Chelsea player ratings

Given A few crucial saves when the game was still in the balance - coming out to save from Joe Cole with his legs, and from Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba with his chest. Could not have done anything for either goal. A burst of his autumn form in our run in could be a difference-maker. 8

Richards Had a very hard job, given Nicolas Anelka's penchant for cutting in from the left, which is difficult to defend against. Gave away a few free-kicks and perhaps lucky not to get booked. Didn't get forward much. 6

Kompany Moved back into defence, and played with the same authority as he did in midfield at the Brittania on Wednesday night. Stood up to Drogba when he needed to - one of the few defenders in the Premier League with the physicality to do so. I don't see how Kolo gets back in the side. 8

Lescott Another excellent performance. Lescott has been very good since he's come back from his knee injury, dealing with Drogba just as well as Lúcio did in Milan last Wednesday. He was faultless and must now have a decent chance of making the World Cup squad. 8

Bridge Did well in what was obviously a high-pressure environment for him. Very solid defensively and he looked, like Micah Richards, to be under instructions not to attack too much. Bizarrely given a free-kick to take in a good position, which he hit into the wall. 7

Zabaleta Our best player in the first half, tigerish in midfield, not allowing Lampard and Joe Cole to settle. A bit quieter after having Didier Drogba go through the back of him, but a very good battling performance. 8

de Jong Didn't quite replicate his heroics of the game at Eastlands but did play well, strong in the tackle as ever. 7

Barry A quiet first half but excellent after that. He threaded Bellamy through for our second and won the penalty for our second, using that slow collapse with outstretched arms he copied off City legend Didi Hamann. Moved to left back later on. 7

A. Johnson Possibly slightly out of his depth - he couldn't really get involved in the game and looked rather lightweight in the execution of his defensive duties. 6

Tévez Truly talismanic: everyone plays better when he's on the pitch. In the first half he was excellent, taking the pressure off us with his always-impressive hold-up play. He scored the goal that changed the game, a goal that not many other strikers in the Premier League would have scored just before the break. And he took his penalty ruthlessly. 21 goals for the season now. 9

Bellamy I didn't think he'd make it - after 120 minutes at Stoke on Wednesday night, but he was crucial to our counter-attacking game. Struggled to get in the game in the first half but it was his solo effort that put us 2-1 up, and he got on the end of a Wright-Phillips cross to make it 4-1. Has now scored at Anfield, Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge since coming to City. 8

Subs:

SWP More big game experience than Johnson and it showed - putting Bellamy in for our fourth, and keeping Chelsea under pressure when the game was stretched. 7

RSC Became the focal point when we changed to 4-4-2 to pin Chelsea back. Didn't do too much. 6

Sylvinho Came on at the end to ensure the win as he did here. n/a