City arrived at the Bridge off the back of four consecutive victories, while the Blues were still coming to terms with the departure of Jose Mourinho a month earlier. Avram Grant was now in charge.

Wins away to Bolton and Middlesbrough and at home to Schalke in the Champions League, all without conceding, suggested the Blues were finding some form. Against City, we ignited with a complete display from first to last.

Michael Essien opened the scoring in the 16th minute with an accurate finish and we doubled our lead on the half-hour. A defence-splitting pass from Frank Lampard freed Didier Drogba to beat Joe Hart.

Drogba added a third early in the second half and Joe Cole made it 4-0, finishing with aplomb after being released by the Ivorian.

Salomon Kalou and sub Andriy Shevchenko converted passes from Essien as Chelsea blew a shellshocked City side away.

'We forgot how to defend,' admitted Eriksson afterwards. 'If you give a team like Chelsea space and time that will happen.'

In truth, City were lucky it was only 6-0 by the time the final whistle blew, so dominant had Chelsea been.