Grant master plan hits City for six

A brace from Didier Drogba, which took his tally to four in the past three games, was supplemented by further goals from Michael Essien, Joe Cole, Salomon Kalou and Andriy Shevchenko as Chelsea ran riot.

It was their biggest win of the campaign - bigger than any they enjoyed under Jose Mourinho - and the manner in which they deconstructed a City team unbeaten in their previous six outings was both stylish and impressive.

Ironically, it was City who had started the game in a more positive fashion and Elano's delightful chip into the penalty area in the third minute almost put Stephen Ireland in the clear and Chelsea keeper Petr Cech was required to turn the ball around the post to deny the City striker.

But Chelsea fashioned the opening goal in the 17th minute with a well worked move. Mikel John Obi found Frank Lampard in space midway in the City half and the England midfielder wasted little time in putting the ball into the path of Essien who unleashed an angled drive that eluded City keeper Joe Hart and flashed into the far corner of the net.

City had Richard Dunne to thank for preventing Drogba from adding a second in the 24th minute when his deftest of touches took Joe Cole's cross away from the former Marseille striker on the six yard box.

But Drogba got it right on the half hour when Lampard split the City defence with an inch-perfect pass to the Ivorian who controlled the ball perfectly before drilling a low shot under Hart for his third goal in as many games.

Chelsea continued to play some sparkling football after the restart and were three-up in the 56th minute thanks to Drogba's fourth goal in three games. Kalou fed Lampard on the penalty spot and while the England midfielder's shot was brilliantly saved by Hart, Drogba reacted quicker than the City defence to smash home the loose ball.

Cole made it four in the 59th minute when the England midfielder finished off a three man move that was started in Chelsea's own half by an overhead clearance from Brazilian defender Alex. Drogba headed the ball into the path of Cole and he left the City defence behind before drilling a low shot into the net.

Chelsea made it five in the 75th minute when Essien's pass caught the City defence square and Kalou took his time before beating Hart with an angled shot into the far corner. Substitute Shevchenko completed the scoring in the dying seconds when he shot past Hart from Essien's pass.