Match Report: Manchester City 1 - 0 Chelsea

After handing Chelsea the title the day before, Roberto Mancini watched his Manchester City side promptly snatch it away again as Carlos Tevez's second-half strike ended the champions' 100% record.

In a tactical battle with defences largely on top throughout, Tevez's moment of inspiration just before the hour proved to be decisive.

Chelsea were unable to halt the South American's burst from halfway and he found the perfect finish too, through Ashley Cole's legs and in off the post.

Carlo Ancelotti's men battled hard to force an equalizer, but, just as they had done for most of the contest, they failed to open up a disciplined City defence and came no nearer than the header Branislav Ivanovic struck the bar with before half-time.

It rather showed up the opinion Mancini offered that Chelsea would win the title easily, and signalled City can join Manchester United and Arsenal in harbouring genuine hopes of glory next May as well.

It was slightly strange that the build up to a game between the Premier League's biggest spenders should be centered around respective injury problems.

Yet that is exactly how it turned out, Ancelotti claiming he had just 12 fit players, which was one more than Mancini.

Defensively, City are struggling with neither Joleon Lescott nor Jerome Boateng - who did make his debut as a late substitute - considered fit enough to start.

And once Wayne Bridge had failed a pre-match fitness test on a thigh injury it was anticipated would keep him out for another fortnight anyway, Mancini went for 19-year-old Belgian Dedryck Boyata, normally a centre-half, to make only his fourth league appearance.

Boyata rewarded his manager with a solid contribution to an obdurate defensive performance from City.

Only once were the Blues opened up properly, and that had nothing to do with the teenager.

In fact it was Tevez who drifted away from Florent Malouda as he anticipated a return pass to Didier Drogba, who had just taken a corner on the Chelsea left.

Tevez's movement gave Malouda the space to curl a deep cross to the far post, where Alex nodded it back to Ivanovic.

The Serbian had two goes at putting Chelsea in front. The first came bouncing back off the bar, giving him a second header to go for, this time Joe Hart making a comfortable save.

Apart from that, both goalmouths were largely underused.

Knowing this was their biggest test of the season so far and without Frank Lampard to drive them forward from midfield, Chelsea were content to play within themselves, keep a fairly rigid shape and let City expend their energy trying to break them down.

For their part, the home side failed to get sufficient support to Tevez, who worked incredibly hard up front on his own but was limited to speculative long-range efforts.

Under such circumstances, it was hardly a surprise it began to get a bit tetchy and Pablo Zabaleta's booking for a reckless sliding tackle on Ivanovic gave way to a period of play scarred by physical confrontation.

The first two minutes of the second period produced as much intense action as there had been in the whole of the first.

After Hart had pushed a curling Nicolas Anelka shot away from danger, Michael Essien should have done far better with the near-post corner than send his header sailing over the bar after being picked out completely unmarked.

City responded with their first meaningful assault on the Chelsea goal, which forced Cech to make a decent low save to deny Silva.

It proved to be the prelude to the deadlock being broken.

Yaya Toure and the nippy Silva deserve mentions for their short pass and running off the ball respectively after Ramires had conceded possession just inside the City half.

The rest of it was all the South American's own work as he ran ferociously at the visitors' defence, jinked to his right, then blasted a shot through Cole's legs and into the net off the inside of Cech's right-hand post.

Twice Essien tried to level from long-range. Twice his radar was way off and the ball sailed over.

Alex glanced a header wide after Boyata had marred his effective performance by getting booked for chopping down Yury Zhrikov, but with Cole also belting a shot into the side-netting, Chelsea ran out of ideas.

After beating the Chelsea twice last season as well, City are rather getting to like this.

Reaction: It Was Not A Good Day

Carlo Ancelotti watched his side suffer a second defeat in a row yesterday, something the Italian has not become accustomed to.

Since the beginning of this campaign, Chelsea has looked unstoppable, but yesterday proved we're still susceptible to counter-attack football, with Manchester City completing a 1-0 win.

