Chelsea now only lead the Premiership by two points as they lost 2-1 at Manchester City in a tempestuous encounter. Fortune smiled on Chelsea when they took the lead through an unfortunate own goal from Emmanuel Adebayor; the ball rebounding over the line from the Togo international's back.
But justice was done as City levelled before the break, this time Adebayor getting his bearings right and scoring in the correct goal.
Chelsea were incensed the strike stood as they felt Micah Richards had handled in the build up.
Soon after half time a resurgent City took the lead courtesy of a Carlos Tevez 20-yard free-kick.
The Blues had visited the North West on Wednesday in the Carling Cup and were unsuccessful at Blackburn Rovers, yet they had the opportunity to restore parity when they were awarded a penalty for a foul on Didier Drogba.
But Frank Lampard's woeful spot kick was easily saved by Shay Given to condemn Chelsea to a third Premier League defeat.
The game ended in a bad tempered fashion with the visitor's collecting six yellow cards.
The irony of course with this result is that the biggest beneficiaries of Chelsea's loss are City's cross town rivals Manchester United who close in on the Premier League summit.
