Premier League - United fall to defeat at Chelsea

Eurosport - Sun, 08 Nov 16:35:00 2009

Manchester United's barren run at Stamford Bridge continued, as John Terry's late header handed Chelsea a 1-0 win over their title rivals.

john terry heads home for chelsea against manchester united - 0

The Red Devils have failed to carve out a win at Stamford Bridge for seven seasons, a pattern that continued as Terry's header with 14 minutes remaining handed the Blues both victory and a five-point cushion in the title race.

United came with a game plan to stifle Chelsea's midfield stars and they executed it to perfection. The visitors were the better side and carved out the better chances, but they were left with nothing thanks to the intervention of Terry.

Both sides were clearly aware of the importance of the occasion as it was an extremely cagey start, akin to two boxers sizing each other up.

Chelsea were the first to go on the front foot with Branislav Ivanovic, ever willing to aid the attack on the right, cutting inside and firing low at Edwin van der Sar.

With Dimitar Berbatov absent and Michael Owen on the bench, Wayne Rooney carried the attacking threat for United and he appeared to time a run on to an Anderson pass to perfection a few minutes later. The linesman begged to differ, but replays suggested Rooney was on when the ball had been played.

Sleepless nights of parenthood do not appear to be affecting Rooney as he came close to opening the scoring on 11 minutes but his shot was deflected wide by Ricardo Carvalho.

Chances were at a premium despite United's bright start, though the visitors had fair claims for a penalty denied when Terry appeared to take a chunk out of Antonio Valencia's shirt but it was on the blind side of the referee.

With Chelsea's midfield stifled by Darren Fletcher, Anderson and Michael Carrick, Nicolas Anelka took it upon himself to fashion his own chances, making space to hit a low drive gathered by Van der Sar and, later, forced a better save out of the Dutchman with a curling effort with his right foot.

United threatened at the start of the second half with Rooney fashioning chances for Fletcher and Ryan Giggs, but both failed to do justice to the build-up work.

Rooney seemed to play with a real spring in his step and was not fazed by ploughing a lone furrow. Twice he went close inside a minute, shooting just wide from the edge of the box and forcing a fine diving save from Petr Cech with a snap-shot from 25 yards.

United had by far the better of the second half, but Chelsea often find a way of grinding out a result and they got their noses in front 14 minutes from time.

The Blues were handed a cheap free kick on the left, Fletcher adjudged to have fouled Ashley Cole, and Frank Lampard whipped the ball into a dangerous area. Terry climbed high and although he did not make the cleanest of contact - with perhaps a deflection off Anelka - it was enough to divert the ball into the far corner.

United's players complained that Didier Drogba had been offside, but the referee waved away their protests.

The pattern of play continued with United dominating the ball, but they were unable to carve out a clear chance despite the introduction of Owen, leaving Chelsea to hold on and lay down a big marker with their 11th successive home win in the league.

Alex Livie / Eurosport

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  1. chelsea 4 ever!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From salemmaroun, on Fri 20 Nov 10:20PM

  2. who wrote dis article its 1sided n even boring!!

    From samuel b, on Mon 16 Nov 8:41PM

  3. How come all you psychic people who supposedly can­ predict the outcome at the end of the season , have not­ made enough cash retired & sitting on a 3 million­ nest egg ? cos i know i would if i had your third eye­ hahaha

    From Charlie, on Wed 11 Nov 9:47AM

  4. For all you who think Chelsea play boring footie ,­ where are you in the football leauge ? action speaks­ louder than words ! take a peek at the premier leauge­ tables , go on i dare you lol ! la la la CHELSEA ­ FOREVER !!!

    From Charlie, on Wed 11 Nov 9:29AM

  5. STONEWALL PENALTY DENIED, FREEKICK INCORRECTLY­ GIVEN,WES BROWN PULLED TO THE GROUND,DROGBA OFFSIDE BY­ TRYING TO PLAY THE BALL THEREFORE BECOMES ACTIVE,ROONEY­ GIVEN OFFSIDE INCORRECTLY. EVANS WAS GOING FOR THE BALL­ AND LOOKINF AT IT, DROGBA WAS JUMPING AT EVANS AND­ THEREFORE DESERVED WHAT HE GOT INCLUDING THE YELLOW­ CARD. REF WAS VERY POOR AS HE GAVE SOME WEIRD DECISIONS­ (BOTH WAYS)

    From DES S, on Mon 9 Nov 6:00PM

  6. Here's to all you Manure fans. Hope you had a nice­­ drive back to 5h1tsville. I expect you felt slightly­­ out of place on the KINGS Road. Har Har

