A sixth win in seven Guus Hiddink games moved Chelsea back into second place of the Barclays Premier League on Sunday.

It was an early Michael Essien goal on his league return that provided the win to take us back above Liverpool, who were 4-1 winners at Manchester United on Saturday.

Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack and Florent Malouda were all close to extending the lead, but in the end one goal was enough. It was Hiddink's fourth 1-0 win as Chelsea coach.

Essien was making his first league start since August, while Deco and Ricardo Carvalho were recalled having been absent from the starting eleven since January.

For Manchester City, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Wayne Bridge were making their first returns to the Bridge since departing, while in the dugout manager Mark Hughes received a warm Chelsea welcome.

The Blues kicked off attacking the Shed End in bright sunshine, and quickly had the ball in the net only for Frank Lampard's effort to be ruled out by the linesman's flag.

Some crisp passing involving Essien, Deco and Didier Drogba created the next opportunity, but Nedum Onuoha arrived in time to hack over his own crossbar. Two corners followed, the first saw a Lampard effort deflected wide and from the second Ricardo Carvalho headed off target

This clearly brought some confidence to Chelsea's attack, yet few would still have dared that combination that led to the opening goal. Lampard zipped a free-kick in with pace towards the edge of the City area, where Essien was waiting to send a first-time half-volley spinning over Shay Given's head and into the net.

It was a stunning way to mark a return to league action, and followed up Tuesday's goal in Turin. Essien's rehabilitation work has been committed, but few would have expected target practice to be part of the recovery. Moments later he showed he had lost none of the bite for which he is so renowned with a crunching tackle on Elano in the centre-circle.

City struggled to respond. Bridge advanced down the left beyond Michael Ballack and crossed low for the waiting Felipe Caicedo, who turned well but shot wide, in what was their only memorable attack of the first half-hour.

Chelsea could have had a penalty when Onuoha challenged Anelka, and should have had a second goal when Ballack won possession in the City half and Lampard and Drogba combined to send the German one-on-one with Given, but rather than find the net, Ballack side-footed wide of the keeper's left-hand post. It was however another example of some incisive Chelsea passing.

At the other end Robinho finally got involved when he took control of a loose ball and shot low. With Petr Cech beaten, it fell to José Bosingwa to clear off the line.

Five minutes before the break Deco again looked to be struggling with a hamstring injury, and so Guus Hiddink replaced him with Juliano Belletti. Anelka moved out to the left while the Brazilian slotted in on the right, tucking inside to help his midfield.

Two minutes into the second period Onuoha was again involved inside his own penalty area, but timed his tackle on Drogba perfectly, preventing a near certain goal. Moments later Anelka rifled just wide from outside the area.

Drogba came closer still on 51 minutes, forcing Given into a superb reflex stop from close range after Bosingwa threaded him through. Credit too should go to Lampard whose first-time pass had found the full-back galloping forward.

City forced a corner and were then given a free-kick to the right of the Chelsea area when John Terry upended Elano. The Brazilian stepped up himself, but sent the shot straight into the wall and Bosingwa cleared.

As the hour-mark passed Essien was showing no signs of flagging like he had done at Juventus in midweek. It was his burst that allowed Belletti to play a one-two before continuing forward and shooting low against a City post.

A second Chelsea goal looked on the cards, but Hiddink's men have developed a habit of winning games 1-0, and this would be no different.

The removal of Drogba, more than a handful for City all afternoon, meant Anelka would be the main threat with Florent Malouda deployed on the left.

City continued to search, and Valeri Bojinov's snapshot could have caught out a lesser goalkeeper than Cech, who adjusted his footing well and held the volley. The Bulgarian had replaced Robinho shortly before his chance, the winger having had a miserable afternoon, compounded by a heavy challenge from Lampard, which left him limping.

In the last five minutes Malouda hit the side netting before seeing Dunne clear a second effort off the line, while Lampard shot wide.

City attempted to throw some late long balls into the box in an attempt to win an unlikely point, but never looked like breaking through. It means we go four points behind United at the top of the table, but the leaders retain a game in hand.

Next up is a London derby at Tottenham on Saturday, which could see the gap closed to just one point as we head into the closing stages of the campaign.

By Andy Jones

Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Bosingwa, Carvalho, Terry (c), A Cole; Essien, Ballack, Lampard; Anelka, Drogba (Malouda 70), Deco (Belletti 40).

Goal Essien 17

Manchester City (4-1-4-1): Given; Richards, Dunne (c), Onuoha, Bridge; Zabaleta; Wright-Phillips, Elano (Etuhu 65), Ireland, Robinho (Bojinov 80); Caicedo (Evans 54).

Booked Elano 28, Evans 74