MANCHESTER City's new-found wealth could not prevent defeat at the hands of Chelsea despite a debut goal for Brazilian star Robinho.

The forward scored with a free-kick after just 11 minutes, but the visitors responded with strikes from Ricardo Carvalho, Frank Lampard and Nicolas Anelka.

John Terry was sent off after 77 minutes for a professional foul on Jo, but the Blues  could not take advantage.

Given the amazing events of the last fortnight at what has now been dubbed ’Middle Eastlands’ by the City support, it was perhaps no surprise £32.4m Robinho should make the perfect start.

Carvalho was unhappy at the free-kick in the first place as Jo hit the deck and Petr Cech was clearly agitated at the way his wall failed to take shape as he requested.

It just added to the theatre as Robinho ushered away all his team-mates, before reintroducing Vincent Kompany as a token presence. He then took aim and calmly stroked the ball into the corner.

There was nothing too elaborate about his reaction, just a gleeful run towards the halfway line, thumb in mouth, before being mobbed by ecstatic team-mates.

With Shaun Wright-Phillips - on his home debut after returning from Chelsea for under half the £21million that took him to London in the first place - keeping the visitor’s defence on their toes with some mazy runs, all seemed set for an evening of celebration.

Unfortunately for the hosts, their lead lasted just three minutes as Terry leapt for Frank Lampard’s corner, saw his header strike Joe Cole and the rebound falling invitingly for Carvalho, who promptly lashed it into the roof of Joe Hart’s net.

Cushioned

It was the start of a sobering period for City, who were outplayed for long periods, with Robinho becoming largely anonymous.

Florent Malouda saw his cushioned header bounce back off the bar, then Anelka wasted an excellent opportunity from Pablo Zabaleta’s poor clearance as Deco’s influence started to spread.

City were restricted to rare sights of goal, although Jo could easily have profited from one as his curling shot flew over after striking Carvalho.

Having established a loose stranglehold on the contest, Chelsea tightened their grip within eight minutes of the restart.

Lampard had already gone close once after Joe Cole’s shot had been deflected into his path but City failed to heed the warning, offering their opponents far too much space down the middle of the field.

The move took Chelsea deep inside home territory and after skipping on to Florent Malouda’s pass, Lampard surged past Richard Dunne before burying his shot into the bottom corner.

Stephen Ireland and Wright-Phillips created chances for each other but were unable to take them as City tried to find a way back into the contest, Carvalho excelling on both occasions.

And 20 minutes from time, Chelsea produced the killer blow as Joe Cole sent Anelka clear with a fine pass. With only Hart to beat once more, this time Anelka made no mistake, slipping the ball under the advancing City keeper.

The drama was not over though, and Terry’s professional foul was clear enough after Deco sold the England skipper short with a lay-off and Jo was wrestled to the ground.

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