José namechecks MCFC

In the post-match press conference last night José Mourinho said his approach was inspired by Kevin Keegan's Manchester City. No, seriously:

Afterwards Mourinho said he had based his approach to the game on one of the few times a side had come to Stamford Bridge during his time in charge there and held out for a draw. Unusually, he picked out the performance of Manchester City in February 2005 during his first year at the club when City came to Stamford Bridge and got a 0-0 draw. "They made David James look like Lev Yashin," said Mourinho.

And this wasn't even exciting, cavalier, early-era Keegan either. This was lazy, complacent, flaccid late-era Keegan; when we represented a final pay-day for bored millionaires like Robbie Fowler, Steve McManaman and Paul Bosvelt. It was just three games before the home defeat to Bolton which preceeded his resignation (if memories Wikipedia and Soccerbase are correct.)

So, looking back on it, a goalless draw at the Bridge was a fantastic result. Not quite as good as this though, which probably did more to inspire Mourinho's gameplan. We showed that, with Ashley Cole and José Bosingwa injured, and John Terry ageing, Chelsea's back four probably defends further up the pitch than it ought to. Carlos Tévez and Craig Bellamy hit the space in behind to great effect. And last night Inter's main aim was for the masterful Wesley Sneijder to put Samuel Eto'o and Goran Pandev into the same positions. Which is precisely how they scored.

Momentum

In comments below Gareth Barry said that the controversy surrounding Wayne Bridge's private life has 'helped galvanise the club', and that after winning so well at Stamford Bridge we are 'set up nicely now to finish the season strongly.'

He could well be right. With the four contenders for fourth bunched as tightly as they are, it is the team that generates the most momentum that will take the prize, as differences in starting position are essentially moot. And momentum is what we have so obviously missed, ever since that confidence-draining Carling Cup exit.

But our win on Saturday - our goal at Stamford Bridge since 2000, our first league win there since 1983, Chelsea's first home league defeat since November 2008, their third since February 2004 etc etc etc - is the sort of moment on which seasons can change. It really feels as if the points were switched on Saturday and the MCFC wagon is now heading in a different direction.

This raises the question, though, whether a two week break is good for us now. Could the momentum dissipate between now and Mother's Day? Carlos Tévez could get injured on international duty, as could Joleon Lescott, Shay Given, Nigel de Jong or Vincent Kompany. There could be more damaging speculation over the security of Mancini's hold on the job. Alternatively, two weeks of training could see the current optimism incubate and develop, ready to explode on Sunderland in two weeks.

It could go either way. I guess we'll find out thirteen days from now. But for now things are looking up - as good as they were since, well, the last time we pulled out a heroic team performance to beat Chelsea.

More Chelsea reax

James Ducker, The Times

Bridge was applauded for a solid display at left back, but City’s real stars were Tévez — who underlined why his team-mates have missed him so much by offering a masterclass in how to lead a line single-handed — and Bellamy, a pest throughout, plus Gareth Barry, who gave Fabio Capello, the England manager, something to cheer by bossing midfield.

Chelsea’s main weakness this season has been an inability to defend set-pieces, but time and again in the second half, City exposed their vulnerability on the flanks to fast counter-attacks, with both of Bellamy’s goals coming by virtue of swift breaks forward.

Mark Fleming, The Independent

At the back, Chelsea limited Inter and City to eight goal attempts each. But in both games they were susceptible to counter attack every time the opposition crossed the halfway line. With Ashley Cole and Petr Cech injured, Chelsea resemble heavyweights with a glass chin.

City, galvanised by the sense of injustice concerning Bridge's shattered love life, proved what a good side they are, when they can be bothered. Tevez returned after missing four games to be at the birth of daughter Katie in Argentina, and promptly brought Chelsea's 37-game unbeaten run at Stamford Bridge to an end with his tenacity and creativity.

David Hytner, The Guardian

City had entered the game against a backdrop of poor form and talk of a bust-up between Mancini and Bellamy. "If Craig is arguing with someone around the club, it's normal," said Barry, with a smile. But they departed having staged the most eye-catching of smash-and-grab raids. Their first, second and fourth goals came on the counter-attack.

