Chelsea kept their title dreams alive on Sunday with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Manchester City.

Chelsea close to within four points of Manchester United

Chelsea kept their title dreams alive on Sunday with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Manchester City. A solitary strike from Michael Essien, on his first Premier League start since regaining full fitness, proved to be enough to secure the points and keep Guus Hiddink's unbeaten record intact. On a glorious afternoon in West London it took less than two minutes for the hosts to find the back of net. Frank Lampard's early effort was chalked off by a linesman's flag, but it offered an early warning to City. Mark Hughes' men failed to learn their lesson, though, with Nicolas Anelka and Ricardo Carvalho going close before Essien forced the breakthrough on 17 minutes. The Ghanaian midfielder was left wide open on the edge of the box and, after being spotted by a Lampard free-kick, looped the ball over the stranded Shay Given in spectacular style. Felipe Caicedo did scuff a good opportunity narrowly wide on a rare occasion City threatened, but Petr Cech remained untested at the break. Chelsea began the second half much the brighter and were unfortunate not to build on their lead. Didier Drogba was proving to be a constant menace and was only stopped from keeping his fine scoring run going by some fantastic defending from Nedum Onuoha and an impressive reflex stop by Given. City did pose more of an attacking threat as the game wore on, but it was Hiddink's side who came closest to forcing a second. Anelka drilled into the side-netting after bursting into the box and substitute Florent Malouda saw a low drive hacked off the line by Richard Dunne as the clock ticked down.

Lucky

City were lucky to remain on level terms in the opening two minutes when Lampard's goal was ruled out for offside. The England midfielder flicked the ball beyond Given from six yards but his effort was disallowed by referee Mike Riley. City had plenty of early possession but despite their intricate approach play, there was little penetration. In the 13th minute Carvalho rose highest in the City penalty area to meet a corner from Lampard but the Portugal international sent his glancing header wide of the target. But Chelsea went ahead through Essien's second goal in as many games in the 17th minute. City's Stephen Ireland brought down Anelka midway in his own half and Lampard made the most of the free-kick by passing the ball to Essien on the edge of the penalty area. The Ghanaian international, starting only his second game since damaging knee ligaments on international duty last September, hit a first time shot beyond the flatfooted Given to put the Blues in front. City were being outfought as well as outplayed and their frustration was evident as referee Riley had to speak to Elano and Michael Ballack after the pair clashed off the ball. Elano's feud with Ballack erupted again in the 29th minute when the City midfielder upended the Germany international.

Penalty

Riley quickly showed the City player a yellow card and advised him to calm down. Essien tried his luck again on the half hour but this time he screwed his low drive wide of Given's left hand upright. A minute later Chelsea felt they should have had a penalty when Anelka appeared to be brought down by Onuoha but Riley ignored their appeals. Chelsea should have added a second when they carved City open in the 36th minute. A fabulous move, started by