Chelsea took advantage of the demolition work on the Liverpool to Manchester United back in second place in the Premier League with a 1-0 victory over Manchester City.

Chelsea are now just four points behind United after Michael Essien in the first half gave Guus Hiddink goal of overcoming a disappointing series in the city of Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea are fourth straight league win and remain unbeaten under Hiddink from the Dutch agreed to take charge of the side until the summer.

Although United have a game in hand on the Blues, who ensured Chelsea kept the pressure on the leaders with a typically combative victory that moved them ahead of Liverpool on goal difference.

City were lucky to stay on the level of openness in terms of minutes when Frank Lampard’s goal was ruled out for offside.

The England midfielder flicker ball beyond Shay Given from six meters, but his effort was rejected by referee Mike Riley.

City had plenty of early possession but despite their intricate approach play, there was little penetration.

In 13 minutes Ricardo Carvalho rose highest in the area of the city to comply with a penalty corner from Lampard, but the Portugal international sent his header wide view of the target.

But Chelsea went ahead through Essien in the second goal in as many games in 17 minutes.

City Stephen Ireland downed Nicolas Anelka midway in his own half and Lampard made the most of the free-kick past the ball to Essien on the edge of the penalty area.

The Ghana international, starting only his second game since damaging knee ligaments in the international law last September, met with a first time shot beyond Given flatfooted put the Blues in front.

The goal followed by a week of strike against Juventus in his victory in the Champions League in Turin.

Robinho, who joined the city in place of Chelsea last summer, was given a hard time by the home fans when the opportunity arises.

City were outplayed and outfought and their frustration was evident as referee Riley had to speak with Elano and Michael Ballack after the pair clashed off the ball.

Elano with Ballack’s feud erupted again in 29 minutes when City midfielder upended Germany international.

Riley quickly became apparent the City player a yellow card and advised him to calm down.

Essien tried his luck again on the half hour, but this time bolted from under his broad view of the left hand upright.

A minute later Chelsea should have taken the view that a penalty when Anelka seemed to be brought down by Riley Nedum Onuoha but ignored their calls.

Chelsea should have added a second when they open in the city cut the 36 minutes.

A fabulous trend, started by the ball to Lampard Didier Drogba, was almost brought to fruition by the Ivorian intelligent backup heel in the path of Ballack.

However, the German midfielder doubled his effort around the post with Given well beaten.

It was all Chelsea now and spend three minutes of class was delayed by Lampard Drogba crossed to the head.

At the other end of the cross-shot Robinho had to be disposed of safely in the rear relieved by right-back José Bosingwa Chelsea.

Deco, clearly still struggling with his long hamstring problem, was replaced by Juliano Belletti on 40 minutes.

Drogba made it two for Chelsea in 47 minutes, but stopped too long on a pass from Essien and Onuoha and Richard Dunne attended to him.

Moments later, the top scorer of Chelsea, Anelka sent a shot from 20 yards only to turn on the width of view of the right upright.

Chelsea were rampant now and in the 51 minutes a good pass from Drogba Bosingwa allowed to test with a view of the fierce right-foot drive which the City keeper did well to keep out near his post.

Two minutes later Essien collected a short pass from Lampard and ran towards goal before releasing the city from a low of 20 yards wide indicates that the drive of the target.

But in the 62nd minute of the wood prevented Chelsea increase their advantage.

Substitute Belletti played a pure exchange of passes with Essien before seeing his 20-yard shot rebound off the left hand view of upright.

Moments later, the city replaced with Elano Kelvin Etuhu and the substitute soon indicates an angle of the drive across the face of the Chelsea goal.

Worringly Chelsea, Drogba was clearly suffering from a stroke and was replaced by Florent Malouda in 69 minutes.

Chelsea continued to press for a second, but the songs were the highest reserved for Robinho when the Brazilian was substituted by the city.

Chants of “What a waste of money” sounded like it was replaced by Valeri Bojinov.

Captain Terry headed a Lampard corner over the bar and Malouda Dunne authorized an effort off the line as Chelsea continued to dominate in the final stages.

# Terry praise for Essien

Chelsea captain John Terry praised Michael Essien’s spectacular return from injury as Ghana scored the winner against Manchester City to move the Blues to second place in the Premier League.

Has fantastic”- Michael can do that, he is a machine absoluta”dijo Terry. ”Do you see your socks off work for six months in the gym, he returns from injury and shows his fitness with two goals in two games. To play as well as what it has done is fantastic.”

Essien admitted that his aim had been a bit of luck, but was pleased to have finally returned to the Premier League action.

He said:”It’s good to be back on the face and back with my team is great and looking forward to the rest of the season.”

Hiddink said Essien’s goal was simply an amazing performance bonus combative.

”It’s important to have it after months, to be in the team and make the best games, and that makes it more fuerte”dijo Hiddink. ”We have seen in some duels that he is using his strength and win duels. So it is good to play 90 minutes and if you can score a goal that is even better, as it has in the past two games.

Él”crecer physically, because you can work as hard as you want and demand in training but games that passion and that we need.”

Hiddink also admitted that Liverpool’s victory over Manchester United has opened the possibility of a thrilling climax to the season.

“If it is only four points that would be very close, but have that game in hand,” he said. “But it is clear that yesterday after the unexpected result that the voltage is back in the league. It’s an impulse. But if we find them, we have to keep winning. That will strain at the end of the season, which is good for everyone.

“From time to time is not expecting a defeat. Sometimes they do not expect at home because you have a beautiful album, then suddenly it happens.

“But they are a very experienced team. Let’s see how they react in the coming days. It is not the first time that has passed, but the big teams always react.

“I do not know what their reaction will be. When you’re in the driver’s seat and another person comes, you can get a little nervous. It’s a little more open now.”

Meanwhile, Terry reaffirmed its commitment to the club after the Blues’ victory over the potential suitors Manchester City, saying he wanted to see his career at Stamford Bridge.

”I can never let myself see Chelsea football club – I love this club”he said. ”I’ve been here since the age of 14 years and never want to leave.

I made a statement”because there was some speculation a few months ago and that’s what I’m putting in it – I do not want to leave Chelsea football club, simple as that.”

City boss Mark Hughes found himself having to justify the disappointing results with his team and £ 32 million for Robinho.

“It’s difficult at times away from home,” said Hughes. “It was difficult to get in the game. You have to give credit to the opposition to Robinho, they see as a threat to us and we will try to deny the space to have a positive impact.

“You can not expect just one player to carry the team. We have other players who are facing the plate and be counted. Robinho Today was the day.

“His performances have been generally good. It scored 11 goals in the Premier League and had a real impact for us. It was more difficult for us to reach him in the areas of punctuation, but they created a series of goals for us and is helping the team. Today was just one of those days when he could not have a positive effect on the side.

“She is under pressure every time you play and there is an expectation that every time he plays. But all of our attackers fought and it is unfair to draw him.

“Our attacking game can be a little slow. We’re an attack-minded team, but we did not have that sharpness that you need when you encounter one of the major parties.

“I think that just seemed a little Leggy today. The difference in preparation time told in the end. The fact that we were missing key personnel and not give us that spark or dynamic game that we’ve had in recent weeks.

“We shut down briefly for the purpose granted. At that time, Chelsea are very comfortable to protect that lead, not to ask enough questions of them, as they lacked that spark.”