LONDON: Chelsea have taken a small but significant step towards reclaiming the Premier League title after securing a 1-0 win over Manchester United that extends their lead at the top of the table to five points.
With United depleted by injuries to both Rio Ferdinand and Dimitar Berbatov, the defending league champions stifled Chelsea until the 76th minute but were ultimately unable to prevent England captain John Terry from heading Frank Lampard’s free-kick beyond Edwin van der Sar, though Nicolas Anelka may claim his toe had the final touch.
The result leaves Arsenal as Chelsea’s nearest challengers and means United have already now lost three times in the league.
Chelsea were going for a club-record 11th consecutive home win and started with marginally the greater purpose. Branislav Ivanovic forced an early save from Edwin van der Sar but, with both teams crowding a rather narrow midfield, Chelsea found it difficult to translate possession into clear chances. Deco, who was playing at the tip of the diamond, was largely anonymous as United’s central trio of Darren Fletcher, Anderson and Michael Carrick closed space and largely nullified Chelsea’s attacking threat.
Their best first-half opportunity fell to Anelka, but Van der Sar moved well to his right to block the Frenchman’s powerful shot. Defensively, Chelsea are the Premier League’s best team just now and, during a cagey first-half, Manchester United could also generate only a flurry of half-chances.
Wayne Rooney shot into the side-netting when he found limited space on the left, while Ryan Giggs lifted the ball over the cross-bar after latching onto Darren Fletcher’s clever through-ball.
With Berbatov unavailable due to a knee injury, Rooney was required to play as the main central striker and he consistently carried the greatest threat as United looked to punish Chelsea on the counter-attack.
However, they were denied one such opportunity on the break when Giggs sportingly stopped playing after Ashley Cole collided with John Terry. Sir Alex Ferguson was unhappy that Chelsea had only stopped playing and demanded Giggs put the ball out of play when their own attack had broken down.
With United’s containing tactics clearly working and frustration apparent from Chelsea supporters at the performance of Deco, it was the name of Joe Cole that began echoing around Stamford Bridge. Their wish was finally ranted in the 63rd minute.
Cole’s arrival did little to alter the pattern of the match and, when United did burst forward, they were creating the better chances. Within the space of a minute, Rooney drove one shot narrowly wide and then forced a diving save from Peter Cech.
With United so effective in breaking up Chelsea’s passing, it was perhaps inevitable that the decisive goal should come courtesy of a set-piece.
Fletcher conceded a disputed foul for a challenge on Ashley Cole and, from the resulting free-kick, Terry glanced a header that flew past Anelka and beyond Van der Sar. There was then further controversy when Jonny Evans was accused of tripping Carvalho after play had stopped, although replays suggested that the Portugal defender had made plenty of the incident.
There was a collective intake of breath when the fourth official indicated five additional minutes of injury-time, but Chelsea held firm to underline their status as favourites for the Premier League title.
-- Daily Telegraph