Jeremy Wilson, Daily Telegraph

It [our equaliser] was the pivotal moment of the match and also a glimpse of genuine individual quality from a player who had only arrived back in England on Friday after being in Argentina with his partner and prematurely born daughter.

As Chelsea wilted and the collective purpose and belief of Manchester City visibly grew, Craig Bellamy scored twice on the counter-attack while Tevez converted a penalty after Juliano Belletti was sent-off for into Gareth Barry. It all ensured that Lampard’s late penalty was merely a consolation.

Matt Barlow, Daily Mail

Two more goals for Frank Lampard was the only positive for Ancelotti. For City, there was so much more. Bellamy looked dangerous and boss Mancini insisted their disagreement was now forgotten.

That was the beauty of Team Terry v Team Bridge. For once, City and Bellamy had a common enemy and they were all smiles.

Chelsea reax

Henry Winter, Sunday Telegraph

Under pressure following recent anaemic displays and reports of dressing-room objections towards his training methods, Mancini came up trumps here. When the heat was on, City's team spirit and tactics underpinned one of the results of the season, a win that gives them real hope of claiming the fourth Champions League position.

In shielding the back-four, Mancini again deployed three pedigree dogs of war, Nigel de Jong, Pablo Zabaleta and Barry.

Mancini's tactics are defensively-minded but City can counter-attack venomously, a quality displayed in an extraordinary second period.

Steve Wilson, The Observer

While that made City's job easier towards the end, the visitors had put themselves in a winning position against 11 men, not nine. Only the final City goal, when Tevez led a breakout from his own half and Craig Bellamy picked up his second of the afternoon from a Shaun Wright-Phillips cross, was attributable to Chelsea's lack of numbers. Everything else was their own fault, and even after one of the most boring and uneventful opening half hours of the season it was impossible to see it coming.

Duncan Castles, Sunday Times

In the past week, Internazionale and City have demonstrated different ways to unbutton Chelsea in open play. Jose Mourinho won the Champions League tie by playing two quick forwards and leaving Wesley Sneijder free to manufacture chances behind. Here City triumphed with classic counterattacking, Roberto Mancini lining up five in midfield and asking Tevez to sniff opportunities around the centre-backs.

Steve Tongue, Independent on Sunday

Astonishingly, an unmarked Lescott should have added a second goal almost immediately, heading Craig Bellamy's free-kick beyond the far post as Terry lay on the ground. Five minutes into the second half, City were ahead anyway after the first of three superb counters, all involving Bellamy. For this one he raced away from a static Mikel on to Gareth Barry's pass and shot across Hilario, who was again badly positioned.

Jeremy Wilson, Sunday Telegraph

Manchester City had created nothing and looked in danger of falling further behind before equalising on the stroke of half-time in the most unexpected of circumstances. Bridge had thumped a hopeful ball forward which John Obi-Mikel attempted to head back to Terry, only for Carlos Tevez to intercept.

He then turned inside Ricardo Carvalho and scuffed a shot which carried just enough power to dribble beyond Henrique Hilario and into the Chelsea goal.

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

Chelsea 2 - 4 City

• Before the game I was hoping that a brave performance in defeat could just give us the momentum to finish fourth. But to win, and win like that, might just be transformative. And not just for the last eleven games of the season either. This could well be the match that makes the Mancini era - because this is a staggering result. This was our first goal at Stamford Bridge since 2000, our first league win there since 1983. Equally it was Chelsea's first league defeat of the season, and - I haven't checked this, by the way - their third in six years.

• We've been here before though: we beat Chelsea at home in December, thought that it was our Mark Robins moment, and yet Mark Hughes was out within the month. But this was a masterclass in management from Mancini; I have never seen a team deploy a gameplan as effectively as we did today. It's easy enough to know and to say that the way to beat Chelsea is to defend deep and sensibly, and then to hit them on the break, but to do it is something else.

• The first part of the game plan was to keep Chelsea out, defending deep, with ten men behind the ball. Chelsea are a good side but they're not as good as breaking down well-organised defences as Arsenal or Manchester United. For the most part it worked; the shadow training looked to have paid off as we were exceptionally well arranged throughout. But when Lampard was put through by Joe Cole and scored past Given it looked as if the plan was in tatters.

