Draw preserves Chelsea’s five-point lead

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Chelsea 1 Manchester City 1

Chelsea remain five points clear of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League after the two sides drew at Stamford Bridge.

Loic Remy, in for the suspended Diego Costa, raised hopes of a win that would have taken the Blues eight clear when he scored on 41 minutes.

But second-placed City hit back through David Silva’s equaliser just before the interval and worried Jose Mourinho’s team in the second half.

The hosts went ahead when Branislav Ivanovic crossed to Eden Hazard, whose low ball across the face of goal enabled Remy to take his tally for the season to five.

But Chelsea, who were without the injured Cesc Fabregas, were pegged back when Silva diverted Sergio Aguero’s shot into the net after Thibaut Courtois had failed to clear Jesus Navas’ cross.

City had threatened during a frenetic start and Aguero had their best early chance.

After Chelsea appealed in vain for a penalty for a handball by Martin Demichelis, City cleared and John Terry misjudged the long ball, allowing Ageuro through on goal only for the striker to shoot wide.

Earlier, Chelsea keeper Courtois kept out a strike from Navas and rare mistakes by Ivanovic twice almost led to a City goal.

Fernandinho’s deflected shot flew just wide after Ivanovic had given the ball away and the Serbian defender found himself in trouble again when James Milner robbed him and teed up Aguero, whose effort was parried by Courtois.

Chelsea began to get a foothold in the game and Terry sent a header wide before they eventually broke the deadlock.

But City responded swiftly and the second half was a tepid affair, although Courtois was called upon again, this time to palm Fernandinho’s shot over the bar.

Chelsea legend Frank Lampard came on for City with 14 minutes remaining and was given a rousing welcome by the majority of the home crowd, despite some Blues fans being unhappy that he shelved an expected move to New York City to instead spend the season with his former club’s title rivals.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Courtois; Ivanovic, Zouma, Terry, Azpilicueta; Matic, Ramires; Oscar (Loftus-Cheek 90), Willian (Drogba 80), Hazard; Remy (Cahill 87).
Subs not used: Cech, Ake, Christensen, Brown.

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