Chelsea 2-1 Stoke

Late goals from substitute Juliano Belletti and Frank Lampard spared Chelsea's blushes as they came from behind to beat a belligerent Stoke.

Rory Delap had earlier given City the lead, latching on to a James Beattie pass and chipping over Petr Cech.

But with three minutes to go Belletti popped up at the far post to head home a Franco Di Santo cross.

And deep into injury time Lampard lashed in a fierce drive from the edge of the area to earn Chelsea the win.

The ecstasy that greeted Lampard's winner, particularly the mobbing of manager Luis Felipe Scolari, was a clear expression of the spirit and unity that the Chelsea boss had called for from his players.

Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa (Belletti 78), Carvalho, Alex, Ashley Cole, Lampard, Mikel (Stoch 82), Ballack, Malouda (Di Santo 60), Anelka, Kalou.
Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Ivanovic, Mancienne, Kakuta.

Goals: Belletti 88, Lampard 90.

Stoke: Sorensen, Wilkinson, Shawcross, Abdoulaye Faye, Higginbotham (Griffin 34), Delap, Whelan, Amdy Faye (Pugh 28), Etherington (Kitson 83), Beattie, Cresswell.
Subs Not Used: Simonsen, Olofinjana, Lawrence, Sonko.

Booked: Amdy Faye, Kitson, Whelan.

Goals: Delap 60.

Att: 41,788

Ref: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).