MANCHESTER (REUTERS/AFP)- Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has apologised for his team's meltdown after Chelsea came from behind to secure a 3-1 win at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday (Dec 3).

The result allowed Chelsea to widen their lead at the top of the Premier League as a dramatic top-of-the-table clash ended in a mass brawl and two City players being sent off.

After the match, Guardiola said: "It's a pity it finished like this. I don't like that. I apologise for what happened."

The away win after trailing 0-1 at half-time boosts Chelsea's tally to 34 points, four ahead of Liverpool, who play Bournemouth on Sunday.

Diego Costa, the league's leading marksman, scored his 11th goal of the season on the hour to equalise, substitute Willian notched on the counter-attack 10 minutes later and Eden Hazard sealed the deal in the 90th minute.

Gary Cahill had given City a deserved lead just before half-time, slicing the ball into his own net with a clumsy attempted clearance, and the home side looked ready to wrap up the points after the break as Kevin de Bruyne missed from three metres when it seemed easier to score.

In stoppage time, with Chelsea's eighth straight win sealed, mayhem broke out following a terrible tackle by Sergio Aguero on David Luiz.

The Argentine was shown a red card and, as players piled in, Fernandinho was also dismissed for pushing Cesc Fabregas over the advertising hoardings.

Aguero faces a four-match suspension while Fernandinho is likely to be banned for three games.