Essien magnificent as Chelsea beat Manchester City

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Guus Hiddink continued his 100 per cent run in the Premier League.

New Delhi: Guus Hiddink continued his 100 per cent run in the Premier League as his side comfortably dispatched Manchester City. Michael Essien opened the scoring early in the first half and Chelsea never looked like conceding.

The 'clash of the cash' saw Mark Hughes' Manchester City travel to Stamford Bridge to take on Guus Hiddink's Chelsea side, that held a 100 per cent record in the Premier League under the Russian national coaches tenure. The fixture pitted two of the most prolific attacks in the league against each other, though the Citizens have conceded 20 more league goals than the Pensioners.

Chelsea has the ball in the net within 90 seconds. Nicolas Anelka, playing from the right flank, crossed the ball into the centre and it was cleared only as far as Michael Essien who hooked the ball goal wards. Frank Lampard, on the shoulder of the last defender, flicked past the diving keeper, but the Chelsea midfielder was just offside. It was an early warning for the Citizens.

Manchester City responded through Felipe Caicedo in the 6th minute, Micah Richards contested with Ashley Cole on the right flank and squared to Caicedo on the edge of the 18yard box. The Ecuadorian rasped a curling drive just wide of Petr Cech's right-hand post on the turn. It was a good effort by the powerful forward.

Robinho, roundly booed by the home support, picked up the ball on the left flank in the 10th minute. Teasing Jose Bosingwa with his tantalising step overs he then released Wayne Bridge who had made a beautiful overlapping run in behind his former clubs defence. Cech was quick off his line, though, and blocked Bridge's effort. The English full-back had been flagged offside anyway but it was good interplay by Mark Hughes' side.

Anelka then won a free-kick 45yards from goal, it seemed to be routine but a lovely piece of movement off his marker into the centre of the box by Essien was spotted by Lampard who played the ball to the Ghanaian. Essien hit the ball first time with the outside of his right boot, looping the ball over the stranded Shay Given and into the back of the net. Replays showed the ball actually came off his shin but it seemed to be deliberately executed. One-nil to Chelsea.

On the half-hour mark Chelsea had a decent penalty claim denied by referee Mike Riley. Lampard turned well infield and released Anelka down the right flank, as the French international entered the box he was wrestled down Nedum Onuoha. It was debatable but Anelka seemed bemused by the non-decision.

Five minutes later and Chelsea were rampant, tearing apart the Citizens defence. Micheal Ballack stole the ball from Stephen Ireland and it was picked up by Lampard, he played the ball into Didier Drogba who drove into the box. The Ivorian back-heeled for Ballack, who was charging into the penalty area, the German smashed the ball first time and his shot flew inches over the crossbar. It was a beautiful move that deserved a goal.

The second half started with a great opportunity for Chelsea to extend their lead. Essien split the Citizen's defence as he slotted through for Drogba, the Ivorian had to take a touch to control and that allowed Onuoha to recover and make a vital last ditch tackle. Essien was involved again minutes later as he supplied Anelka to strike from 20yards, the Frenchman's shot was just wide of the Given's left-hand post.

Chelsea were dominant, breaking on their opponents in the 51st minute. Bosingwa cut inside and drove at the City defence, he threaded Drogba through who took a touch and fired goal wards. Given was equal to the strike as he palmed the ball clear. In the 53rd minute Essien exchanged passes with Lampard and charged down the middle, striking from 25yards the Ghanaian watched his shot fly inches wide of Given's left-hand post.

The Pensioners came close again in the 62nd minute, substitute Juliano Belletti brought the ball forward and exchanged passes with Essien on the left before driving at the heart of the Citizen's defence. The Brazilian-born utility man was encouraged to shoot by the crowd and, accepting the invitation, duly rattled Given's right-hand post from 25yards.

Elano was withdrawn and replaced by Kelvin Etuhu, the Nigerian attacking midfielder had an immediate impact, picking the ball up on the right-hand side of the box and flashed a wayward drive across the penalty area. It went well wide.

Chelsea continued to press for a second but the Pensioners couldn't quite get the final pass right. They were doing a good job of containing the Citizens attacking line and this resulted in Robinho being withdrawn in the 80th minute, replaced by Valeri Bojinov. Soon after coming on the Bulgarian hit a shot on the turn from 18yards that was easily caught by Cech, it was the first shot on target for a disappointing Manchester City.

Shaun Wright-Phillips gave the ball away sloppily in midfield in the 85th minute, it was picked up by Anelka who played substitute Florent Malouda in on the left. The Frenchman ran goal wards and rattled the Citizen's net. Luckily for Given the tricky winger had only found the side netting and it remained one-nil.

Malouda had another opportunity moments later as the ball fell to him in the penalty area, his shot beat Given, sending him the wrong way as the Irish goalkeeper dived right. Fortunately for the Citizens Richard Dunne had managed to get back and cleared off the line.

As the final whistle drew closer it was the Pensioners that were looking more likely, Belletti played a teasing through ball behind Dunne for Anelka but the Frenchman didn't have the pace to get there and Dunne managed to shepherd the ball to Given.

The Pensioners closed out the game and it has been over four years since Manchester City have taken a point from Chelsea. The result sees Chelsea extend their run of clean sheets against the Citizens to 16 out of 24 Premier League games. Hiddink will be hoping that his sides good form will continue until the end of the campaign.