Chelsea keep pressure on at the top

Avram Grant's team got off to the perfect start by taking the lead after only six minutes when Nicolas Anelka swept the ball into the area and City skipper Richard Dunne toe-poked his attempted clearance beyond goalkeeper Joe Hart.

Chelsea kept up the pressure and Anelka scampered away in the 12th minute, but as he shaped to shoot, Nedum Onuoha made a crucial block.

At the other end, Michael Johnson, Martin Petrov and Benjani Mwaruwari threatened, before Gelson Fernandes found the arms of Carlo Cudicini with his 21st-minute effort.

Stephen Ireland had an effort blocked, Petrov saw a fierce drive superbly tipped away by Carlo Cudicini, then Ashley Cole hacked the ball off the line after Johnson's effort had been deflected to leave Cudicini stranded.

But Chelsea survived and doubled their lead within two minutes of Grant bringing on Joe Cole for Shaun Wright-Phillips in the 51st minute when Kalou latched onto a through-ball from Michael Essien and rounded Joe Hart to net his 11th goal of the season .

Anelka almost added a third in the 55th minute, only for his header to come back off the bar following a Frank Lampard cross.

City were forced to make a change in the 58th minute when Onuoha was carried off on a stretcher after suffering a shoulder injury in a fall.

Anelka got clear down the left in the 63rd minute and picked out Kalou, but his effort was blocked, before Petrov was off target with a free-kick.

However, the Blues held on against a side who are now in freefall - with just one win in seven games.