Manchester City fought back from a goal down to secure a 2-1 victory over Premier League leaders, ending the side’s run of draws in a game that saw Micah return to top form.
The result inadvertently hands City’s rivals Manchester United a boost, but Hughes will care not as he saw his side follow up their impressive 3-0 victory over Arsenal midweek with another energy-fuelled display against a top-four side.
Micah was right in form and he was involved from the off as Ashley Cole attempted to break clear but the 21-year old raced back to make the tackle.
Nigel De Jong got the first shot of the match away when he was teed up by Carlos Tevez but the ball flew wide, and Shay Given was called into action soon after as Didier Drogba coasted in from the left and forced the Republic of Ireland stopper into a save.
The atmosphere was electric but it dipped slightly as Carlo Ancelotti’s side grabbed the first goal. It was unfortunate both Emmanuel Adebayor, who inadvertently directed the ball into his own goal, and for Given who made two world-class saves to deny Nicolas Anelka and Branislav Ivanovic.
The ball bounced back up and on to the Togo international, finally finding its way into the back of the net, though Micah went close with a header from Gareth Barry’s cross which threatened to end the Chelsea fans’ celebrations.
Next to attack for City was the ever-increasing threat of Kolo Toure whose trademark drive forward, beating three Chelsea players on the way, wound up with a powerful drive which was straight at Petr Cech.
Likewise, the Czech Republic goalkeeper was positioned well to deny Shaun Wright-Phillips after the latter’s shot from a tight angle as City built up some real momentum going forward.
Micah had a header effort cleared away from the direction of the goal by Ricardo Carvalho much to the defender’s disappointment, but just a minute later City grabbed a much-coveted equaliser.
Cech was first to the corner but after Wright-Phillips had drilled the ball back in, it eventually found its way through to Adebayor who made amends for his earlier own goal to net from six-yards.
It was nothing more than they deserved and as the players trudged off for half-time the feeling was that the hosts had the upper hand.
It was much of a muchness when play resumed as Wright-Phillips burst beyond an increasingly dubious Ashley Cole and picked out Adebayor with his cross, but Cech was equal to the effort.
And the possession was finally turned into goals as Tevez curled home a free-kick from 20-yards to make it 2-1 to Hughes’ side, Joleon Lescott doing well to dodge the ball from his position close to the wall.
Drogba’s header flew just over moments later as Chelsea looked to follow Ancelotti’s instruction from the touchline, Cole’s shot superbly blocked by the imperious figure of Micah.
Ivanovic then went close with his own header before City were dealt a major blow when Micah limped off having sustained a knock to his knee, Nedum Onuoha coming on to replace his teammate.
Tempers began to fray as play reached the latter stages, and Drogba capitalised as Onuoha brought the Ivory Coast striker down in the penalty area to hand Chelsea an opportunity to level.
Much to the home support’s jubilation, however, Frank Lampard’s spot-kick was brilliantly blocked by Given, while Ivanovic missed another header at the death as City held out for the three points.
Hughes will be over the moon with his squad’s efforts as City capped over a key week in their season with three points over the Premier League leaders. And while Micha missed out on the final quarter of the match, his performance handed his critics with a firm answer about his potential and ability.
Teams
Man City: Given, Richards, Toure, Lescott, Bridge, De Jong, Barry, Wright-Phillips, Tevez, Robinho, Adebayor. Subs: Taylor, Onuoha, Zabaleta, Johnson, Santa Cruz, Petrov, Kompany
Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Carvalho, Terry, Ashley Cole, Essien, Ballack, Lampard, Deco, Drogba, Anelka. Subs: Hilario, Joe Cole, Mikel, Malouda, Zhirkov, Paulo Ferreira, Belletti
Goals:
Man City: Adebayor (37’), Tevez (56’)
Chelsea: Adebayor (8’ – OG)
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