Chelsea 2-1 Man City
Frank Lampard scores Chelsea's winner from the spot. Picture - Reuters.

Chelsea ensured they remain in the title race with a comeback 2-1 win over league leaders Manchester City, who were reduced to ten men, in an action-packed Premiership encounter on Monday.

Mario Balotelli's 2nd minute goal, after being let through by Kun Aguero, set Man City on their way to a dominant first 20 miuntes in which they could have doubled their lead, in the least.

Chelsea survived and gradually came into their own. Raul Meireles equalized when he got to the end of a Daniel Sturridge cross with ten minutes remaining in the first half.

Gael Clichy's red card midway througth the second half, for two bookable offences, changed the game and Chelsea sensing opportunity surged forward. With 8 minutes remaining, Sturridge's shot was handled in the box by Joleon Lescott, giving the Blues the opportunity to take the lead.

Frank Lampard, impressing after coming on for Meireles, stepped up and smashed it through the middle to give the home side an important win, which made the title race more open.