DIDIER DROGBA landed himself at the centre of another storm as Chelsea tightened their grip on the title.

Two first-half goals from Drogba put the champions on the road to victory against a Manchester City team decimated by injuries. Drogba opened the scoring in the 30th minute - but it was his second of the game, three minutes later, which sparked another controversial episode at Stamford Bridge. The Ivorian clearly controlled the ball with his arm before smashing it past David James from close range.

Referee Rob Styles missed it, however, and City were furious - but their protests led to captain Sylvain Distin being sent off at half-time.

Drogba was involved in a similar incident last weekend at Fulham when he handled the ball before scoring. At Fulham, however, referee Mike Dean spotted the handball with the help of a linesman.

At Fulham, Chelsea also lost.

But that defeat never seriously threatened to derail their championship procession, and here was the proof.

Four wins are now needed from seven games for Chelsea to celebrate back-to-back Premiership titles.

Jose Mourinho preferred Eidur Gudjohnsen in midfield, ahead of Michael Essien and Drogba got the nod over Hernan Crespo up front.

Shaun Wright-Phillips was left out of the firing line by Mourinho and his brother Bradley Wright-Phillips started on the Manchester City bench despite a glut of injuries in Stuart Pearce's squad. Irishman Willo Flood played for the first time in City colours for more than a year. His last appearance was as a sub in the 2-1 defeat at Spurs last March. Flood, who has been on loan at Coventry this season, started on the right side of City's midfield.

City were the only team to beat Chelsea last season but the were seriously under pressure at Stamford Bridge from the start as Chelsea chased one of the five wins they needed before kick-off to retain their title. Drogba had the ball in the net in the fifth minute but it was rightly ruled out for offside. Gudjohnsen should have opened the scoring a minute later.

Frank Lampard released Gudjohnsen but he screwed his left-foot shot badly across the face of goal. And James tipped a piledriver from Ricardo Carvalho over the bar and then made a terrific save to deny Drogba.

The resistance of Pearce's men lasted 30 minutes before Drogba rifled the opener past James. Gudjohnsen found the Ivorian, who turned marker David Sommeil and lashed a left-foot drive beyond the City goalkeeper. It was Drogba's ninth league goal of the season, and he celebrated by kissing the Premiership champions badge on the sleeve of his shirt. Chelsea fans got the message.

Three minutes later, it was 2-0. It was Drogba again and it was controversial again.

James made a superb save from a powerful Terry header, but City did not clear the danger. Cole tried his luck from 25 yards. He was wildly off target, but Asier Del Horno got his head to the shot and diverted the ball into the goalmouth. It found Drogba, but he controlled it with his right arm before beating James from close range. This time, the offence escaped referee Styles and his linesman - and Drogba moved on to 10 Premiership goals for the season. Distin and Kiki Musampa were both booked for their protests, and Distin was sent off just before half time when he earned a second yellow for dissent.

City sent on Albert Riera for Sommeil and reshuffled after the Distin dismissal, but Chelsea came out to pile the misery on their visitors. Gudjohnsen was clean through in the 47th minute but Micah Richards, switched from midfield to central defence, made a fantastic saving tackle. Vassell forced a save from Cech and Mills thumped the foot of the post with a swerving freekick from 25 yards.

The second half turned out to be a drab affair with James denying Drogba his third with a brave save at the feet of the African - and then Hernan Crespo missed a sitter at the end, heading wide with the goal at his mercy.