Following another tense encounter against Newcastle midweek yesterday was no different as end-to-end football took place inside the City of Manchester Stadium.

'We wanted to play better, obviously because we didn't play how we wanted,' admitted Ancelotti after the game.

'We saw the power of Man City in midfield; we lost a lot of possession and were not able to play the football we wanted.

'We gave the ball to them and gave them the opportunity to score on the counter-attack. We maintain the top of the table but we lost this time.'

But rather than blame any individual performance for yesterday's outcome, Ancelotti was certain it was collective errors which ended in defeat.

'That was not a good performance as a team and so for this reason every player did not have a performance which was their best. As a team we didn't play well.

'But it is difficult to judge this team after one defeat. We lost one game but our moment is very good, we are doing very well.

'It was not a good day but this team has a very good mentality.'

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini agreed with his fellow Italian by insisting Chelsea cannot be written off by this one performance alone.

'Chelsea will probably win the title,' said Mancini. 'It is not possible that they can score four, five goals every game. Sometimes they have to play like yesterday.

'Carlo is one of the best managers in the world. I am happy for me, I am sorry for him yesterday but he can't win always.

'If they find space it is easy to score a goal but if they don't have the space to counter-attack it makes it hard. Our players played very well, defended very well, and this helped,' he added.

One change which drew attention in this fixture was the removal of Didier Drogba 20 minutes before the end, when he was replaced by Daniel Sturridge.

It allowed Nicolas Anelka to take up the central striker's position, while fresh-legged Sturridge roamed up and down the right wing.

'I wanted to put more speed in front with Anelka and Sturridge and to use the speed of Sturridge, he was fresh, so I took this decision to change Drogba,' said Ancelotti.

'We have on the bench this opportunity to change the players. We have young players; [Josh] McEachran played 10 minutes and played well. We have to have confidence in the young players.'

But following last year's 2-1 defeat at Eastlands, Ancelotti had one more thing to say: 'This is not a good place for us. Man City is a very good team. They have the possibility to win the title.

'They are growing quickly and will be an opponent for the title.

'They played how we expected because they had a compact shape in their half and they used a lot of power to catch the ball and play counter-attack. We knew this,' added the Chelsea manager.

John Terry Is Only Fooling Himself

John Terry moaned like fury to the referee at the final whistle. Then he moaned some more, and kept on moaning. It was a hopeless and rather lame outburst of anger from the former England captain, who must have known in his heart that Chelsea had been outmuscled, out-thought and outplayed by Manchester City.

So often it is Chelsea who crush opponents with their steamroller combination of power, strength and efficiency.

Not yesterday. Not against a team set up to destroy by City manager Roberto Mancini. Not against a midfield display of immensely disciplined force from man of the match Nigel de Jong.

Maybe it was a shock to Terry and his Chelsea team-mates that they were on the receiving end here – and that they could do absolutely nothing about it.

But that was the truth of it yesterday.

Didier Drogba, the most feared striker in the Premier League, was taken off 20 minutes before the end by Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti – for the very obvious reason that he’d been made to look like a pussycat rather than a lion by the desire and determination of the home defence.

Drogba went past his manager to the ignominy of the dug-out with a look of surprise on his face. It was not a surprise to anyone else in the ground.

It was a moment of great symbolism – the moment the myth that Chelsea would stroll to the title this season was dispelled.

The idea that you could pick a season’s champions after just five matches was always nonsense, but it was a notion that had gained wide enough currency to be endorsed even by rival managers like Mancini.

There had even been talk of Chelsea becoming the new ‘Invincibles’, and not losing a league match all season as Arsenal did so famously six years ago. More nonsense.

Defeat here revealed much more about Chelsea than their five opening victories against the makeweights of the Premier League. Ancelotti had declared in advance that it was the first big test for his team this season – and it was an examination they failed badly.

City players were first to almost every loose ball, and were the more inventive team in a generally tight and dull match dominated by negative tactics.

