32. 12'

    Robinho on the ball now and Tevez tries to get involved. They need those two to get more involved in the final third.

33. 13'

    Barry with a great corner. A free header...

34. 13'

    But Micah Richards wastes it. Great leap, but he doesn't control it and it sails over the bar.

35. 13'

    Given comes hairing out of the box to clear near the sideline. If Anelka had thought a bit quicker he could have exposed that.

36. 14'

    Chelsea are really fizzing the ball around, top passing efforts from Lampard and Deco there. They can't quite break through through. Lamps is always looking for the give and go.

37. 15'

    Lescott holds off Drogba - no mean feat - and the weather is getting worse. Rain is lashing down now.

38. 16'

    Bridge finds some space down the left, but his cutback is to nobody and it's easily cleared. Should have done better.

39. 17'

    Both sides are trying to play their way out of trouble, which is nice to see. Robinho struggles to get past Ivanovic, good work from the Serb.

40. 18'

    Richards and Wright-Phillips combine well on the right and there's soe space for Kolo Toure to race forwards. His shot - and he can hit them - flies into the arms of Petr Cech.

41. 20'

    Ivanovic is told in no uncertain terms that he won't get away with another foul. To be fair, Robinho hasn't tested him much yet.

42. 20'

    Barry gets away down the left, he cuts the ball back and Adebayor is there. Carvalho slipped, but Lampard was back there to keep the pressure on the striker. Good chance though.

43. 21'

    Still feels like either team could score, but Chelsea are on the back foot now. City look more likely.

44. 22'

    Drogba gets on the ball for a change. He's not seen much of it for the past ten minutes or so. City are doing a good job of keeping the Blues away.

45. 23'

    Cleverly, City have noticed Wayne Bridge is off form, so they're firing down the right side. Wright-Phillips is much more involved.

46. 24'

    Anelka is now drifting across to the left to target Bridge. He's gone one-vs-one and drives his shot across the face of goal.

47. 25'

    Great work from Wright-Phillips there. He had the beating of Cole and fires a shot to the near post. Cech was there to beat it away, but he had to be on his toes.

48. 26'

    Barry now has a shot from the edge of area. It deflects wide for a corner and Cech claims it with ease.

49. 27'

    Lampard is doing a great job tracking back, he's there again as Richards bursts into the box. Unlucky to concede the corner, but again it comes to nothing as it is floated far too high over the area.

50. 28'

    City have had 62% possession already this half, so they are dominating. Chelsea lead though.

51. 28'

    Drogba hauls down De Jong and Chelsea must be used to defending set-pieces by now. City have had enough.

52. 28'

    Richards nearly got there ahead of Cech, but the keeper made sure he punched clear. Chelsea are hanging on at the moment.

53. 29'

    Chelsea are finding it very hard to even keep hold of the ball.

54. 30'

    City on the break now, Wright-Phillips did well to pinch the ball, but tries to shoot from far too far out and fails miserably.

55. 32'

    The game has gone a bit dead now, since the opening exchanges. City still threatening, but they need to be careful they aren't caught on the break.

56. 33'

    Anelka brings down Richards, for the second time in 30 seconds, and there's so hefty booes from the home support for their former player.

57. 34'

    Barry again over the free-kick, and again it's cleared. Drogba heads it out.

58. 34'

    Wright-Phillips launches the ball into the box and Cech comes for it.. oh he's missed it and Richards heads towards goal.

59. 34'

    Carvalho there to head behind. Good defending. It might have been drifting wide, but that is poor keeping.

60. 34'

    GOAL! More problems from set-pieces for Chelsea. It's Adebayor.

61. 34'

    GOAL! More problems from set-pieces for Chelsea. It's Adebayor.

62. 35'

    Wright-Phillips smashes it back in and it hits Richards, perhaps on the hand? Drops to Adebayor in the six-yard box and he stabs it home.

63. 36'

    Chelsea complain, but the goal stands. Pinball in the box there, but it's been coming.

64. 37'

    The first goal conceded by Chelsea in the league for eight and three quarter hours...

65. 38'

    Chelsea now look to break and have their own corner. It flashes across the box. Now we're back to the open game we had before.

66. 39'

    Anelka feeds Drogba, he's free down the right, but is JUST offside.

67. 40'

    Replays show the ball hit Richards on the arm, but his arms were tucked in protecting his body. Could have gone either way.

68. 41'

    Robinho tries to weave his magic, but that's the first time he's been seen on the ball in a long time. City have looked most dangerous down the right.

