Man Utd 2 - 0 Chelsea

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Manchester United 2 - 0 Chelsea

23 September, FA Premier League, Old Trafford, ManchesterA first Manchester United goal for Carlos Tevez capped off a nightmare week for Chelsea, in Avram Grant's first game in charge of a club in turmoil. Following José Mourinho's shock midweek departure, Chelsea's stuttering start to the season continued at Old Trafford. Carlos Tevez's diving header put Manchester United ahead in first-half stoppage time, before a penalty from Louis Saha left the FA Cup holders even further adrift of league leaders Arsenal.However, in Avram Grant's baptism of fire in the Stamford Bridge hot seat, the Israeli coach was left rueing after three key decisions went against his team - three key decisions which ultimately proved the downfall of Chelsea in this fiery Premier League encounter.The game began with United dominating the opening exchanges. Hoping to open up the gaps in the Chelsea side were confidence was critically-low, a resolute Chelsea rearguard kept the Premier League at bay with Ashley Cole and Paulo Ferreira holding back Nani and Cristiano Ronaldo, whilst Wayne Rooney found Tal Ben Haim and John Terry in formidable mood. But even when the Chelsea backline was undone, a professional goalkeeping showcase kept Chelsea in the hunt after the fourth minute. Rooney cut inside Ben Haim after finding himself in a few yards of space, and launched a wonderfully dipping curled shot from twenty yards. The Czech international strained every muscle in his huge frame to palm the ball over the crossbar; Old Trafford applauding the excellent football from Rooney and the Chelsea goalkeeper respectively.With Manchester United signalling their intent, Chelsea looked to Florent Malouda to provide their inspiration, but with lack of both Pizarro and Drogba up front, and with Frank Lampard missing through injury, the French winger found himself battling the home side's defence and the referee by himself at times.Ryan Giggs missed several excellent opportunities; the second a clear-cut volley at the far stick which should have been converted by the Welsh midfielder; currently enjoying some of his best form in recent years.On the stroke of the half-hour came refereeing blunder number one: Mike Dean sending off John Obi Mikel with studs showing. A quarter of an hour later, Manchester United took the lead through Carlos Tevez in refereeing blunder number two. With the allotted two minutes of stoppage time already elapsed, Ryan Giggs crossed from the far side to Carlos Tevez, who beat Petr Cech to the ball and opened his Manchester United account in the best possible manner; a goal against one of Europe's biggest names.The second half continued in the trend of the first, with Chelsea bravely holding United at arm's length and looking for Malouda to exert some of his wing wizardry on the counter-attack. Giggs was United's most prolific player as he broke through their rearguard on a number of occasions, but was guilty of blazing over yet again from a good position.Chelsea's resistance held until the eighty-ninth minute, when Mike Dean gave United a farcical penalty, which Louis Saha converted nonchalantly. The defeat leaves Chelsea suffering with their worst Premier League start in five seasons.Man Utd: Van der Sar, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo, Scholes, Carrick, Giggs, Tevez (Saha 79), Rooney.Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Nani, Pique, O'Shea. Booked: Rooney, Brown. Goals: Tevez 45, Saha 90 pen. Chelsea: Cech, 7 Ferreira, 6, Terry, 6, Ben Haim, 6, Ashley Cole, 6, Joe Cole, 6, Mikel, 65/b], Essien, 6, Makelele, 6, Shevchenko, 5, Malouda, 6Subs Used: Kalou, 6, Wright-Phillips, 6, Pizarro 6Subs Not Used: Cudicini, AlexSent Off: Mikel (32)Booked: Joe Cole, TerryAtt: 75,663 Ref: Mike Dean