Drogba was not the only Chelsea player to have a duff day. Their new Brazilian midfielder Ramires was overwhelmed, and it was his mistake – dwelling on the ball in midfield and being robbed by James Milner – that led to the counter-attacking winner from Carlos Tevez.

Florent Malouda’s elegance was conspicuous by its absence, while both Terry and Branislav Ivanovic were less than comfortable in defence.

You had to say they were more like Chelsea invisibles than invincibles.

The contrast with City, particularly in the second half, was often stark. If Terry and his pals go away thinking they were the victims of a football mugging, they will be fooling only themselves.

A wall of noise from the home fans greeted the final whistle. There could be no doubting that Mancini is beginning to fashion a team that is ready for the marathon battle of an English season.

De Jong was a tower of strength and, in his image, City have become hard to beat – and that is crucial for any side with ambitions to break into the top four.

To become champions, however, they will surely need to add more adventure and flair to their team. And they will need to score more goals.

Yesterday they had just two significant scoring attempts in 90 minutes despite being the superior side. They have scored only seven goals in six league matches so far.

You cannot win a title playing a whole season with three defensive midfielders.

It will be fascinating to discover whether Mancini, who thus far has appeared to be the most archetypal of Italian managers, is a leopard who can change his spots.

Ancelotti Tips Chelsea To Bounce Straight Back From Manchester City Defeat

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti expects his team to bounce back immediately from their surprise defeat to Manchester City.

Ancelotti admitted his team was off colour but stressed that their first league defeat in six months is only a minor setback.

Speaking at his post-match press conference, he said: “We are disappointed but must look forward to maintaining our position at the top of the table. We did well five times but lost one time. It was not a good performance as a team and so far this season every player did not have a performance like this.

“It’s difficult to judge this team because of one defeat. We lost one game. Our momentum is good. We are doing well. This team has a very good mentality.”

Ancelotti admitted his team was subjugated by the tactics of City.

“We suffered the power of Man City in midfield,” he said. “We lost a lot here. We were not able to play our football in the opposition’s half. We gave them this possibility to get the ball and hit us on the counter-attack.

“It is not a good place for us. They played how we expected. They put a compact shape in their half and used a lot of power to play the counter-attack. We knew this.”

Ancelotti believes the team built by the big-spending Sheikh Mansour can run Chelsea close for the title.

“Yes, I think so,” said the Italian. “There is every possibility. They are growing quickly and can be a runner for the title.”

Asked about when injured players such as Frank Lampard, Salomon Kalou and Yossi Benayoun will be fit to return, Ancelotti said: “We will play one more game without these players and then they should be fit after the international break.”

Malouda Warns Of Marseille Threats

Chelsea winger Florent Malouda insists Marseille will provide a difficult test for the Blues as they welcome back former player Didier Deschamps to Stamford Bridge.

The ex-Chelsea midfielder is relishing his return to the club as Marseille manager having played one season with the Blues until the summer of 2000.

Marseille won the French title by six points last season after a wait of 18 years and Malouda insists they will be a lot tougher than MSK Zilina.

Chelsea beat Zilina 4-1 in Slovakia a fortnight ago to start their Champions League Group F campaign in style, but France international Malouda says Marseille will want to make their mark against the English champions.

"Marseille will be a difficult one because if you look at the recent years the French teams have done well in the Champions League," said Malouda.

"Last year they had two teams in the last eight. It is big for Marseille, they were champions last year and were waiting a long time, so they will want a good start.

'They won't want to come to Stamford Bridge and lose 4-0 like Bordeaux did two years ago. I can tell you it will be difficult in both games. Over there it is a big atmosphere but we are used to that."

Marseille's current squad contains former Manchester United and Real Madrid left-back Gabriele Heinze and ex-Porto midfielder Lucho Gonzalez.

They have made some big changes in attack where last season's leading scorer Mamadou Niang, who contributed 18 goals to the league campaign, has moved on along with Bakary Kone and Fernando Morientes.

The strikers have been replaced by two France players in Loic Remy, whose transfer was held up due to concerns over a heart condition, and Andre-Pierre Gignac.

