Fan Report: Chelsea 1-0 Manchester United

A cagey affair at Stamford Bridge was decided by a second half John Terry header, as Chelsea pulled five points clear at the league’s summit.

Billed as the match of the season, the Sunday afternoon fixture pitted current league leaders Chelsea, against incumbent league champions Manchester United.

And although the game did not live up to its flamboyant and goal-scoring expectations, its pulsating nature was relentless.

Both managers adhered to a conservative approach from the outset with a draw not a disastrous result for either team.

Going into the match, the Blues had only conceded one goal in their five home games for the season, a real testament to the defensive solidarity that has transformed the Bridge into a fortress.

In the mean time, the West Londoners have tallied an impressive 13 goals in the previous three games against English opposition, not to mention a 4-0 battering of Spanish side Atletico Madrid on home soil.

This imperious form was in contrast to that of their bitter top-four rivals, as the Red Devils have made a somewhat stuttering start to their title defence.

After conceding three goals in Champions League action, Ferguson knew a change in mentality, not to mention personnel, was necessary if they were to avoid a heavy defeat that many believed to be on the cards.

However as the old adage goes, when teams of this prestige and magnitude lock horns, form is no indication of how the event will pan out.

With a high pressurized system set in place, United’s central-midfield quartet of Carrick, Anderson and Fletcher worked effectively in closing down their Chelsea counterparts and restricted the amount of freedom in which Lampard and co, naturally thrive in.

It was the home side who created the first real clear cut goal attempt when Ivanovic burst down the right flank and let fly with a left-foot shot that Van der Sar did well to hold at the near post.

Wayne Rooney almost broke the Chelsea offside trap high up the field in the eighth minute, but the 24-year-old went a fraction too early and was flagged offside. The ever-alert Cole managed to step up just in time to prevent a one-on-one with Cech.

Rooney was involved again minutes later as he received the ball with his back to goal in the left-hand side of the Chelsea penalty area. Marked by Carvalho, the Englishman turned quickly onto his left foot and smashed a shot towards goal that went narrowly wide of the near post.

This was perhaps the final time Carvalho was to be outwitted by anyone in red, as the Portuguese defender was alert to every attack and blocked courageously on numerous occasions.

Van der Sar was first called into action to make a excellent one-handed save to keep out a curling shot from Anelka in the 32nd minute. He picked the ball up on the right flank, cut inside his marker, and quickly unleashed a finessed drive that was headed for the far corner. The Dutch ‘keeper appeared to see the shot late but managed to meet the ball with an outstretched palm.

The United custodian was not called into action much throughout the match, but, like his Chelsea equivalent, was wise to the danger.

A quick counter-attack from Chelsea saw Anelka put Deco free on the right but his cross eluded Ballack before arriving at the feet of Drogba. The Ivorian was unable to control the ball and it ran harmlessly into the arms of Van der Sar.

Drogba then broke into the penalty area from the right flank but his angled drive found its way to the upper tier of the stand, as referee Martin Atkinson brought the first half proceedings to a close.

With the expectations levels rising in the ground and the frustration of the crowd being felt by the players, the second half witnessed more goal-mouth action as play began to open up.

In the 50th minute Drogba got the better of United’s John O’Shea but his 25-yard shot went wide of the target.

Carvalho managed to get his body in the way of a fierce shot from Fletcher moments later in a fine piece of defending by the Chelsea man.

A cross from Anelka then fell kindly to Lampard on the edge of the penalty area but the England midfielder’s shot was easily saved by Van der Sar.

As the game wore on it meant Chelsea had gone over 14 hours since they last conceded a goal at Stamford Bridge.

And with that defensive solidity appearing to be at its resilient best, it was time for the home side to make a change and go for the three points, as Carlo Ancelotti opted to remove Deco in favour of Joe Cole, who was celebrating his 28th birthday.

Rooney perhaps could have punished some hesitant defending in the 66th minute when he took a return pass from Antonio Valencia on the edge of the penalty area. But the England striker sent his shot a foot wide of the far post.

Seconds later Rooney brought a fine save from Cech with a 20-yard curler which was destined for the top corner until the Czech international intervened.

There was a worrying moment for Chelsea in the 71st minute when Drogba was kicked in the chest by Evans. Astonishingly, Drogba was then booked by Atkinson.

Chelsea clawed their way in front in the 76th minute when Cole was fouled by Fletcher on the left flank. Captain Terry rose to glance a dangerously delivered Lampard free-kick into the corner of the net; with United furious that Drogba appeared to be in an offside position as the ball bounced beyond Van der Sar and into the net.

The goal was met with United protests as the players thought the referee was wrong to award the initial infringement and Rooney was subsequently booked.

When prompted into giving his impression on the free kick that led to the goal, Sir Alex, unsurprisingly, had something to say of the situation, a feat that has landed him in a fair bit of trouble in recent times.

“Clearly Darren Fletcher has won the ball and Ashley Cole has never touched him, he has jumped up in the air. And then Drogba has pulled Brown down to the ground in the goal.

“And the referee’s position to make a decision there is absolutely ridiculous…he can’t see anything. He has a Chelsea player standing right in front of him and he doesn’t even move.

“You lose faith in refereeing sometimes.”

Atkinson continued with his late booking spree by adding O’Shea’s and Carvalho’s names to the list in the 82nd minute, as tempers flared. Valencia was lucky to remain on the pitch with a two-footed challenge on Lampard as the referee only opting for a yellow card.

The United dugout responded, perhaps far too late, by throwing on Owen and Obertan, for the ineffective pairing of Anderson and Giggs with a meagre five minutes to go. They couldn’t inspire United to victory, though, as the Blues held out for the win.

Chelsea are now five points clear of Manchester United, who were usurped in the table by Arsenal following their victory against Wolves yesterday and have now lost three away league games in a stat that will worry Ferguson.

Manager Carlo Ancelotti has maintained caution in light of the commanding position that his team find themselves in.

“We know very well that the season is very long and we have to maintain this atmosphere and we hope to maintain this gap.”

By Joshua Kepreotis

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