LATE GOALS from Samir Nasri and Sergio Aguero ensured Manchester City kept their 100 per cent home Premier League record.

But Chelsea, the first team to beat Roberto Mancini's team in a pulsating Stamford Bridge encounter last December, seemed more the victims of an overload of big matches than any attacking genius from the championship challengers.

Chelsea started with the in-form Fernando Torres, electing to leave power such as Didier Drogba, Michael Essien and Daniel Sturridge on the bench.

As with the corresponding fixture at Stamford Bridge, City started strongest. Inside the first 10 minutes, David Silver had ballooned the ball over the bar from a goalscoring location, and Samir Nasri had chipped Petr Cech to hit the bar.

But City failed to deliver the sort of onslaught that saw them take the lead early on in that game last December, and did not get another chance until Mario Balotelli's shot wide of goal on the half hour.

Both teams looked below par: and the first half finished without any goals, or much entertainment value.

Things wound-up a modicum in the second half: when City switched Balotelli for Gareth Barry. The home side looked slightly more substantial in attack, and Nasri again went close with a bar-grazing crossed shot.

With half an hour to play, and just when it looked like Chelsea were playing for a point: they took the lead. A Chelsea corner found Fernando Torres, but he could only head down to David Luiz.

The Brazilian got nowhere in his approach, and that is when Gary Cahill (pictured) popped up with a thumping goal-ward shot, in off Yaya Toure's heel.

But the lead was not to last. With 13 minutes to play, Pablo Zabaleta scooped the ball up in the box. Michael Essien, off the bench to beef-up Chelsea's resolve, was caught hands aloft: and following contact, Mike Dean could only point at the spot.

Sergio Aguero sent Petr Cech the wrong way with a practically un-saveable penalty.

Moments later, City made it two. Nasri, a threat all evening, touched to sub Carlos Tevez, sprinted through, collected the ball back, and punted past Cech.

Roberto Di Matteo's four game winning start comes to an end. But, with John Terry rested and the big guns benched, there was always a suspicion they took on this fixture with at least on eye on Saturday's visit of Spurs.

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