City dump dire Chelsea out

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Manchester City totally outclassed a lethargic Chelsea to reach the quarter finals of the FA Cup at the Blues' expense.

After the Blues' more than impressive victory over Manuel Pellegrini's side in the Premier League just twelve days ago, many Chelsea supporters may well have arrived at the Etihad hoping for more of the same from a side looking to bounce back from a disappointing draw against West Brom on Wednesday.

But any hopes of a positive reaction were dashed when Stevan Jovetic converted a goal that City's early dominance warranted with just sixteen minutes played.

That opening period, bossed by the hosts, set the tone for a disappointing display by José Mourinho's men. City looked the hungrier and fresher of the two sides - no surprise considering their midweek game against Sunderland was called off over safety concerns.

With the added benefit of a much changed line-up and the extra few days rest that fixture postponement resulted in, the home side demonstrated the greater endeavour and were worthy winners - the result confirmed when Samir Nasri converted from close range on 67 minutes.

David Silva was in an offside position in the build-up to the goal, but Chelsea's turgid performance did not deserve any less. True, Nasri's goal settled the game, but the result seemed obvious following such a sloppy, insipid start by a jaded-looking Chelsea side.

Eden Hazard, of whom so much is expected every game - not least because of his wonderful hat-trick against Newcastle last weekend - was man-marked into anonymity, whilst the usually magnificent Willian was equally as quiet. Samuel Eto'o, normally so industrious up front, was on the periphery of proceedings to such an extent he was replaced by new signing Mohamed Salah at half-time.

Chelsea were absolutely outclassed by their hosts, but that is of little surprise considering how poorly they played. What a difference a week or two makes - just two weeks after their magnificent win over City in the corresponding Premier League fixture, the Blues were dire, with midfield duo Ramires and John Mikel Obi particularly poor.

Even Petr Cech, usually so confident, looked a shade of himself. With 14 minutes played, the first true effort of note was spilled by the Czech goalkeeper as Yaya Toure let fly. The Blues stood off, and with Jovetic quickest to react, the Montenegrin international clipped the bar as he looked to punish Cech's lethargy.

With their stand-in skipper so sloppy, the tone was set for the Chelsea performance in general, and Jovetic's opening strike mere moments later was no more than the Blues' poor showing - and, of course, a sprightly start from their opponents - deserved.

If the travelling contingent of 6,000 from West London had hoped that goal would lead to the players pulling their finger out, they could not have been more misplaced in their faith. Seemingly punch-drunk, the Blues were terrible with their passing and City's considerable pressing prevented their flair players from making anything close to an impression.

So bad were Chelsea that they failed to register a shot on target, with Cesar Azpilicueta's ridiculous 30-yard strike (that sailed about twenty feet over the bar) embarrassingly stands as the best the Blues could conjure.

By that time their sluggishness had already been punished by an exquisitely worked second for City, with Nasri - so often the bane of Chelsea - converting from Silva's pull-back. Silva was marginally offside, but frankly, based on their impressive performance, City deserved such a stroke of fortune.

It might have been worse had the linesman been equally lenient as the game petered out, but this time the official deemed Joleon Lescott offside when he poked home following an excellent Petr Cech save. That save, and subsequent decision, at least kept a modicum of respectability to the scoreline, but the painful truth is that Chelsea were once again sub-par and must significantly up their game ahead of testing matches against Everton and Galatasaray on the immediate horizon.

[zolayes 14,489]

Best team won ,,, Think I will switch my support to the Paler Shade of Blue ,, The Quadruple is ONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

[BlueLion. 21,491]

A very sobering result. Second best, and we must do better, but not entirely disastrous. Mikel and Ramires were utterly atrocious.

[Sidzeret 2,257]

It would have been 3-0 if we had a player on the goal line for that corner which Lescott converted.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

^ maybe, although said player on the line may have booted it away before even Cech touched it.

[Reddish-Blue 2,212]

City's attack is the best in the EPL in terms of quality & depth of talent

Just look at their striking options: Aguero, Negredo, Dzeko & Jovetic

And look at our striking options: Ageing Eto'o, Past-it Torres & the average Ba


they deserved to win...will be surprised if they don't win the PL title this year

[Atwa 78]

Not a single shot on goal, fuck that is embarrassing.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

We were terrible, City were excellent. We should be thankful it wasn't 3-0, 4-0, 5-0, or worse. It could quite easily have been, but thankfully Pellegrini acted mercifully with Barcelona on the horizon. If they weren't playing in midweek and thus started their best side... wow. This would have been messy.

[Viper22 2,418]

Thing is though, taken in isolation, a 2-0 loss away to City isn't that bad a result. Just been made to look worse due to the fact that we beat them not long ago.

Problem here was though: Terry Out, Mikel In. That's like removing the engine from your car and replacing it with a mouldy banana.

We quite desperately need a 3rd choice CB that isn't David Luiz (he's a decent holding mid but unconvincing as a CB) and Van Ginkel to come back from injury.

[zolayes 14,489]

City's attack is the best in the EPL in terms of quality & depth of talent

Just look at their striking options: Aguero, Negredo, Dzeko & Jovetic

And look at our striking options: Ageing Eto'o, Past-it Torres & the average Ba

they deserved to win...will be surprised if they don't win the PL title this year

I will be shocked if City dont win at least 2 domestic trophies AND I dont begrudge them success .. They have had years suffering ,, If a few fan gloats so be it ..

better than the manure Surrey wankers .. They have banked on strikers ,, our gambles on strikers just havent worked out , Drogba wasnt a top guy when we got him .

High rankers served us less well Crespo Shev Torres

[CHOULO19 24,332]

2-0 away at City is not a bad result. In fact, just 12 days ago half the forum was expecting us to get hammered by 4 or 5. People just had their hopes too high because of that win in the league, but difference in the squad strength had to show eventually. If anything, tonight's result makes the wins in the league against them more valuable and highlights even more what an amazing job Jose did tactically.

[bluephoenix 1,125]

Nice article but pressure Mourinho because i didn't imagine we would be so clueless again under Mourinho ( agreed could be one off but still)