CHELSEA 1-1 MAN CITY: Lampard makes controversial return but it is advantage Mourinho in title race after Stamford Bridge draw

So there will be no title decided in January. Innate caution won the day over decisive risk taking, as was perhaps predictable. In short, the spectacle did not fit the billing. Not even the return of Frank Lampad to Stamford Bridge for the final 15 minutes of the game, could inject the necessary drama or create a fantastic finale. Chelsea and Manchester City both live to fight another day after. The winter slog will go on and the warm spring of title celebrations still seems some way off.In the end, Manuel Pellegrini, five points adrift, had much to lose, though his side created the better chances and for the final 10 minutes it was they who sought the winner. Jose Mourinho was, of course, content. ‘What we have, we hold,’ might well be his mantra and a five-point lead going into February will suit just fine 

City again edged the contest for much of the second half. They sat in Chelsea’s half – not especially threatening much, but they held their position. And with a header into the ground which bounced upwards, Fernandinho required Courtois to make a smart save, tipping the ball over on 56 minutes.

Chelsea wee retreating. They started the game with a five-point lead and they appeared to believe that would be enough for now. Their ambition became increasingly neutered, limited to the odd excursion towards City’s goal. 

Such is their fortitude though that City could manager to create very little of consequence. There was a Fernandinho shot on 68 minutes, which came after Ramires was dispossed, but Courtois collected that easily enough. With Frank Lampard warming up, the intensity increased. The moment arrived on 75 minutes, when Manuel Pellegrini summoned Lampard to strip off and prepared to bring him on. Much of Stamford Bridge applauded - a few booed – but the deed was done and Lampard was on , committed to upsetting his old club as he had back in the autumn at The Eithad.

Both sides were extremely well organised; both, we know, are excellent; both fully understood the magnitude of the occasion. And, of course, the combination of those factors did not induce the glorious festival of football the occasion, or at least the hype, demanded.

The opening exchanges were tetchy, tight. Manchester City perhaps were marginally more impressive. Solid in their set up as David Sliva buzzed around in midfield, they looked somewhat better than their form had suggested they might be. Kurt Zouma, surprisingly selected in front of Gary Cahill, put his pace to good effect on 17 minutes, producing a superb tackle to deny Sergio Aguero 

But Chelsea predictably surrendered no ground and afforded little space. Like cautious heavyweight boxers in the early rounds, no-one was ready to risk all.

Mistakes did creep in, however. Perhaps the players really bought into the idea that this was a title decider as normally consistent players were making uncharacteristic slips. It started on 24 minutes, when Branislav Ivanovic lost possession to James Milner, a mistake which required Thibaut Courtois to parry a save from Aguero. Then it was Vincent Kompany losing out to Loic Remy, who was standing in for Diego Costa and who raced down the right, crossed for Oscar, whose shot forced a Joe Hart save.

On 32 minutes, John Terry joined the comedy of errors. Chelsea, busy appealing for a penalty, were caught out by a long ball which saw Terry slip and Aguero break clear. The Argentinian should have scored but pulled the ball wide.

On 42 minutes though Chelsea would prise City open with a quite delightful lofted ball from Branislav Ivanovic which found Eden Hazard in space on the far left. The Belgian delivered an exquisite first-time cross but for some reason Vincent Kompany, perhaps fearful of turning it into his net, appeared half-hearted as he slid in to block. As such, he let the ball through to Remy, who had the simplest task in turning it in. Kompany punched the ground in frustration, acknowledging his error.

Chelsea looked set. From such positions, teams coached by Mourinho rarely surrender. Yet with three minutes they had. This time it was Courtois who had an aberration of form, flapping at a Jesus Navas cross in a wholly unconvincing fashion. Perhaps he was distracted by Milner jumping to meet the cross, but the ball fell to Aguero, who shot and saw Silva turn his strike into the net.