Team news

Chelsea preview
Hilario will deputise for Petr Cech in Chelsea's goal after the Czech Republic goalkeeper tore a calf muscle against Inter Milan in midweek.

Ashley Cole is a long-term absentee with a broken ankle and Yury Zhirkov has a calf injury. Paulo Ferreira is back in contention after not being registered for the Champions League in midweek but Florent Malouda is expected to continue at left-back.

Jose Bosingwa, Michael Essien and Deco (all knee) all remain sidelined.

Carlo Ancelotti insists John Terry will not let his shattered relationship with Wayne Bridge affect his performance.

All the focus has been on whether the two would shake hands before the match following allegations Terry had an affair with his former team-mate's ex-girlfriend.

But Chelsea manager Ancelotti said: "John Terry is professional and doesn't have a problem in staying focused on the match.

"He has been doing good performances. He is in focus and has a good mentality.

"He has had a fantastic season and will do the same until the end of the season."

Man City preview
Carlos Tevez is set to return to the Manchester City starting line-up.

Tevez has missed three matches after returning to Argentina following the premature birth of his baby daughter.

But with Emmanuel Adebayor suspended for four games, Tevez seems sure to feature. Kolo Toure and Roque Santa Cruz (both knee) are doubts.

With thoughts of a trophy gone for another year after the midwek FA Cup exit at Stoke, City are now focussed on fourth spot.

But as they still have to face Tottenham, Aston Villa, Arsenal and Manchester United during a testing run-in, in addition to Chelsea, it will be tough to scramble up from their current fifth place.

However, after his time in Italy, it seems Mancini is impervious to pressure.

"I don't feel pressure," he said.

"I worked at Inter for four years. After that it is impossible for me to feel pressure.

"I am disappointed because I wanted to win a trophy this season.

Chelsea vs Man City

Last modified 23:15 27/02/10

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All eyes were on the Bridge – Wayne not Stamford.

John Terry and Wayne Bridge met for the first since the ­scandal involving their private lives hit the headlines.

Yet for all the controversy and hype that preceded this game no one could have predicted the drama that ­followed — and barely involved either Terry or Bridge.

Once Bridge had snubbed the hand of friendship from Terry prior to kick-off the pair ­largely disappeared.

City came back from a goal down and led 4-1 at one stage after Chelsea had two players sent off in the second half.

It was a day that Blues ­manager Carlo Ancelotti was clearly keen to forget.

“We have lost a very ­important game, our first at home this season. But we have to look forward and take ­control of our confidence.

“The only good thing is we are still top but it’s not been a good day for us.

“We started well enough and should have taken a two-goal lead. But City are very good on the counterattack. What ­disappointed me is we should have shown more ­discipline and not had two players sent off.”

But Ancelotti refused to blame the defeat on the Terry and Bridge saga.

“The Bridge issue did not distract the players of ­Manchester City or Chelsea and I’m not interested in it.

“The only thing that interests me is we have more of a chance of winning the title than ­Manchester United and ­Arsenal. You have to respect the table and where we are.”

Roberto Mancini was equally unhappy to discuss the issue of Bridge and Terry – but claimed that the result could change the course of City’s season.

“I don’t want to speak about this situation between Bridge and Terry. I don’t want to speak about it, or the fans’ reaction, and hope this is the end of it now and we can move on.

“What concerns me is we played well and won an important match that could change the course of our ­season.

“I think we have played ­better and lost, though. In the last match against Stoke in the FA Cup we played better and lost after having a player sent off. But this is football.

“Naturally it is a great result for us achieved against a very good Chelsea side.”

Mancini was full of praise for Carlos Tevez, and also ­admitted that he was ­surprised by Bridge’s decision to stand down from international ­football.

“Tevez is a fantastic player and his performance doesn’t surprise me despite everything that has gone on.

“But I will admit I was ­surprised that Wayne stood down from England.

“I thought he could play in the national team so it’s a shock.

“I still think it’s important for a player to play for the ­national team.”

The opening 30 minutes of the game passed without ­incident.

Aside from an earlier Joe Cole effort that Shay Given had dealt with easily, a better chance fell to Didier Drogba, who turned sharply some five yards from goal and fired over when it appeared easier to score. But three minutes from the break Chelsea had the lead.

Cole slipped the ball inside the channel with the outside of his boot and Frank Lampard fired a right-foot shot across Given and in to the bottom ­corner of the goal.

Their joy was somewhat shortlived though as a comedy of errors gifted City a leveller a minute in to first-half ­stoppage time.

The ball was actually hoofed upfield by Bridge.

Jon Obi Mikel in the centre circle headed it back towards his own goal and Terry missed his clearance, allowing Tevez to run through on goal.

The Argentine scuffed his shot completely, but it dribbled past Hilario’s ­outstretched hand and over the line.

Five minutes after the break City had the lead when Craig Bellamy, who was having a relatively quiet game, galloped down the left and scored from an acute angle with Hilario clearly at fault once more.

In the 63rd minute it was Tevez, rather than Bridge, who squared right up to Terry after the England ­defender got the better of the Argentine – and Tevez got the hump with him.

But referee Mike Dean was quick to calm them down, as it briefly looked like it was all going to kick off.

In a bid to take something from the game, Ancelotti had thrown on all three ­substitutes with 16 minutes left.

One of the subs, Juliano ­Belletti, lasted seven minutes, as he clinically took Gareth Barry out inside the penalty area leading to a straight red card and a City spot-kick. Tevez made no mistake.

Could it get any worse? Step forward Michael Ballack. He had been booked earlier, then cynically brought down Tevez with nine minutes left and was sent off, reducing Chelsea to nine players.

Three minutes from time, the misery was complete.

Shaun Wright-Phillips broke down the right and crossed for Bellamy to fire home ­unmarked at the far post.

Yet there was still time for Lampard to reduce the deficit from the spot for Chelsea when referee Dean harshly ruled that Barry had fouled Nicolas Anelka in the penalty area.