The good news for Manchester City is that they closed the gap to Manchester United to 12 points with this win, after fine goals in the second half by Yaya Touré and Carlos Tevez. The bad tidings are that another round of matches is now chalked off and Sir Alex Ferguson's men show no sign of taking their feet off the champions' throat.
As United coast through their latest obstacle, as with the 2-0 win at Queens Park Rangers on Saturday, City continue to scramble results – Frank Lampard had a penalty saved here before City opened the scoring – and appear nothing like the threshing machine of last season.
The dream of retaining the title was moribund but Roberto Mancini's men could not countenance going down whimpering.
Against a Rafael BenÃtez side that lacked fluency, City's strategy was the one that has misfired for much of the campaign: get David Silva on the ball and let him spy the hidden angles and slip in a team-mate to finish business.
The first half turned out to be one of the few occasions the Spaniard was in touch with his muse. On several occasions he flitted around the Etihad turf to unlock a Chelsea rearguard that was competitive but lacked the second sight required when Silva is on his game.
On 16 minutes Pablo Zabaleta, the captain in Vincent Kompany's absence, drove down the right and pinged over a ball in Sergio Agüero's direction that was cleared. From the ensuing play Silva popped up on the other flank and threaded a pass to Yaya Touré. The Ivorian, playing in the 'hole' with Jack Rodwell picked in his holding midfield role, took aim and saw his shot deflected off Branislav Ivanovic.
A corner followed and when possession found Rodwell his turn-and-shot was blocked before Agüero was put in by Silva, who collected the ball after David Luiz's pass to Mikel John Obi fell short. But the Argentinian, having beaten Peter Cech, overran the ball.
Before the break City's other chances were a Zabaleta shot inadvertently stopped by Yaya Touré, and a 25-yard Rodwell effort that warmed Cech's fingers.
While Rodwell was also a threat from several Silva corners and when making late runs into the area, at the break BenÃtez might have told his side to move the ball quicker at City.
Twice Lampard had managed to get down the City left during the first half with this ploy, and when they won a penalty seven minutes after the break it was from an quickly hit diagonal from Ivanovic to Demba Ba. As the striker raced at goal Joe Hart went to challenge him then appeared to pull out so contact appeared minimal.
Not for Andre Marriner, though, who pointed to the spot. Yet when Lampard belted the ball to Hart's right the goalkeeper saved impressively and Kolo Touré scrambled the ball away for a corner.
Hart's stop roused his team-mates. Silva, again, was the conductor-in-chief. His ball over the top was controlled by Agüero's head, though the touch took him right and Gary Cahill was able to get a leg in the way.
James Milner was next up as City's creator when his pass put Agüero in again but this time his chip over Cech was too high.
When City finally took the lead it was after Ramires had spurned a golden chance to open the scoring. Put clear by Ivanovic he dawdled in the home area to allow Kolo Touré to snuff out the danger.
When play moved down the other end, it was the defender's brother who stepped up to bag a fifth league goal this season. Milner fed Silva in the Chelsea area and after knocking the ball into Yaya Touré, he ghosted past Mikel and found the left-hand corner of Cech's goal, the keeper partially unsighted by Cahill.
Carlos Tevez, on for the outstanding Rodwell early in the second half, confirmed the result late on with a fine finish after smooth link-up play from Aguero and Silva.
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everydayAs United coast through their latest obstacle, as with the 2-0 win at Queens Park Rangers on Saturday, City continue to scramble results – Frank Lampard had a penalty saved here before City opened the scoring – and appear nothing like the threshing machine of last season.
The dream of retaining the title was moribund but Roberto Mancini's men could not countenance going down whimpering.
Against a Rafael BenÃtez side that lacked fluency, City's strategy was the one that has misfired for much of the campaign: get David Silva on the ball and let him spy the hidden angles and slip in a team-mate to finish business.
The first half turned out to be one of the few occasions the Spaniard was in touch with his muse. On several occasions he flitted around the Etihad turf to unlock a Chelsea rearguard that was competitive but lacked the second sight required when Silva is on his game.
On 16 minutes Pablo Zabaleta, the captain in Vincent Kompany's absence, drove down the right and pinged over a ball in Sergio Agüero's direction that was cleared. From the ensuing play Silva popped up on the other flank and threaded a pass to Yaya Touré. The Ivorian, playing in the 'hole' with Jack Rodwell picked in his holding midfield role, took aim and saw his shot deflected off Branislav Ivanovic.
A corner followed and when possession found Rodwell his turn-and-shot was blocked before Agüero was put in by Silva, who collected the ball after David Luiz's pass to Mikel John Obi fell short. But the Argentinian, having beaten Peter Cech, overran the ball.
Before the break City's other chances were a Zabaleta shot inadvertently stopped by Yaya Touré, and a 25-yard Rodwell effort that warmed Cech's fingers.
While Rodwell was also a threat from several Silva corners and when making late runs into the area, at the break BenÃtez might have told his side to move the ball quicker at City.
Twice Lampard had managed to get down the City left during the first half with this ploy, and when they won a penalty seven minutes after the break it was from an quickly hit diagonal from Ivanovic to Demba Ba. As the striker raced at goal Joe Hart went to challenge him then appeared to pull out so contact appeared minimal.
Not for Andre Marriner, though, who pointed to the spot. Yet when Lampard belted the ball to Hart's right the goalkeeper saved impressively and Kolo Touré scrambled the ball away for a corner.
Hart's stop roused his team-mates. Silva, again, was the conductor-in-chief. His ball over the top was controlled by Agüero's head, though the touch took him right and Gary Cahill was able to get a leg in the way.
James Milner was next up as City's creator when his pass put Agüero in again but this time his chip over Cech was too high.
When City finally took the lead it was after Ramires had spurned a golden chance to open the scoring. Put clear by Ivanovic he dawdled in the home area to allow Kolo Touré to snuff out the danger.
When play moved down the other end, it was the defender's brother who stepped up to bag a fifth league goal this season. Milner fed Silva in the Chelsea area and after knocking the ball into Yaya Touré, he ghosted past Mikel and found the left-hand corner of Cech's goal, the keeper partially unsighted by Cahill.
Carlos Tevez, on for the outstanding Rodwell early in the second half, confirmed the result late on with a fine finish after smooth link-up play from Aguero and Silva.
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