Manchester City – Chelsea 1-1 Match Report

Picture gallery

Goals:

Chelsea: Schurrle 71. City: Lampard 85

Att: 45,602

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Ratings

Hart: No chance with the goal, largely unemployed: 7
Zabaleta: Did a good job defensively. Did not deserve his first booking, but could not complain about the second. Should have remained on the pitch: 7
Kompany: Relished the challenge of Costa and won the battle: 9
Mangala: He lived up to his billing. He was very strong, quick and athletic indeed and looked like an accomplished footballing centre half who reads the game well. Indeed, in Mangala we may very well have found the perfect partner for Vincent Kompany: 9
Milner: Was top drawer in three positions. On the right hand side he helped keep Azpilicueta back from getting forward and Milner also made necessary tackles in midfield. He used the ball well throughout. Covered well at right back then excelled at left back where he set up our equaliser. City should convince him that he will play many morebig games like this and go for more trophies than he would anywhere else: 9 (Man of the match)
Fernandinho: Absolutely tireless in midfield and played his part in snuffing out Costa’s threat: 8
Yaya: It was clear from the off that he was eager to affect this game. Looked to take responsibility. Needs to do this every game: 7
Silva: Not his most high profile game but he worked hard as ever and his class for there for all to see in the build up to the goal, with his chipped pass for Milner which showed such intelligence, skill and awareness: 7
Aguero: Not his busiest afternoon in the opposition penalty box when chances were at a premium, but worked hard: 7
Dzeko: Worked hard and competed well up front. Needs to work on his timing of a pass: 7

Subs:

Sagna (for Dzeko 70): Was not quite switched on when Schurrle beat him to the far post to score: 6
Navas (for Fernandinho 73): Sought to create often in a more central position: 7
Lampard (for Kolarov 78): His legs may not sustain top class football week in week out these days, but he is still a class player. He linked play well and finished with such class and poise. 7

Refwatch: Mike Dean: Normally a very good referee in previous seasons, but he was very, very poor in this game. Overly zealous with the cards, he almost ruined a fascinating, physical tactical battle. His first booking of Zabaleta was a nonsense, and he should have sent Costa of for his reaction to Zaba’s foul (which as you’d expect carried no malice) in the second half. If he was going to book Silva in the first half then Fabregas should have had the same treatment for his offence in the second half. Everybody can have a bad day and this was definitely his, but is this becoming a bad season for Dean, who has had other bad days? : 0

Best Oppo: Tricky one this but Hazard gets the vote for the second year in succession. He is strong and difficult to knock off the ball. His creativity is wasted under Mourinho. His cross for Schurrle’s goal was absolutely exquisite: very hard to defend in the “corridor of uncertainty” between goalkeeper and the back line and perfectly weighted: 8