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.

He was booked immediately after the goal for dissent and then collected another yellow card after the half-time whistle.

Distin refused to give Styles the ball as he continued his argument, and the referee pulled out a red card.

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.

The incident caused Jose Mourinho to grumble about the referee changing his mind under pressure from Fulham players - but at least on that occasion the decision was right.

City, seriously weakened by injuries, were the victims of rough justice in the 33rd minute.

James had already made brilliant saves to deny Drogba and Ricardo Carvalho when he produced another one to keep out a powerful header from John Terry.

City's defence did not clear the danger, and Joe Cole was able to line up a shot from 25 yards.

Cole's effort was wildly off target, but Asier Del Horno got his head to the ball and diverted it back into the goalmouth.

It found Drogba, who controlled it with his right arm before firing it in.

It took Drogba's tally to 10 Premiership goals for the season.

There had been nothing wrong with his first of the game, three minutes earlier.

Eidur Gudjohnsen, playing up front, found Drogba with a neat pass. Drogba turned marker David Sommeil and lashed a left-footer beyond James.

He celebrated by kissing the Premiership champions badge on the sleeve of his shirt.

Chelsea fans got the message.

Last weekend's defeat at Fulham 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.

Chelsea had started as if they had a point to prove. 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 him, but Gudjohnsen screwed his left-foot shot badly across the face of goal.

City have often proved stubborn opponents for Mourinho and his team.

They were the only team to beat Chelsea last season; they took a point from Stamford Bridge on their last visit and were narrowly beaten 1-0 at the City of Manchester Stadium in December.

But Stuart Pearce's squad was badly depleted.

Andy Cole, Georgios Samaras and Joey Barton were among the stars ruled out by injuries - and it meant Willo Flood's first game for the club in more than a year.

Shaun Wright-Phillips, the man at the centre of a diving storm this week, started on the bench against his old club.

He was given a warm welcome when he came on for Cole, 18 minutes from time.

Wright-Phillips skipped past a tackle from Ben Thatcher and resisted the temptation to go to ground, looking for a penalty.

Instead he shot low to the back post - but it went wide.

James denied Drogba his third with a brave save at the feet of the African - and then Hernan Crespo missed a sitter, heading wide with the goal at his mercy.

Teams:

Chelsea Cech, Paulo Ferreira, Ricardo Carvalho, Terry,Del Horno, Joe Cole (Wright-Phillips 72), Lampard, Makelele,Gudjohnsen (Crespo 57), Duff (Essien 53), Drogba.

Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Huth.

Booked: Joe Cole.

Goals: Drogba 30, 33.

Man City James, Sommeil (Riera 45),Danny Mills (Matthew Mills 84), Distin, Dunne, Thatcher, Flood,Ireland (Croft 73), Richards, Musampa, Vassell.

Subs Not Used: Weaver, Wright-Phillips.

Sent Off: Distin (45).

Booked: Danny Mills, Distin, Musampa.

Att: 42,321

Ref: R Styles (Hampshire).