• Thank god, then, for Carlos Tévez. It was his goal just before half time that transformed the game. Had we gone into the break 1-0 down I'm sure we would have lost. But he spun away from Terry, jinked past Carvalho and scored our equaliser. It was echt Tévez: relying on all his reserves of strength, footwork, audacity and tenacity. But it revealed the truth of our plan: that Chelsea's back four was slow, that Hilário was poor, and that space in behind to counter-attack into. The second goal was a perfect display of this - Barry released Bellamy down the left, who surged past Mikel and finished well. The third goal came from an uncharacteristic burst of pace from Barry down the same channel, and the fourth was from a quick break against nine tired men.

• Defending a three goal lead against nine men is something that even Manchester City can do. Putting on Roque Santa Cruz for Wayne Bridge allowed a change to 4-4-2, and even with a Frank Lampard penalty we closed the game out. No one should underestimate what a momentum-generating result this might be. Before yesterday fourth was in our hands, but I never thought that we would actually take it. Now I think we might.

• Finally, a personal perspective. I was there yesterday and can safely say that it was my best experience as a City fan, eclipsing this, this, and the 5-2 win over Spurs in 1994. To see three thrilling goals from counter attacks - at a ground where we hadn't scored since 2000 - right down in front of us in the Andrés Iniesta end was an experience I don't think I'll ever match again. Although Champions League football at Eastlands might change that.
  

Chelsea preview

At least we now have a clarity of focus. We're out of the cups, we can't get to Wembley this year, we can't take the banner down. We have one clear target: fourth place, and it's still in our hands. The final twelve game stretch - precisely one quarter of this 48 game season - is left in front of us. And where better to start it than the hardest game in any season: Chelsea away?

Our record at Stamford Bridge is beyond terrible. We haven't scored there in our last seven visits. Our last goal there was a Paul Dickov consolation in a 2-1 loss in December 2000. And our last win there? 1-0 in December 1983, in the old second Division, before most of our players were born. This, combined with Chelsea's home record this season - 12 wins and one draw - make for some fairly bad omens. And rightly so - we're almost certainly going to lose.

But we could still have some fun: and I don't just mean in watching Vincent Kompany and Nigel de Jong clatter the former England captain at every opportunity. I mean that Chelsea had an exhausting game on Wednesday, and while we obviously had a similar experience, we do have Carlos Tévez and Adam Johnson completely fresh, as well as de Jong - who had such a good game against Chelsea at Eastlands. Throw in that John Terry is in his worst form for years, that Florent Malouda might play left back, and with Hilário in goal and I am backing us to end our goal drought.

I imagine Tévez will lead the line - as he did in his best spell for City - in a 4-5-1 with Adam Johnson on one wing and Shaun Wright-Phillips on the other. The midfield will be Nigel de Jong, Gareth Barry and whichever of Vincent Kompany and Pablo Zabaleta will be least missed in defence. Kompany was excellent on Wednesday but I'd rather he was up against Drogba and Anelka than Nedum Onuoha so I'd move him back and keep Zab in the middle.

In terms of a game plan I think we'll put men behind the ball and defend deep. We risk inviting Chelsea onto us so we will have to hope Joleon Lescott was watching Lúcio's Drogba-taming masterclass on Wednesday. But it is possible that Johnson, Tévez and SWP will be able to get in behind Chelsea's ponderous back four and cause some problems. In fact, Craig Bellamy's pace might be useful even if he did play 120 energy-sapping minutes in mid-week. I don't think it will work - at home, Chelsea always find a way, and I don't think we will be able to contain Drogba, Anelka and Lampard for ninety minutes. But I'm not convinced we'll get smashed either. So I'm predicting a decent performance and a 2-1 or 3-1 defeat.

Tévez back for Chelsea

According to Roberto Mancini in today's press conference:

“I spoke with him yesterday and I think that he will come back on Thursday or Friday morning,” Mancini said, before adding: “I am sure.”

He continued: “It is important Carlos comes back Thursday or Friday so he can play against Chelsea. He said to me that every day he has been training in Argentina, every morning.

“He had a serious problem but now I think he resolved his problem.”

Good news, both for Tévez personally and for MCFC. We've looked toothless without him. He might not have enough to get us a win at Stamford Bridge, but we'd be an even longer shot without him.