Adebayor 37           Adebayor (og) 8

                                                                                          Tevez 56

Chelsea’s lead at the top of the EPL was cut from five points to two as Manchester City did their city rivals a favour, and boosted their own top-four prospects, with this stirring victory.

A remarkable match contained that rare species, a saved Frank Lampard penalty, Irish international keeper Shay Given the hero as Chelsea’s frantic late search for an equaliser looked to have borne fruit.

It was Lampard’s first failure from the spot in over three years and the result ended Chelsea’s run of eight consecutive victories over City,

Carlo Ancelotti’s men probably played well enough to deserve a share of the spoils. However, the one goal they did score was a freakish own goal, which put them ahead on eight minutes. 

Given had already denied Didier Drogba when an incorrectly-awarded corner caused panic in the City defence, with Branislav Ivanovic and Nicloas Anelka both forcing saves.

Unfortunately Given’s second block hit the back of Emanuel Adebayor and rebounded into the net.

City’s leveller, eight minutes before the break, also came from a fortunate rebound, Shaun Wright-Phillips’ drive from outside the area cannoning off Micah Richards into Adebayor’s path and the striker equalising his own effort with a left-foot shot.

The ball clearly struck Richards on his arm, sparking furious appeals from Chelsea players. But the handball was clearly unintentional and referee Howard Webb adjudged it to be so.

City went ahead on 56 minutes when Carlos Tevez drilled a free-kick past the defensive wall, wrong-footing Chelsea keeper Petr Cech who was beaten low to his left.

Lampard squandered the chance to equalise from the spot after 82 minutes, after Drogba had been felled by Nedum Onuoha, Given diving to his right to make the save.

And Drogba missed another fine chance on 86 minutes, sliding his right-foot shot wide from ten yards and dashing Chelsea’s hopes of a point.