Martin Petrov went close

City 0 Chelsea 2

CHELSEA proved too strong for City at Eastlands where Richard Dunne's own-goal and Salomon Kalou's second-half strike settled the game.

City were behind after just six minutes when Dunne diverted Nicolas Anelka's cross into his own net.

Although the Blues fought back well for the rest of the first half, the visitors extended their lead shortly after the break when Kalou rounded Joe Hart to score.

To make matters worse for Sven-Goran Eriksson's men, Nedum Onuoha had to be taken off after sustaining a shoulder injury with just under an hour gone.

City were on the back foot early when Michael Essien raced forward for the visitors and slipped a pass to Anelka on the right.

He swept it into the area and City skipper Richard Dunne got his bearings wrong, toe-poking his attempted clearance beyond goalkeeper Joe Hart.

Chelsea kept up the pressure and Anelka scampered away in the 12th minute but as he shaped to shoot Nedum Onuoha made a crucial block.

City responded two minutes later and Michael Johnson got into a good position only to fire his effort over the bar.

Then Martin Petrov rattled a shot wide and Benjani Mwaruwari headed high over the bar while Gelson Fernandes found the arms of Carlo Cudicini with his effort in the 21st minute.

City were beginning to set the tempo and carved out a number of chances in the space of a few minutes to rattle their high-flying opponents.

Benjani and Stephen Ireland linked up in the 28th minute only for the Republic of Ireland midfielder’s effort to be blocked.

Then Petrov thumped in a fierce drive that was superbly tipped away by Cudicini at the post.

Chelsea again found themselves on the back foot and Ashley Cole hacked the ball off the line in the 31st minute, the England defender showing good awareness after Johnson’s effort had been deflected to leave Cudicini stranded.

Avram Grant sent on Joe Cole in place of Shaun Wright-Phillips, Chelsea immediately looked more threatening and Kalou extended their lead two minutes later with a cool finish.

He latched onto a through ball from Essien and rounded Hart to find the corner for his 11th goal of the season .

Anelka almost added a third in the 55th minute only for his header to come back off the bar following a cross from Lampard.

Petrov almost pulled a goal back with a fine free-kick that was just off target, but Chelsea never looked like giving up their two-goal advantage to leave City with just one win in seven games.

Man City Hart, Corluka, Dunne, Onuoha (Jihai 59), Ball, Ireland (Caicedo 75), Gelson, Johnson, Petrov, Elano (Vassell 65), Mwaruwari.
Subs Not Used: Isaksson, Hamann.

Booked: Gelson.

Chelsea Cudicini, Belletti (Ferreira 86), Alex, Terry, Ashley Cole, Essien, Obi, Lampard, Wright-Phillips (Joe Cole 52), Anelka, Kalou.
Subs Not Used: Hilario, Shevchenko, Ballack.

Goals: Dunne 6 og, Kalou 53.

Att: 42,594

Ref: Chris Foy (Merseyside).