Emmanuel Adebayor scored at both ends, Carlos Tevez netted a free-kick and Frank Lampard missed a penalty as Manchester City beat Chelsea 2-1 at Eastlands.
City ended a run of seven consecutive draws in a thrilling encounter that served notice of their ambitions and will be celebrated on both sides of Manchester after reducing Chelsea’s lead at the top of the Premier League to two points.
Adebayor inadvertently gave Chelsea the lead on eight minutes, but restored parity with a close range shot eight minutes before half-time. Tevez’s free-kick put City in front in the 56th minute, before Lampard squandered his late chance to grab a point.
Chelsea made the brighter start, with the irrepressible Didier Drogba quickly into his stride. The Ivorian nearly profited from calamitous dallying by Joleon Lescott on six minutes, and seconds later shot at Shay Given following a superb backheel by Deco.
But the visitors would not be denied, and went in front in bizarre fashion from a disputed corner. Drogba, somehow, was left unmarked at the far post and headed into the path of Branislav Ivanovic, who shot straight at Given. The rebound fell to Anelka, whose shot was also save, but the ball popped up off Given, hit Adebayor on the back and looped over the line.
Videos:
Shay Given save from Drogba:
Adebayor (own goal)
Adebayor goal
Tevez Goal
Lampard penalty miss