Man United 1-2 Chelsea

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Didier Drogba scored a deserved winner as Chelsea opened up a two point lead at the top of the Premier League.

Joe Cole put Chelsea ahead with a sumptuous backheel after magnificent approach play by the in-form Florent Malouda. Both teams then had good penalty shouts turned down by referee Mike Dean before Drogba eventually fired home the winning goal in controversial circumstances.

United substitute Federico Macheda then bundled the ball home despite a blatant handball, but Chelsea's defence stayed firm as the visitors claimed a crucial victory in the title race.

And though their day will be somewhat soured by a last-minute Arsenal victory over ten-man Wolverhampton Wanderers, the result is one that confirms Chelsea's position as title contenders, as they now lead their closest rivals by two points.

Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti raised a few eyebrows with his team selection as Nicolas Anelka maintained his place in the starting eleven despite the return to fitness of 30-goal Didier Drogba, but it was not just Chelsea without their talismanic forward - United were missing star striker Wayne Rooney due to an ankle injury.

The hosts had faced a stern challenge in midweek when they faced Germany's Bayern Munich in a Champions League quarter-final and Ivica Olic's last-minute winner meant that the Bundesliga side take a narrow 2-1 aggregate lead into next week's second leg.

And their European exploits were evident; they were hugely lethargic throughout and were taken aback by a whirlwind start by the visitors; Deco volleying wide when well-placed with less than 30 seconds on the clock.

Chelsea had scored twelve goals in two matches after their elimination from the Champions League at the hand of Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan, including seven against Aston Villa, and their confidence was obvious as they took the game to their hosts.

Besides Deco's early attempt and a header from Alex that went well wide of goal, Chelsea had created few opportunities, however Florent Malouda's brilliant play saw the Blues take a crucial lead.

Picking the ball up some ten yards inside the United half, the Frenchman drove forward, took on three defenders before launching a teasing delivery across the face of goal which Cole instinctively flicked home for his just second goal of the season.

Paul Scholes then went in the book for a terrible challenge on Malouda who was proving Chelsea's best outlet. Anelka later had a shot blocked by Vidic before referee Mike Dean became the centre of two controversial decisions.

United may well feel aggrieved that they were not awarded a penalty when Ji-Sung Park was hacked down on the edge of the box by Zhirkov, but Gary Neville's blatant foul on Anelka moments later looked an even better shout for a spot-kick. Both were declined as Chelsea held out till the interval.

The hairdryer treatment may well have been what was awaiting Sir Alex Ferguson's team during the break and they were much improved for the second forty-five minutes, but it was Chelsea who threatened first in the second period.

It was Paulo Ferreira who burst forward, and only pressure from a United defender denied him a shot on goal as he could only poke his effort wide with Anelka sliding home at the far post.

United responded with a header by Berbatov that went wide with Petr Cech scrambling, and the same player headed over from a Gary Neville cross moments later as the home side grew in confidence.

With the hour mark looming, Didier Drogba was unleashed, replacing the tireless Anelka, and within ten minutes the Ivorian had scored what would prove to be the game-clinching goal. Played in by fellow substitute and compatriot Kalou, he slammed past Edwin van der Sar to give Chelsea a two-goal cushion.

Replays indicated Drogba was offside when he received Kalou's pass but Chelsea were not complaining. Ferguson fumed on the touchline and berated the forth official, but he was more than friendly with the officials when they allowed Macheda to blatantly handle the ball as he directed it into the net.

Chelsea were put under constant pressure in a grandstand finale, but Cech made routine saves from Berbatov's volley and late header when he should arguably have done better with both. The Blues held out for a famous victory - and they are now just five games from glory.

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Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Ferreira, Alex, Terry ©, Zhirkov; Deco (Ballack 78), Mikel, Lampard; J Cole (Kalou 71), Anelka (Drogba 69), Malouda

Man United (4-2-3-1): Van der Sar; Neville ©, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Fletcher (Gibson 85), Scholes (Nani 71); Giggs, Park (Macheda 71), Valencia; Berbatov

The TalkChelsea.net Man of the Match was Chelsea's number 15, FLORENT MALOUDA