69. 42'

    But then so have Chelsea. Anelka now and Essien floats the ball in. Eventually a foul is given on Lampard just outside the box. Really dangerous position.

70. 43'

    Given organises his wall. Drogba and Lampard are over it...

71. 43'

    Tevez is complaining about something and holding everything up...

72. 43'

    Drogba takes it. Around the right side of the wall and that is REALLY close. The ball dips and Ray Wilkins thought it was in...

73. 45'

    Yellow card for Terry. Tevez goes down after nutmegging the captain and he didn't go for the ball. No complaints.

74. 45'

    A fair result this, going into the half. Both sides have had chances, but Chelsea feel most angry over their handball.

75. 45'

    HT. Adebayor has scored at both ends and John Terry is having a go at Howard Webb over the handball. Surprise, surprise. Back in 15.

76. 45'

    Right, here we go again. A frentic first-half for most of it. Appeals on both sides and two goals. More of the same please.

77. 45'

    Some neat interplay to begin between Tevez and Adebayor. But neither side are controlling possession.

78. 46'

    No changes for either side. And it's still raining just as bad as before.

79. 47'

    Long balls from both sides are ineffective. Cech is screaming at someone for not giving him more options when he claimed the ball.

80. 48'

    It's taking a while to get going. Nothing like the first half. Drogba is angry now, not sure why? He's been caught offside, but surely that's his own fault.

81. 49'

    City building the play, but they lose out again. Neither side can keep hold of it. Wright-Phillips fells Terry, how did he do that? He's tiny!

82. 51'

    Cech fails to convince with his clearance. But all the play is in the middle of the pitch and there's not a great deal of room to work in.

83. 51'

    Mark Hughes turns away with a smile. I think hed be quite happy with this result.

84. 52'

    We have a nice 47,348 in attendance at Eastlands. A new record, by nine.

85. 53'

    Wright-Phillips is held up by Cole, but turns well and beats him. He cuts back and Adebayor hits it into Cech. The ball bounces down and is cleared.

86. 54'

    Carvalho is now booked for a foul on Tevez. The ball is 25 yards out, Essien is kicking up a fuss. Don't know why.

87. 55'

    GOAL! Tevez hits it. And it goes through the bodies and in.

88. 55'

    He hit it low and Cech was standing right where the ball went, but moved to his right, and couldn't get back in time. That went right down the middle.

89. 56'

    Cech won't be happy with that positioning. United will be very happy with that goal from a former player of theirs.

90. 57'

    Carlo Ancelotti is readying a sub or two. Joe Cole perhaps?

91. 57'

    Terry trying to marshall the defence, but you can feel the sense of injustice bubbling out of the Chelsea players.

92. 58'

    Credit to City for sticking at it. They went a goal down early and have rallied. Now you can hear the crowd.

93. 60'

    Adebayor waving his foot around the ball, all very nice, but just pass it. Robinho gets it and has a shot, Cech keeps it out at the near post.

94. 60'

    Drogba is visably unhappy. He's complaining at everything. Kolo Toure was nearly caught out as Drogba gets behind him to head past the post. It was a long deep ball.. Chelsea can't resort to that.

95. 61'

    Barry in the book now. A foul on Deco when the Portuguese wasn't going anywhere.

96. 62'

    Belletti and Mikel looking like they are coming on.

97. 63'

    Odd subs. Surely, the Blues want goalscorers, why is Belletti on for Carvalho and Mikel for Ballack? The German doesn't look pleased.

98. 63'

    Joe Cole is warming up. That's more like it.

99. 64'

    City haven't been tested much this half. Given has been very quiet and they are controlling the ball well. Chelsea look out of ideas.

100. 65'

     And Drogba is offside for about the 100th time.A complete inability to look down the line, you would expect more from such a talented player.

101. 66'

     The ball breaks across to Ashley Cole who smashes a shot. Great defending from Richards, who blocks it with a sensitive area.

102. 67'

     Terry is complaining he was pulled down at a corner by Lescott. The header from Ivanovic flies over the bar, but the Blues are getting tetchy.

103. 68'

     Richards looks like he's hurt his knee. It was in that block on Cole. He's been in good form, but he's not going to last.

104. 68'

     Onuoha comes on for Richards. That's a blow for City.

105. 69'

     Mark Hughes is stalking the touchline. He's not pleased with something. Drogba is down for some reason.. his shoulder in pain. It's the usual histrionics though.

106. 70'

     Drogba looks uncomfortable. But he'll probably be ok.

