It began with the highly publicised first meeting between former Chelsea team mates John Terry and Wayne Bridge since details of Terry's alleged affair with Bridge's former girlfriend created a media storm.
Bridge ignored Terry's outstretched arm and refused to shake his hand in the pre-match greeting ceremony and while their paths did not cross on the pitch, Bridge emerged the happier man on the day.
Bridge's long punt upfield at the end of the first half led to City's first goal after Terry failed to deal with the resulting confusion Bridge's kick created.
Chelsea, reduced to nine men with the sendings off of Julliano Belletti and Michael Ballack, never recovered after that Carlos Tevez goal which drew City level and they ended it beaten at home for the first time in 37 matches since November 2008.
While it might have been an emotional day for Bridge and Terry, it was also a significant one for Tevez, who scored twice after returning from compassionate leave in Argentina following the premature birth of his second daughter last week.
"It has been a difficult week following the birth of my baby, but its Ok, and I have played and scored. I always like playing against Chelsea and always score against them. Sorry Chelsea," Tevez said.
City's victory, their first at Stamford Bridge for 17 years with their first goals there for eight matches, dented Chelsea's title hopes while lifting City from fifth to fourth.
Chelsea remained top with 61 points from 28 matches, one more point more than Manchester United, who play Aston Villa in the League Cup final at Wembley Stadium on Sunday.
DULL START
A largely dull opening period gave no indication of the drama that was to follow late in the first half and after the break.
Frank Lampard brought the game to life when he scored with a well-struck angled drive past Shay Given to give Chelsea the lead after 42 minutes.
City were level three minutes later when Bridge's long kick upfield was not dealt with properly by Jon Obi Mikel who headed it back towards his own goal.
Tevez then held off Terry and Ricardo Carvalho before hitting a not particularly hard shot which Chelsea's reserve goalkeeper Hilario failed to save.
Craig Bellamy then put City 2-1 ahead six minutes into the second half with another angled shot after a driving run. City sealed the win after Belletti was sent off in the 75th minute after tripping Gareth Barry with Tevez making it 3-1 from the spot.
Ballack was then dismissed for a tackle from behind on Tevez before Bellamy tapped in at the far post after a quick break from former Chelsea winger Shaun Wright-Phillips to make it 4-1.
Chelsea ended the match with a consolation goal from a Lampard penalty after Barry tripped Nicolas Anelka.