One wonders how much Demba Ba's obviously broken beak protected by a face mask swayed Andre Marriner's decision to award a penalty? The chatter after the Newcastle match was how Fabricio Coloccini was so stripped of humanity, a lifetime spent in purgatory would not be enough.
That was a phantom foul by Joe Hart on the Senegalese striker. Ba cut a tragic figure on the pitch looking very much like the Phantom of the Opera expecting a sympathetic reaction. Frank Lampard who is just about automatic from that distance could not believe his eyes when Joe Hart guessed correctly bringing off a magnificent save. A paradigm shift that could spark City's flagging hopes for a consecutive second league title? They need lots and lots of help from Man Utd. Nagannahappen.
David Silva came back to life and was the primary figure in harrying the Chelsea defense into submission with Yaya Toure a close second. Check out the big man's nimble feet and quick eye to spot daylight between Petr Cech and the far post and curl the ball into goal. Carlos Tevez, so underutilized this season, it feels like he's flitting back and forth between the real and the imagined, took advantage of Branislav Ivanovic's half hearted defending to lash the ball from distance. Nothing Cech could do about it. He was beaten by two superlative strikes.
Roberto Mancini reading his players the riot act worked. This was a complete show from the men in blue and given their half a billion spend, very workman like.
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