In a tightly contested contest it took a free kick delivered by Lampard and a header from Terry to finally breach the impressive United backline.
But the award of the free kick angered the away side as Daren Fletcher was penalised for a foul on Ashley Cole despite apparently fairly winning the ball.
United were also adamant that the goal should have been ruled out due to the apparent interference by an offside Didier Drogba. It gave the game a suitable climax following 70 minutes of contained but fascinating football. Chelsea tried to break the away side down whilst United played with authority and organisation not seen all season.
Sir Alex Ferguson decided to play a lone striker up front in the form of Wayne Rooney and flood his midfield with the trio of Darren Fletcher, Anderson and Michael Carrick to combat the tried and tested diamond centre of Lampard, Essien and Michael Ballack and at first it worked.
United started the more assured creating a couple of openings which were wasted by Rooney and Giggs. Chelsea’s best opening of the half was a snap shot by Anelka which was well parried by Van der Sar.
The away side’s tactics of flooding the centre of midfield and allowing their wingers in the form of Antonio Valencia and Ryan Giggs to occupy Ashley Cole and Ivanovic worked and Chelsea increasingly cut a frustrated figure on the pitch.
Midway through the half Valencia had a penalty shout when he appeared to have been brought down by John Terry but the winger’s claims were waived away.
In the second half Deco was replaced with Joe Cole as the home side tried to break down a stubborn United defence but their attempts were either thwarted by centre half pair Brown and Evans or dealt with easily by Van der Sar. United, on the other hand, continued to knock gently on the Chelsea door through Rooney.
In the 67th minute he exchanged passes with Fletcher before screwing a shot wide before, a minute later he turned and unleashed a curling effort heading for the corner which was turned away by Petr Cech for a corner.
10 minutes later and Chelsea managed to force a breakthrough.
Valencia’s poor pass allowed Cole to intercept who was subsequently closed down quickly by Fletcher who appeared to win the ball in the tackle. The free kick was awarded and a typically fine delivery by Franck Lampard was met by the head of Terry whose header found the far corner.
During the Chelsea celebrations United complained about the award of the free kick and the fact that Drogba was standing in an offside position when the header went into the back of the net, resulting in a booking for Rooney.
United were incensed. Fergusson decided to throw Michael Owen and Gabriel Obertan in order to salvage a point and added to the five minutes of stoppage time Chelsea found themselves camped inside their own half.
United huffed and puffed, wasting a good chance through Valencia when well placed and seeing a header flash across the box by a worried Carvalho.
However Chelsea hung on to secure a valuable three points and go five points ahead of their most feared challengers. United were left to rue a day when they played their best game and still came up short.
But the award of the free kick angered the away side as Daren Fletcher was penalised for a foul on Ashley Cole despite apparently fairly winning the ball.
United were also adamant that the goal should have been ruled out due to the apparent interference by an offside Didier Drogba. It gave the game a suitable climax following 70 minutes of contained but fascinating football. Chelsea tried to break the away side down whilst United played with authority and organisation not seen all season.
Sir Alex Ferguson decided to play a lone striker up front in the form of Wayne Rooney and flood his midfield with the trio of Darren Fletcher, Anderson and Michael Carrick to combat the tried and tested diamond centre of Lampard, Essien and Michael Ballack and at first it worked.
United started the more assured creating a couple of openings which were wasted by Rooney and Giggs. Chelsea’s best opening of the half was a snap shot by Anelka which was well parried by Van der Sar.
The away side’s tactics of flooding the centre of midfield and allowing their wingers in the form of Antonio Valencia and Ryan Giggs to occupy Ashley Cole and Ivanovic worked and Chelsea increasingly cut a frustrated figure on the pitch.
Midway through the half Valencia had a penalty shout when he appeared to have been brought down by John Terry but the winger’s claims were waived away.
In the second half Deco was replaced with Joe Cole as the home side tried to break down a stubborn United defence but their attempts were either thwarted by centre half pair Brown and Evans or dealt with easily by Van der Sar. United, on the other hand, continued to knock gently on the Chelsea door through Rooney.
In the 67th minute he exchanged passes with Fletcher before screwing a shot wide before, a minute later he turned and unleashed a curling effort heading for the corner which was turned away by Petr Cech for a corner.
10 minutes later and Chelsea managed to force a breakthrough.
Valencia’s poor pass allowed Cole to intercept who was subsequently closed down quickly by Fletcher who appeared to win the ball in the tackle. The free kick was awarded and a typically fine delivery by Franck Lampard was met by the head of Terry whose header found the far corner.
During the Chelsea celebrations United complained about the award of the free kick and the fact that Drogba was standing in an offside position when the header went into the back of the net, resulting in a booking for Rooney.
United were incensed. Fergusson decided to throw Michael Owen and Gabriel Obertan in order to salvage a point and added to the five minutes of stoppage time Chelsea found themselves camped inside their own half.
United huffed and puffed, wasting a good chance through Valencia when well placed and seeing a header flash across the box by a worried Carvalho.
However Chelsea hung on to secure a valuable three points and go five points ahead of their most feared challengers. United were left to rue a day when they played their best game and still came up short.
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