Deschamps, 41, insists that it will be a tough job to return home from Stamford Bridge with any reward because of Chelsea's strength in depth.

"Returning to Stamford Bridge will give me great pleasure," added Deschamps. "Although the stadium itself is renovated and much bigger, the wonderful ambience which I experienced remains.

"Chelsea has a very competitive European team with something like 20 internationals - a great compensation if you have injured or suspended players.

"Not only does Chelsea want to win this trophy, they are among four or five teams which can legitimately expect to do so. They won the Premier League title last season and are already performing really well.

"I know their manager Carlo Ancelotti well. He was my coach for six months at Juventus and I also often played against him. I like his style of football and I'll also be pleased to see Carlo again."

Scouting Report: Josh McEachran - Chelsea And England

Name: Joshua McEachran
Age: 17
Club: Chelsea
Nationality: England
Position: Midfielder

The League Cup has long provided a platform for England's top level clubs to blood fringe talent and the midweek defeat of Chelsea by Newcastle was no exception. The Pensioners, at one stage, found themselves 3-1 behind but were afforded an avenue back into the tie upon the introduction of Josh McEachran. Although the schemer had only 36 minutes he quickly became the go-to player for Carlo Ancelotti's side.

A week earlier he made his Champions League bow, becoming the first player born after the competition's inception in November 1992 to feature at that level. He was a late substitute against Zilina.

Primarily an attacking midfielder, McEachran has already earned comparisons with Jack Wilshere of Arsenal. Indeed, the more optimistic among the England fans have already postulated a Gerrard/ Lampard style tactical decision for the two at senior level for the Three Lions.

McEachran is comfortable in possession and moves easily through defenders while dribbling. He favours his left-foot and has a clever and inventive range of passing. He has proven himself to be an effective dead-ball specialist throughout his short career so far and is beginning to earn slots on the Chelsea bench for key matches.

The teenager has been at the club since the age of eight. He was plucked from the Oxford Mail Boys League, where he had been playing for Garden City. McEachran featured prominently for the club through various under-age ranks and had his first training session with the first team at the age of only 15.

McEachran formed a key part of Dermot Drummey's FA Youth Cup winning side last season, forming an effective central partnership with Irishman Conor Clifford. Indeed, he provided the captain with the winning goal in characteristic fashion in the closing minutes of the final's second leg against Aston Villa. Although naturally a prompter, McEachran is not averse to winning the ball back high in opposition territory. He was nigh-on unplayable in the games against Villa and marked himself out as the outstanding prospect in the Blue ranks.

His international career is burgeoning too, helping England to win the most recent edition of the Under-17 European Championships against Spain. It took McEachran a few games to truly hit his stride but he was excellent in the semis against France and in the final against la Rojita.

The Chelsea academy, which was revamped by Roman Abramovich, has come in for criticism in recent years as the club has failed to promote a regular first team player from within since John Terry's emergence around a decade ago. Should McEachran and his classmates graduate those words will have to be eaten.

Josh McEachran Ready For The Big Time At Chelsea, Says Carlo Ancelotti

Out of defeat has come a ray of light for Carlo Ancelotti, whose disappointment after Chelsea's Carling Cup exit on Wednesday was tempered by the emergence of Josh McEachran.

The 17-year-old midfielder made his home debut as a substitute in the 4-3 defeat by Newcastle in midweek, having appeared briefly in the Champions League win at MSK Zilina the previous week.

And such was the teenager's composure that Ancelotti will have no qualms putting him in to face Marseille at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday.

Chelsea has problems in midfield with Yossi Benayoun added to an injury list already containing Frank Lampard, McEachran's role model in the senior squad.

The Oxford-born teenager has been fast-tracked from the Chelsea side that won the FA Youth Cup last season into the first team squad, and has also been called up for the England under-19 squad to face Cyprus next month.

Ancelotti certainly has no doubts about the teenager's temperament and ability. "He can play in the first team right now, without problem," said the Chelsea manager.

