There was still time for one final chance

For the first time this season Chelsea lost their discipline and composure.The team that had looked like champions elect last week at the Emirates, unravelled and succumbed to the enterprise of the players donned in light blue. One candidate for man of the match was Sean Wright-Phillips who continued in the same vein of electric form that had terrorised the Arsenal defence in the Carling Cup last Wednesday. He needlessly followed through on a clearance, leaving his mark on Tevezs back. A free kick was duly awarded.The Argentine remained focused as Adebayor and Essien tangled in the organisation of the wall. It sent most of the 47,000 fans in the stadium into a trance of delirium.The remainder of the game was marred by consistent fouling from both teams. Ancelotti went for the jugular as he introduced Beletti and Mikel in search of an equaliser.Eight minutes from time Chelsea earned a penalty when City substitute Onuoha felled Drogba inside the area. Lampard assumed the duty of restoring parity in the match. Lampard aimed his spotkick to the left of Given but the Irish international denied Chelsea the equaliser they craved, diving to his right and blocking the balls route to the net.There was still time for one final chance. Drogba bustled his way past the City defence, leaving Barry in his wake but for once the striker dragged his shot the wrong side of the post.

The careless finish came much to the relief of the packed City of Manchester Stadium.City clung on to claim the three points and will seek to realign the train tracks leading them to Europe. Meanwhile Chelsea were left bitterly aggrieved at what they felt were poor referring decisions.It all means that Manchester United have closed the gap to two points thanks to a 4-0 drubbing of West Ham United as we approach the hectic festive period.Manchester City: Given, Richards (Onuoha 69), Touré, Lescott, Bridge(Kompany 76), Wright-Phillips, De Jong, Barry, Robinho, Tevez, Adebayor.Chlesea : Cech, Ivanovic, Carvalho (Belletti 63), Terry (Malouda 88), A Cole, Essien, Ballack (Mikel 64), Lampard, Deco, Drogba, Anelka.Man of the Match: A toss up between Shay Given and Sean Wright-Phillips but the Irishman deserves his plaudits thanks to his penalty save and some crucial blocks in the first half.. Everything on the campus of Pittsburgh was rosy two weeks ago. They were 9-1 and riding a six-game winning streak, most recently a 27-22 victory over Notre Dame. The next two games on their schedule matched them with unranked West Virginia and with fifth-ranked Cincinnati.A win over WVUguaranteed at least the Gator Bowl, and win over Cincyguaranteed a BCS bowl.

A win over both would have helped to produce one of their best seasons since Marino was in town.They got off the bus at Morgantown, but somehow the offense never quite joined the party until it was too late...9-2.Well no problem Simply beat the Bearcats, and a BCS Bowl is next. For a while the Orange Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, maybe even Sugar Bowl, looked like a guarantee. Pitt was moving the ball at will, while Cincinnati was floundering.Bill Stull had just connected with Johnathan Baldwin on a 40-yard touchdown pass to give Pitt a 21-10 lead and their third TD in as many drives. A Tony Pike interception then lead to a FG, while a blocked punt then led to a TD.