    From Snakehips916, on Mon 9 Nov 2:17PM

  7. we so deserved to lose but hey ho i had 1 hell of a­ night with julian

    From dazmanutd, on Mon 9 Nov 1:37PM

  8. i have been cloned by dazmanutdtrble99 i am the real­ dazmanutd

    From dazmanutd, on Mon 9 Nov 1:31PM

  9. i am so in love with man city they r soooooo rich and­ man u sooooo poor

    From dazmanutd, on Mon 9 Nov 1:29PM

  10. Manu alwayz has too much tears to spare after a loss!­ They work on how to break down the diamond and thought­ they found their secret treasure! How wrong people­ secretly creep around with a hiden stone! (4-5-1) that­ was your code? Then how come you went away with nothing­ but muscle aches and a disappointed one fugerson?­ Chelsea rules!!!!

    From conradatema, on Mon 9 Nov 1:07PM

  11. UP BLUE
    NEVER MIND THE UNDERDOGS

    From kunle, on Mon 9 Nov 12:39PM

  12. Alex Livie is a disgrace to the honourable Association­ of English Journalist and a horrible mistake in the­ world of jounalism. Who paid u to rubish your status by­ filling such a horrible report? O ar u one of the­ killer Man U fanatics? How could u fail to report the­ attempted murder on Drogba by Evans, not even making a­ reference to it in ur match analysis posted on dis­ great site. U need to see a priest for serious­ confession for the cardinal sin of surpoting a murderer­ called Evans.

    From babaholma, on Mon 9 Nov 12:32PM

  13. Who deserve to win?
    Chelsea(thumbs up)
    Man­ United(thumbs down)

    From Wt, on Mon 9 Nov 11:23AM
  14. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    United always come back stronger , we lost a battle but­ not the war.

    From DELPHINE R, on Mon 9 Nov 11:07AM

  15. sometimes u win sometimes u lose but the important­ thing is how u respond to defeat. i think united will­ come back stronger in the second part of the season and­ push Chelsea and Arsenal all the way. As for Chelsea I­ think that this is the best that they can play no­ disrespect. I only see 2 teams getting better and­ stronger as the season progresses Arsenal and Man Utd.

    From DELPHINE R, on Mon 9 Nov 11:03AM

  16. what more did you expect of course chelsea is the best­ team in the world

    From preacher, on Mon 9 Nov 10:24AM

  17. Come on United and all football fans! Let's put a­ one nil defeat away at the team tipped for ther title­ into perspective. Before the match ,United were given­ bareley a chance and Chelsea only had to turn up to­ win. But on the field and with a number of second­ string choices, we deserved at least a point. We should­ be proud of how they played after the Liverpool­ debacle,but even more we should be relishingt the­ steady improvement of Evans,Fletcher,Valancia and Owen­ and the promise of Obertan and Hargreaves. There's­ a long way to go with more banana skins around than­ usual.
    It was good to hear Alan Hansen almost alone in­ knocking United's chances. When he's so cynical­ we know we're doing well.Right now only Arsenal can­ feel really good; ,Liverpool have gone, City aren't­ coming and the race is wide open. Game on guys.

    From KEL, on Mon 9 Nov 10:08AM

  18. this message goes out to kop mania and anfield­ road94....sorry for my outburst yesterday...i was truly­ fed up with the chelsea defeat and took it out on you­ guys.....by the way i can see liverpool trouncing brum­ if they play like they did against lyon.

    From MICHAEL, on Mon 9 Nov 9:46AM

  19. NO 625 LEIGH
    WELL DESERVED WIN BY CHELSEA ?????
    YOU­ MUST HAVE BEEN WATCHIN' A DIFFERENT GAME !

    From vegasmufc, on Mon 9 Nov 9:38AM

  20. THE BEST TEAM LOST !
    CHELSEA WERE WELL AND TRULY­ RATTLED YESTERDAY,UNITEDS TACKLIN' AND PASSIN'­ WAS MUCH CRISPER THAN CHELSEA'S AND ROONEY AND­ FLETCHER WERE MAGNIFICENT !
    BAD REF DECISION LED TO THE­ GOAL AND AGAINST THE RUN OF PLAY !
    THE TITLES NOT­ ANYWHERE NEAR OVER YET !
    AND DROGBA­ ..................HE'S A FFUKIN BIG SOFT TTWATT !

    From vegasmufc, on Mon 9 Nov 9:36AM
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