Premier League Results: Bad times at the Bridge as Chelsea come off the rails

Premier League / Joe Dyer / 27 February 2010 / Leave a Comment

Carlos Tevez celebrates after equalising at Stamford Bridge

"In a tumultuous second half, the Premier League title favourites had two men sent off and conceded three more goals as their afternoon turned very sour. City, so out of form recently, were backed at [46.0] to pull off the win that gives them a rare double over Chelsea."

Four goals conceded and two men sent off - the numbers don't add up to a Chelsea win in a dramatic game at Stamford Bridge

The headlines were written early in the Premier League today when leaders Chelsea crashed at home to Manchester City in a game that had just about everything.

A late first half goal for Frank Lampard seemed to set the Blues on their way and punters were willing to back a halftime lead for the home team at [1.01], but a tenacious run and scuffed shot from Carlos Tevez made it level and hinted that the afternoon would not go in Chelsea's favour.

In a tumultuous second half, the Premier League title favourites had two men sent off and conceded three more goals as their afternoon turned very sour. City, so out of form recently, were backed at [46.0] to pull off the win that gives them a rare double over Chelsea.

Craig Bellamy gave Stamford Bridge its first shock of the second half with a run and shot across Hilario's line that somehow beat the keeper at his far post. And with the home side putting the pressure on, Tevez dispatched a penalty when Juliano Belletti was judged to have fouled Gareth Barry.

With the Blues chasing the game Michael Ballack was the second man to see red for a silly challenge on Tevez. After that it was just left to Bellamy to put the cherry on the cake with his second and City's fourth, though Lampard put away a penalty to reward backers of over 5.5 goals at [50.0].

The result knocks Chelsea's title challenge and from odds-on, they now trade at [2.62] to win the title. Following the match, Manchester United are [2.62] to regain their crown while Arsenal are [4.3] in the market. City are [2.3] for a top four finish.

Aaron Ramsey's awful injury overshadowed Arsenal's 3-1 win at Stoke. The Welsh winger will be out for some time after a challenge by Ryan Shawcross left him with a serious injury. players from both sides were distraught as Ramsey was taken from the field into a waiting ambulance.

Two late goals took the Gunners to within three points of Chelsea at the top of the table and rewarded their in-running backers at [3.65].

Down at the bottom of the table, Portsmouth gained a much-needed three points with a 2-1 win at Burnley. The south coast club entered administration yesterday and are likely to be docked nine points for their financial mismanagement.

Betfair backers got a high of [6.4] in-running on a Pompey victory which was achieved via a second half Hassan Yebda penalty after the teams traded early goals. Burnley, on a desperate run under new manager Brian Laws, are [1.44] to go down.

Wigan missed a chance to break clear of their fellow relegation battlers when they went down 1-0 at Birmingham. Roberto Martinez's men are [4.8] to be playing Championship football next year.

Bolton eased their worries with a 1-0 win over Wolves at the Reebok. The Trotters are [6.0]in the relegation market, Mick McCarthy's men have more to fear though, Betfair layers are offering [2.26] on the Molyneux outfit going down.