"He is very young but he showed fantastic ability and quality. So it is possible. If we need him he is ready to play the Premier League and the Champions League. I am not afraid to put a young player in important games because he has fantastic quality."

The comparisons with Jack Wilshere at Arsenal are inevitable, but McEachran's upright stance and tidy style are more reminiscent of a young Scott Parker.

"It's difficult to say who he is like because to have a 17 year-old with his personality and character is amazing – he was not afraid to play in the last game," added Ancelotti, who will not consider letting him get first-team experience elsewhere.

"We won't be sending him on loan. He will stay here and play here. We now have one more player. It's a surprise because he is a very talented player and we prepared a program for him to improve but I think he is improving very quickly.

"I don't have a fear of rushing him because his character is good, he is focused. He has balance. He is not afraid or quiet. And for this reason I can say he can play.

"There is a possibility he can play a part against Marseille. We may need someone because without Lampard, without Benayoun we don't have a lot of midfielders. And if we need him I think we can count on him.

"He has the ability to change the game – he can make a difference." Sir Trevor Brooking has seen the same attitude and ability, having watched McEachran star when England U-17s won the European Championship, beating Spain in the final: "Josh is left-footed, really good on the ball, and sees a pass. He's one of those where you've got to decide where to play him, he can play wide or tucked in. He also has a good attitude."

McEachran admits he could score more goals and has been encouraged to study the way Lampard gets into the penalty area. "I want to score more goals.

Chelsea say to me 'look at Frank Lampard'. I need to get into the box more," he told the club's website.

"Last year was really good for me. I didn't perform very well in the early stages of the Youth Cup but in the semi-final and final I thought I picked up my game and played well.

"Then came the European under-17 Championships. They say it was the strongest crop they have had for 10 years, and hopefully a few of us can push on."

Youth Report: Chelsea 2 - 4 Southampton

Chelsea's youth team fell to a second straight 4-2 defeat at Cobham on Saturday, as Southampton returned to the south coast with three points.

Two Bobby Devyne strikes early in the second half had looked to have given the Blues a chance after they had fallen 3-0 behind in the first period but a penalty shortly afterwards denied any hopes of completing the comeback.

Chelsea started well when Amin Affane released left-back Reece Loudon, and his cross was almost turned goalwards by Buomesca Na Bangna, who then sent a header straight at the Saints goalkeeper after Toddy Kane had kept the move going.

Chelsea goalkeeper Jamal Blackman then launched a counter-attack with an excellent long throw, allowing Devyne to run through, but he slotted his effort just the wrong side of the far post.

Both sides were looking threatening and tidy, but it was the visitors who went in front on the quarter-hour, a cross from the right headed home by an unmarked attacker from 10 yards.

Chelsea responded well, and Na Bangna was unfortunate not to convert after Bobby Devyne had sent an angled ball over the Southampton defence, his looped effort slightly misjudged and underhit.

It was harsh on the Blues then that they went two down in the 23rd minute, a free-kick only half cleared, and when the ball was returned it fell nicely for a Saints player in space, who had time to control it and slot home between Blackman and the near post.

At the other end an Amin Affane free-kick resulted in a scramble in the Saints area, eventually cleared before a Chelsea toe could poke the ball home.

The third arrived on the stroke of half-time, when Southampton's left winger was allowed the time to cross and pick out his centre-forward six yards out, who sent a simple header in off the post.

Chelsea were handed a penalty in the opening couple of minutes of the second period, which Devyne dispatched neatly to the goalkeeper's left.

The deficit was reduced further before the hour when schoolboy John Swift's excellent lofted pass put Devyne through and he made no mistake, lifting the ball up and over the keeper to score his second.

Swift's joy was cut short two minutes later when his challenge inside the Chelsea area gave the Saints a penalty of their own, and although Blackman saved the initial effort, the taker hammered home the rebound.

The Blues continued to press but could not find a route to goal, and it was Blackman who kept the score down with a late flying save from a powerful drive.