Manchester City 0 Chelsea 3

Manchester City were once again struck by the Chelsea blues in a match which could be important to the fortunes of both teams.

City, who had never beaten Chelsea at home in the Premiership, lost again and with only two points out of a possible 18 are now fourth from bottom.

Chelsea, whose form has also been indifferent, returned to winning ways with two goals from Gianfranco Zola and a third by Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.

After the game a pleased Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri said: "It was very important to win after defeats in our last three matches.

"I think we deserved to win but I recognise City should have scored. They hit the post and Carlo Cudicini was outstanding."

City must still be wondering how they finished the game empty-handed after dominating three quarters of the match only to be sunk by three late goals.

City had two penalty appeals turned down and saw Eyal Berkovic strike an upright in the opening ten minutes.

Kevin Keegan's side remained in control and only two brilliant saves from Cudicini early in the second half to deny Marc-Vivien Foe and Nicolas Anelka kept the game goalless.

The breakthrough came in the 69th minute when Graeme Le Saux's corner flicked off the head of defender Niclas Jensen to find the unmarked Zola and he headed home from four yards.

Le Saux was also the provider for Zola's second goal of the game and eighth of the season as he threaded a superb pass to the Italian who beat the offside trap and scored with ease.

Hasselbaink piled on the agony adding a third goal in the dying minutes.

It was cruel on City and Keegan later lamented: "People will see the 3-0 scoreline and think we were battered, but we were the better side for 70 minutes.

"The Premiership is a cruel place and when you play well you need to create chances and stick the ball in the net."