Chelsea missed the chance to establish an eight-point lead over second-placed Manchester City following a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge tonight.
David Silva turned home Sergio Aguero’s shot on the stroke of half time to cancel out Loic Remy’s earlier opener as City remain five points adrift of Jose Mourinho’s side.
Chelsea made a lively start to the match, and dominated the ball early on. City were unable to get out of their own half as they struggled to contain the hosts.
City finally got themselves a good spell of possession in the Chelsea half and it almost created a chance as Jesus Navas slid a pass down the right for Fernandinho.
The Brazilian tried to drill a shot across goal, but it deflected wide for a corner.
Aguero then looked to take on Kurt Zouma by running down the outside.
The young defender, however, recovered well to make a fine challenge in the area, knocking the ball behind for a corner.
The next chance came after Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic dwelled on the ball for too long in defence, allowing James Milner to steal possession from him before slipping a pass in to Aguero. The striker was forced out onto his left foot but still got a shot away which Thibaut Courtois saved.
An exciting couple of minutes then saw Oscar spurn a good opportunity for Chelsea before Aguero found himself one-on-one with Courtois. The Argentine’s finish, however, was weak and he dragged the ball wide of the post.
It was a big chance for City and a disappointing one for Aguero, who never really looked confident of scoring.
They were made to pay for the missed chance, as Remy slotted home following good work from Eden Hazard.
Silva levelled things up for City just before half time, however, by toeing in Aguero’s shot after Courtois flapped at a Navas cross.
After the break, Mourinho risked the wrath of the referee in a bizarre incident in which he kicked the ball at Milner.
It was an encouraging period for City, who had the better of the second half’s opening exchanges. Milner was the next to come close as he looped a header towards goal that ended up on the roof of the net.
Chelsea and Manchester City both live to fight another day after. The winter slog will go on and the warm spring of title celebrations still seems some way off.In the end, Manuel Pellegrini, five points adrift, had much to lose, though his side created the better chances and for the final 10 minutes it was they who sought the winner.
Jose Mourinho was, of course, content. ‘What we have, we hold,’ might well be his mantra and a five-point lead going into February will suit just fine.
