MANCHESTER, England -- Chelsea delivered a potent mix of defensive resilience and effective counter-attacking in a 1-0 victory over Manchester City on Monday, neutralizing the Premier Leagues most rampant attack to provide a new twist in the title race. Fake Vans Slip-on . Branislav Ivanovic lashed home a fierce 25-yard shot in the 31st minute to end Citys 100 per cent winning record at home in the league and earn Chelsea the double over most pundits favourites for the title. The visitors could have won by more, hitting the goal frame three times and threatening almost every occasion they broke forward. It meant Arsenal returned to the top of the standings, with a two-point lead over City and Chelsea, in what is proving to be a thrilling title race. Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho continues to rule his evolving team out of contention, but few will take him seriously after this performance. "Two horses and a little horse," was Mourinhos description of the title race, which has 14 more matches to run. "A little horse that still needs milk and to learn how to jump. A horse that next season can race." City has been the leagues thoroughbreds this season, winning all 15 of its domestic home games and scoring 115 goals in all competitions. Arsenal, Manchester United and Tottenham -- among others -- have all been crushed at Etihad Stadium this season. A win here would have put six points between City and Chelsea -- to many, the second favourites for the title, despite Mourinhos protestations to the contrary -- but its all to play for now. "I think that for Chelsea it was a decisive game, but not for us," City manager Manuel Pellegrini said. Mourinho is renowned around the football world as the master defensive strategist. Few will forget how his Inter Milan side nullified Barcelona in the 2010 Champions League semifinal at the Camp Nou, while Chelsea has already ground out 0-0 draws at Manchester United and Arsenal this season. It was different here, though. Chelsea counter-attacked with such pace and purpose, and hounded Citys much-lauded ball-players into sloppy mistakes, that the visitors could easily have won by three goals. Samuel Etoo hit the bar and the excellent Nemanja Matic and Gary Cahill struck the post. Bayern Munich is the only team to have beaten City at Etihad Stadium this season and Chelseas supreme display had echoes of that dismantling in the Champions League back in September. It was the first time City failed to score at home in the league since November 2010 -- a streak of 61 matches. The home side badly missed injured top scorer Sergio Aguero but also holding midfielder Fernandinho, who was ruled out at the last minute with a muscle injury. Martin Demichelis -- a centre back -- filled in in central midfield and couldnt stop Chelseas midfielders running amok. "We love it -- we love the big games," said Mourinho, who revealed that he left the clubs masseur, Billy McCulloch, to do the pre-match team talk. "Obviously when you love it, maybe you feel extra motivated for that." Before Ivanovic put Chelsea in front, Ramires had a curling shot saved after running onto a pass from Willian, who had led a 4-on-1 attack on Citys beleaguered defence. The goal arrived soon after, with City captain Vincent Kompany diving to block Ramires shot but seeing the ball squirt out to Ivanovic, who drove a powerful first-time shot with his left foot into the bottom corner. And moments before halftime, Eden Hazard skirted round Pablo Zabaleta and crossed for Etoo to smash a shot against the top of the bar. Citys defensive frailties were being exposed but the hosts were also quiet -- by their standards -- going forward. Alvaro Negredo was virtually anonymous, although Pellegrini later said the striker wasnt 100 per cent, and the only attacking thrusts were provided by Yaya Toure, who curled one shot over, set up David Silva for a great chance that was glanced just wide and just missed a fizzing cross from Aleksandr Kolarov. Mourinho had City just where he wanted them -- and it almost got worse for Pellegrinis side when Matic strode forward and crashed a 30-yard effort against the post. Cahill then leapt to meet Willians corner with a header that cannoned off the post, further incensing the home crowd. City was reeling but finished strongly, with Silva denied by Petr Cech from a free kick then sidefooting wide from Kolarovs cross. And in the final seconds, substitute Stevan Jovetics long-range shot was tipped over by Cech. But Mourinho and Chelsea finally showed just how City can be stopped. Fake Vans Store . PAUL, Minn. Fake Vans Outlet . Then again, he really was at his home away from home. "It was nice to sleep in my own bed last night," Shields said after pitching Kansas City past the San Diego Padres 8-0 Wednesday. http://www.fakevans.com/fake-vans-sk8/ . - On the night Dirk Nowitzki overtook Dominique Wilkins on the career scoring list, Brandan Wright was a human highlight film all by himself.RUHPOLDING, Germany - The Czech Republic won a second successive World Cup womens biathlon relay in tough conditions on Wednesday.The Czech foursome also won the 4x6-kilometre event last week in Oberhof, Germany.Anchored by Veronika Vitkova, the Czechs mastered slushy conditions to beat Belarus and its star, three-time Olympic gold medallist Darya Domracheva, by 1 minute, 13.3 seconds.Germany had to race a penalty lap and finished third, 1:39.3 behind the winners.Evaa Puskarcikova, Gabriela Soukalova, Jitka Landova and Vitkova missed nine targets but avoided any penalty rounds. Fake Vans For Sale. Belarus missed six shots but also avoided any penalties.Germanys opener, Franziska Preuss, led the event but then missed the last target for the penalty lap.The Canadian team of Megan Heinicke (Prince George, B.C.), Julia Ransom (Kelowna, B.C.), Audrey Vaillancourt (Quebec City) and Zina Kocher (Red Deer, Alta.) finished 11th. ' ' '