19/05/2001  Manchester City 1 Chelsea 2
 
Chelsea ended their traumatic season on something of a high by qualifying for 
Europe for the fifth successive year.

Chelsea had expected much better when they began the season back in August. 
Reaching the quarter-finals of the Champions League and winning the FA Cup last 
year had raised hopes of a first League title success since 1955.

However, those hopes turned to dust almost straight away when Gianluca Vialli 
lost his job as manager after an opening run of just one win in five games.

Claudio Ranieri took over in September with the club languishing in 17th place 
and the Italian has slowly engineered a revival.

Most fans would happily have settled for sixth spot then and qualifying for 
the UEFA Cup represents some success on his part.

Dennis Wise put Chelsea on their way against relegated Manchester City at 
Maine Road when he scored only his third goal of the season in the 19th minute.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink backheeled John Terry's throw-in on the right to Wise 
on the edge of the area and the Chelsea skipper drove home right-footed into the 
bottom near corner.

The match threatened to boil over and Wise was booked along with Paul Dickov 
after the pair had clashed off the ball.

Hasselbaink then followed them into referee Mike Riley's notebook for a 
terrible challenge on Jeff Whitley and the City midfielder was stretchered off 
to be replaced by debutant Terry Dunfield.

Then in the 38th minute City hauled themselves level with their first proper 
shot on goal.

They won a disputed corner on the right and Mark Kennedy whipped the ball into 
the six-yard box where Steve Howey powered home a downward header to register 
his sixth goal of the campaign.

City grew in confidence and they twice nearly added a second before 
half-time.

First Shaun Goater's shot was deflected behind for a corner before Paulo 
Wanchope headed Dickov's corner narrowly wide.

Chelsea seemed content to settle for the point that would confirm European 
football next season.

Zola, though, had other ideas and he was determined to find a second goal. He 
beat City's flatfooted defence only to be halted by the assistant referee 
flagging for offside.

Undeterred the little Italian continued to probe for an opening and in the 
62nd minute he found Hasselbaink in some space in the middle and the Dutch 
international drove home his 23rd Premiership goal of the season from just 
outside the area.

City roused themselves into action and the home fans screamed in vain for a 
penalty for handball after Dickov's centre hit Celestine Babayaro.

Chelsea could have had a third and Jody Morris blazed over from a great 
opening on the right.

City refused to give in and manager Joe Royle sprang from his dug-out after he 
felt his side were denied a penalty in the 71st minute.

Wanchope played a lovely pass through to Goater and he appeared to be held 
back by Terry before Chelsea goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini could scoop up the ball.

Chelsea threatened again and when Wise missed Hasselbaink's pull back, Morris 
connected with a shot which was well saved by Carlo Nash at his left-hand post.

It was all proving too much for some City fans and after a couple of items had 
been thrown at - and missed - Wise, one supporter ran on the pitch to 
remonstrate with Riley before he was hauled away by two stewards.

Back came City and Dickov saw a shot deflected off the line following a 
goalmouth melee.

The game came to an abrupt end when Riley hurriedly blew for full-time as 
hundreds of fans ran on to the pitch.

The players ran towards the touchline, but Nash did not make it and he was 
mobbed by the Blues faithful and it was several minutes before he made it to the 
dressing room.

A chaotic end to a chaotic season for City.