After the disappointment of the San Siro its back to the cut an thrust of the premiership on a day when more column inches and TV news minutes were given to the possibility of a handshake than the reality of a devastating earthquake.
That said there was a football match to play as well and unfortunately the Blues didn't show up. With Malouda in at left back, the iffy Hilario between the sticks (when will Ross Turnbull actually get a real game) and Joe Cole up front with Anelka and Drogba it still looked a pretty strong line up. After going ahead in the 40th minute things just fell apart - conceeding two goals either side of the break, some odd substitutions (Joe Cole wasn't great but Ballack was worse) anjd even shoddier defending consigned us to to a painful home defeat and worse still left the door ajar for Man U and Arsenal.
The 'in game' tweets are shown below
Pre Match - An earthquake in Chile or a handshake at the Bridge. The one that's getting the most news coverage @ present shows the sad state of UK press
Small matter of a football match today. Man City at home with 1st choice no left or right back, no keeper & limited midfield options. Its getting tough
Malouda starts at left back & JT sports a dodgy mohawke. Joe Cole joins Drog and Nic up top & the Jedi holds. OMG a handshake - just joking
13:08 - A sluggish opening 20mins is punctuated by a thunderous drive from Malouda on 10mins that flys just over. Man City are set out to frustrate.
13:26 - Lamps finds the Drog with a miss hit on 35mins but he shoots over. 5mins later Joe Cole slots Lamps thru & he slots home past Given for 1-0
13:30 - It lasts precisely 3mins as Mikel misses a simple header and Tevez wriggles past JT and Ricky to then scuff a shot past Hilario. Its 1-1
13:50 - No changes at 1/2 time tho Carlo must have been fuming. It's worse after 5mins as a Blues attack breaks down & Bellamy breaks & slots home.
14:05 - An hour gone - SWP on for City, Sturridge & Belletti replaces the hapless Mikel & Joe Cole. It makes no difference so Kalou's on for Ricky
14:20 - With 15mins left its an inevitable penalty against us from Mike Dean with a red for Belletti to boot. The Troll makes it 3-1 and game over
14:25 - Ballack clatters the Troll from behind & he's off so the Blues are down to 9men with 10mins to go. Home record gone and the league... ???
14:32 - Bellamy makes it 4-1 on a 2 vs 5 break from the half way line. It means nothing against 9men tho goal difference might be an issue in May
14: 26 - 5mins of injury time and Lamps converts a penalty to make it 4-2. Helps the goal difference but not much else. Man U & the Arse are smiling.
So Carlo has a lot of work to do with a missfiring side and only limited resources available - no Cech, Bozzy, Ess, Cole, Zhirkov or Deco and now suspensions for belletti and Ballack (the latter being no great loss in my booK). A tough andx phyisical FA Cup quarter final awaits before a derby day visit of West Ham and the the small mater of Jose and Inter.
Its gonna be a tough month or so - Come on u Blues !!
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