Chelsea 1 Manchester United 0:Captain John Terry headed Chelsea five points clear at the top of the Premier League today when his 76th-minute goal secured a 1-0 home victory over champions Manchester United.
The eagerly-awaited showdown had been meandering towards a disappointing goalless draw until Terry was left unmarked to glance in a Frank Lampard free-kick - with striker Nicolas Anelka claiming he got the final touch.
The victory took Chelsea to 30 points, five clear of Arsenal, who won 4-1 at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday, and United.
Tottenham Hotspur are fourth on 22 after they beat Sunderland 2-0, while Liverpool host Birmingham City on Monday.
Earlier in the day, Hull City beat visitors Stoke City 2-1 with a stoppage-time goal, Everton won 2-1 at West Ham United while Wigan Athletic drew 1-1 at home to Fulham.
However, all eyes were on Stamford Bridge this weekend, even though for the most part the big game failed to deliver.
United were without first-choice centre-halves Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic but stand-ins, Wes Brown and Jonny Evans, were barely tested in a game high on errors and short on goalmouth action. Chelsea's defence was similarly comfortable, despite the willing running of United striker Wayne Rooney, and the first hour passed without either goalkeeper seriously troubled.
Peter Cech stretched to keep out a Rooney curler after 68 minutes as the match eventually began to warm up but it remained a tight affair.
The absence of Ferdinand and Vidic proved key, however, eight minutes later when United's defence got hopelessly confused defending a straightforward Lampard freekick from the left.
Terry reached it first but Anelka and his strike partner Didier Drogba were also in the vicinity - unlike any United defenders.
The champions upped the tempo after that but, with Dimitar Berbatov also absent through injury, too much fell on Rooney's shoulders and the Chelsea defenders were able to crowd him out.
Terry, whose day began with some unwelcome tabloid headlines about his family, was delighted.
"I want it (the goal) because I've never scored against Manchester United home or away, but Nicolas was brilliant today so he can have it," he said.
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti added: "We did what we had to do. We beat a very good opponent, the best opponent, and we're five points clear but we know this is a very long (season). We have to maintain this gap."
Terry went on to praise his team: “Another clean sheet for us today, we talk about the attacking players and midfielders coming back and working hard for the team and that’s exactly what we got today.
“(The five-point lead) was exactly what we wanted coming into the game, we’ve been working on it all week. That wasn’t the best of games but I think overall we deserved it.”
The scorer of the goal was unclear, with both Terry and Anelka appearing to make contact with Lampard’s free-kick on its way into the net.
Terry said: “I got a touch on it but I think maybe Nico got the second touch - but I’m still claiming it!
“I was watching the stats before the game and I’ve never scored against them home and away, but Nico’s been brilliant today so he deserves it.”
Anelka added: “I don’t know, I think I touched the ball but maybe John will claim it. I touched the ball but I don’t know what happened after that, we will see on TV.”
“We played good football and we had some chances but we stayed compact in defence and managed to score one goal.
“It’s very good, we wanted to win because we know United are a big rival for the league and it’s always good to have five points on top of United.”
Terry played down appeals for a first-half penalty to United after his challenge on winger Antonio Valencia. “I just got my body in between the ball (and Valencia), I’m glad (Atkinson) didn’t give it but I didn’t think it was anyway,” he added.
