A superb team performance saw the Tigers earn a point from a 1-1 draw with Premier League leaders Chelsea at the KC Stadium on Tuesday night.

Steven Mouyokolo had given City the lead with his first goal in English football, and although that was cancelled out by a Didier Drogba free kick just before half time, the Tigers will be pleased with the point.

City made just one change to the side that started against Wolves at the weekend as Craig Fagan came in for Bernard Mendy on the right.

Against star-studded opposition, 19 year-old Tom Cairney earned a second start while Kamil Zayatte was fit enough for a place on the bench.

England captain John Terry - who was at the centre of a storm of media controversy regarding his private life - started for Chelsea.

The Blues, who would have gone four points clear at the top of the table with a win, named Didier Drogba, Florent Malouda and Nicolas Anelka in attack.

City, playing towards the South Stand in the first half, won an early corner thanks to good work by Fagan.

Stephen Hunt's delivery earned another set-piece which Chelsea defended at the expense of a free kick to the left of the penalty area.

Hunt's ball in was poor and brought an end to the early pressure.

Frank Lampard was the first to threaten for Chelsea, bringing a save out of Boaz Myhill with a powerful, swerving shot.

It had been a bright start by City and they had another chance to load the Chelsea box when Branislav Ivanovic brought down Hunt on the left touchline.

The Chelsea full-back was given a talking to by the referee, but Hunt's ball in went straight into the hands of goalkeeper Petr Cech.

The visitors had a great chance on 25 minutes.

After working the ball out to the right, a good cross found Michael Ballack in space, but his diving header went straight at Myhill.

A foul by Ivanovic on Jozy Altidore brought a yellow card, not before time, and gave City a free kick on the left edge of the area which was cleared behind for a corner by Ricardo Carvalho.

And it was from that corner that the Tigers took a deserved lead on the half-hour.

Hunt's inswinging delivery was met powerfully by the head of Steven Mouyokolo and the ball flew past Cech before he could move.

Anelka looked to reply for the visitors but saw a low shot saved comfortably by Myhill, as did Deco soon after.

A foul by George Boateng on Anelka gave Chelsea a free kick in a really dangerous position three minutes before half time and from it, they equalised as Drogba'a strike found its way into the corner of the net.

City should have been back in front in added time, but Anthony Gardner headed Cairney's free kick over when unmarked.

Half Time: Tigers 1-1 Chelsea

To the delight of the home crowd, Terry was booked shortly after the break for tripping Altidore and from the resulting free kick, the American striker saw a weak header stopped by Cech.

Cairney saw a shot sail over the bar as City continued to hassle the league leaders out of their stride.

Myhill got down well to deny Florent Malouda at his near post, but at the expense of a corner.

From the set-piece, Myhill had to be at his best saving first from Drogba and then from Terry.

Paul McShane was booked for hauling down Ballack as Chelsea won another free kick deep in City territory.

Lampard took it, but drove a shot well wide.

City's first change came on 66 minutes as Amr Zaki replaced Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink.

Chelsea responded by introducing Joe Cole for Ballack.

Altidore went close on 74 minutes, but his header from Hunt's corner went wide of the near post.

At the other end, Drogba beat Myhill to Ivanovic's cross, but his header landed on the roof of the net.

Chelsea then made a double change with Ashley Cole and Daniel Sturridge replacing Yury Zhirkov and Anelka.

City's second change saw Kevin Kilbane come on for Altidore, who had worked tirelessly up front all night.

Drogba was booked following a clash with McShane and City's right back had to be substituted as a result of the facial wound he received. Zayatte was his replacement.

Four minutes of time were added and during the first of those, Myhill produced a splendid save to push Sturridge's shot past the post.

It proved to be the last major scare of the night as City took a well deserved point to move above Burnley into 18th position.

Tigers (4-4-2) Boaz Myhill; Paul McShane (Zayatte 90), Steven Mouyokolo, Anthony Gardner [captain], Andy Dawson; Craig Fagan, George Boateng, Tom Cairney, Stephen Hunt; Jozy Altidore (Kilbane 86), Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink (Zaki 66).

Subs: Matt Duke, Kamil Zayatte, Kevin Kilbane, Bernard Mendy, Nick Barmby, Geovanni, Amr Zaki.

Bookings: McShane 59.

Chelsea (4-3-3) Petr Cech; Branislav Ivanovic, Ricardo Carvalho, John Terry [captain], Yury Zhirkov (Ashely Cole 81); Michael Ballack (Joe Cole 72), Deco, Frank Lampard; Nicolas Anelka (Sturridge 81), Didier Drogba,  Florent Malouda.

Subs: Ross Turnbull, Ashley Cole, Joe Cole, Paulo Ferreira, Salomon Kalou, Daniel Sturridge, Alex.

Bookings: Ivanovic 29, Terry 46, Drogba 88.