107. 71'

     Well Chelsea will never score if the game stays as bitty as this. They need to gain some control.

108. 72'

     Barry brings down Lampard again, he's got be careful now he's been booked. Anelka takes on De Jong down the left, but his cross is overhit.

109. 73'

     Belletti goes in the book for an earlier foul on Bridge. He's arguing a lot, but Bridge is still down.

110. 73'

     That was an ugly clash. Both players slid in and the water on the pitch didn't help. The stretcher is on and Bridge has come off much worse. How he had the temerity to argue there, I don't know.

111. 74'

     Bridge is off, Kompany on. Barry going to left-back to fill in. Or is it Lescott?

112. 76'

     Belletti is still arguing and he could be off if this continues.

113. 76'

     Finally, some football. No wait, a foul by Onuoha on Cech.

114. 77'

     Deco now tries to slide the ball in to Drogba. It's Barry at left-back who clears it.

115. 77'

     Ivanovic now in the book. Yellow and his reaction was stunning. All it was was a push on Adebayor. Four Chelsea yellows now.

116. 78'

     Now Tevez gets away and Ivanovic gets his body in between him and ball, he's hauled over. Another free-kick.

117. 79'

     Now the ball flies down the field, the bounce is awkward and Drogba pushes Toure in the back. Can we have some open play for more than 10 seconds please???

118. 80'

     A passing move? Surely not. Tempers are frayed and Barry crashes into a tackle on Deco.

119. 81'

     PENALTY! To Chelsea!

120. 81'

     What a good move from Drogba, he took it down and Onuoha brought him down.

121. 81'

     Lampard...

122. 82'

     SAVED! He seemed to scuff his kick a bit and Given dived to his right to palm it out.

123. 82'

     It's still 2-1. A blatant penalty, despite Drogba's arched back. But Given did well. It was a poor pen though.

124. 82'

     Deco crashes through Barry, now Tevez breaks on the advantage and Howard Webb books Ashley Cole for clipping the Argentine.

125. 84'

     Deco going in the book too. Six yellow for Chelsea. And a fine for them. Petulant.

126. 85'

     Chelsea have lost it. When things don't go their way, this is what happens. Not quite the Indestructibles we saw last week.

127. 86'

     Essien threads the ball to Drogba. He's through the gap, in on goal. But misses the target!

128. 86'

     Given came out well, but Drogba will really rue that chance.

129. 87'

     What an end. Can Chelsea do it? That was a glorious chance, they may not get another.

130. 88'

     Florent Malouda is coming on. John Terry off. That doesn't happen much, but he is limping a lot.

131. 88'

     Essien is in the back four now.. Chelsea pushing for everything they can get.

132. 88'

     De Jong and Kompany do really well to close down the space. Adebayor on the break, but it's a goalkick.

133. 89'

     Just a few minutes left...

134. 89'

     Lampard has his back to goal in the box and lays it off to Anelka. His tame shot is gathered by Given.

135. 90'

     How many minutes added on? Five we hear...

136. 90'

     Adebayor slots Tevez through, if he was quicker he would have got in on goal, but Ivanovic comes across and closes him down. His shot goes near post and Cech blocks.

137. 91'

     Robinho is off, not that we've seen him much. Zabaleta comes on.

138. 92'

     Long ball from Cech, Toure controls and hacks clear. Can they hold on?

139. 92'

     Tevez tracks back and does well to steal the ball, he releases Adebayor, but that is a tired striker! Chelsea have it back and go on the attack.

140. 93'

     Tevez right down the middle, two defenders, three attackers, he chooses the wrong ball though. Kicks it right to Ivanovic.

141. 94'

     City back in numbers. Zabaleta eventually clears after a host of aerial balls into the box.

142. 94'

     Blue Moon rings out again. Wright-Phillips breaks down the right, and forces a throw. It's in the right end for City.

143. 95'

     Toure clears, for the last time?

144. 95'

     Yes, City have done it. 2-1!

145. 95'

     Carlos Tevez's free-kick sealed the win in a game they probably deserved to win in the end. It was a rollercoaster of a final few minutes, with Shay Given saving a penalty from Frank Lampard.

146. 95'

     City have ended their seven game run of draws. Chelsea are stopped, and have Man Utd breathing down their necks, just two points clear of their rivals.

147. 95'

     It was petulant in parts but, my, what a game. Join us again next time and read all the reaction and reports live on Soccernet.

Sağlayıcının güncel lig tablosudur; maçın oynandığı tarihteki sıralama olmayabilir.