UEFA Cup Spot For Chelsea  (Sky Sports)

Chelsea ended their traumatic season on something of a high by qualifying for Europe for the fifth successive year.

Dennis Wise put The Londoners 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.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Chelsea) Always a threat and crowned a great performance by bagging his 23rd goal of a very productive season.

Man City: Nash, Edghill, Dunne, Howey, Granville, Whitley (Dunfield 32), Wiekens, Dickov, Goater, Wanchope, Kennedy.
Subs Not Used: Horlock, Day, Brian  Murphy, Egil Ostenstad.
Booked: Dickov, Granville, Dunne, Wanchope.

Chelsea: Cudicini, Babayaro (Poyet 65), Desailly, Jokanovic, Wise, Le Saux, Melchiot (Leboeuf 81), Terry, Morris (Gudjohnsen 88), Hasselbaink, Zola.
Subs Not Used: de Goey, Dalla Bona.
Booked: Wise, Hasselbaink.

Att: 34,479
Ref: M Riley (Leeds).