Chelsea returned to the top of the Premier League with a
comfortable 3-0 victory over Birmingham at Stamford Bridge on
Wednesday night.
Carlo Ancelotti's side brought Birmingham's 15-game unbeaten
run to an end thanks to Florent Malouda's opener and a brace from
Frank Lampard.
The win puts Chelsea one point clear of Manchester United at
the top of the table with a game in hand on their rivals.
The home side went ahead in the fifth minute when Joe Cole
burst into the City penalty area from the right flank and crossed
for the unmarked Malouda to head past Joe Hart from six yards.
City had been the only team in the league to prevent Chelsea
from scoring when the two teams met at St. Andrews on Boxing Day
but Ancelotti's side are a different animal at home.
But City managed to stave off the expected Chelsea onslaught
by stifling the midfield.
The home side had to wait until the 20th minute for another
meaningful attack.
Again Cole sent the ball into the penalty area but it was
deflected for a corner.
However, only the width of the upright prevented the home
side from increasing their lead seconds later.
Malouda's corner was met by the head of Ricardo Carvalho but
the Portugal defender saw the ball cannon back off the post.
Chelsea continued to press and Lampard sent an angled drive
into the arms of Hart in the 21st minute, while Cole was inches
wide with a 20-yard shot moments later.
Cole was having a fine game for the home side and another
18-yard effort was well held by the diving Hart in the 26th minute.
But Chelsea did make it 2-0 in the 31st minute when Lampard
collected a pass from Michael Ballack and sent a low angled drive
beyond Hart and into the bottom corner from 20 yards.
Chelsea had now moved up a gear and were in their familiar
smooth groove.
In the 34th minute, Nicolas Anelka had a shot deflected for a
corner as the home side looked for a third.
Chelsea's passing was fluent and inventive and Birmingham had
no answer.
They possessed little attacking threat, with Chelsea captain
John Terry proving to be an imposing figure in his 300th career
league game.
City had not tested Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech and lacked
the quality and guile to trouble the home defence.
There was also a distinct lack of ambition in City's play,
which was surprising given their 15-game unbeaten run.
Chelsea began the second half with the same attacking desire
and a 25-yard drive from Anelka ruffled the side-netting with Hart
scrambling to protect his near post.
In the 53rd minute, Hart rescued Birmingham when a cross from
Ashley Cole found the unmarked Ballack at the far post.
The Germany captain sent his downward header towards the
corner of the net but Hart somehow managed to grab the ball in
time.
City replaced Cameron Jerome with Keith Fahey in the 56th
minute as the visitors looked to add more impetus to their attack.
Chelsea were inches away from a third in the 59th minute when
a corner by Malouda was directed just over the crossbar by Ballack.
Joe Cole deserved a goal as a reward for his performance but
he squandered a real chance in the 64th minute when Lampard found
him with a fine cross-field pass.
The midfielder, hoping to play his way into England's squad
for the World Cup finals this summer, hit a weak shot straight at
Hart from eight yards.
Hart was busy again two minutes later when he held a
long-range drive from Malouda.
Birmingham's James McFadden broke clear of the Chelsea
defence in the 72nd minute but his angled shot flashed the wrong
side of the far post.
Moments later substitute Fahey brought a fine save from Petr
Cech as City finally put some pressure on the home defence.
But Chelsea made it 3-0 in the 90th minute when Lampard
collected a pass from Malouda and fired past the advancing Hart.
