Very little went on in the first half hour of this clash, but then the game briefly sprung into life. Adrian Mutu sent a deep sross into the City box which found it's way to Jesper Gronkjaer wide on the right. The dane has suddenly found his feet with regards to crossing and his ball picked out Frank Lampard who headed home! But, alas, the linesman had raised his flag for a disputable offside call.
Not to be deterred, Chelsea went straight back up the other end and did it again. Adrian Mutu ran at David Sommeil with pace and poise and beat his man to reach the byline. The Romanian thrashed the ball across goal and David Seaman could only succeed in palming the ball straight at Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. The Dutchman doesn't miss these!
Just after the goal, Chelsea should have had another. Lampard raced down the right wing and sent in a deep cross to Mutu. The crowd urged him to head it in but he instead tried to pick out Joe Cole with his header. This time, Seaman did claim the ball.
And then to top off the most entertaining period of the match Robbie Fowler hit the post. Mario Melchiot was caught out by Michael Tarnat, and the German's cross was right onto Fowler's head. Fortunately, Carlo Cudicini got a good hand to the ball and diverted it onto the post. The crowd treated the much loved stopper to chants of "Carlo! Carlo!" just to make sure he remembers how valued he is.
After the break it seemed as though both sides had two things in mind when faced with a sight at goal- hit the ball straight at the keeper, or blast it over.
The game was becoming a scrappy affair and City were having the better of it, as Sommeil, Anelka and Sinclair all tested Carlo. But he was up to the task.
At the other end, Mutu and Jimmy both had a number of chances, with no success. Mutu was looking a real threat and his touch is reminicsent of a certain Gianfranco Zola.
Despite a lot of City pressure late on, Chelsea held on for a vital three points. With our West London rivals doing us a favour by beating Man Yoo, Chelsea were sitting pretty on top of the Premiership once again. This is becoming a bit of a recurring theme!