English FA Premiership/West Ham Utd - 1 Manchester Utd - 0:This match hurled both clubs into the past, although it was only West Ham who were delighted to find themselves there. The victors, with Alan Curbishley in charge for the first time, were once more the capable team they had been last season.
Manchester United, however, had to relive the years in which a lack of ruthlessness has kept them out of contention.
While Alex Ferguson's team continue to lead the Premiership, that position has a more provisional air today. As someone put it whimsically, everything is now in Chelsea's hands since they have only to win all their remaining fixtures to keep the title. That was just a flippant remark, considering all the unguessed-at events still to engross us, but it did reflect that this was a significant day.
Chelsea pulled off a spectacular recovery at Everton, whereas United shrank in stature once West Ham had gone in front. It has been a paradox that the Old Trafford club are comfortably the most prolific Premiership scorers, when they lack a six-yard box scavenger. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was eventually introduced from the bench, but United need a younger version of him, if such a person exists. The veteran Henrik Larsson will have to try to fill the void temporarily.
In the current campaign both Premiership defeats have been by this 1-0 margin. The weekend's tweak to the league table is not, of course, any cause for despair. There was much good play by United in a frisky match that misled most onlookers into believing that superior talent would be decisive in the long run.
All the same, certain decisions did look perverse. United like to interchange their wingers, but the impressive Cristiano Ronaldo ultimately spent too much time on the left. That came as a reprieve to West Ham.
On their other flank Paul Konchesky was potentially at risk. Admittedly Ronaldo almost produced what would surely have been a decisive goal from the left. In the 56th minute he aimed a low shot that Robert Green turned round his far post.
"We've been throwing away a lot of chances away from home," said a pained Ferguson.
It was noble of him not to rail against the referee for refusing a penalty when Anton Ferdinand kicked Nemanja Vidic, unless that had simply slipped the manager's mind because he was preoccupied with United's limitations.
Louis Saha struck good shots in the first half but Green was not tested to the limit by them.
West Ham, in any case, were uncowed even then. Bobby Zamora turned Rio Ferdinand in the 32nd minute but saw his shot blocked by Edwin van der Sar.
Body strength had its role in the winner, too, although it depended just as much on the guile of a former United player. Vidic was lured towards the West Ham right, where substitute Teddy Sheringham stranded him with a smart pass through his legs towards the near post. Ferdinand could not stop Marlon Harewood from rolling him. On this occasion there was no reprieve as Nigel Reo-Coker hit the cut-back into the net.
"We didn't deserve to lose but we have to gather ourselves and start another charge," said Ferguson. "We have got to show our mettle. That's the true mark of champions and we've proved it in the past. Two fantastic strikes won the game for (Chelsea) out of nothing. It's been a very important day for Chelsea and it's not been a great day for us, but the championship race is not going to be decided in December."
It was not a particularly far-fetched interpretation. Any awe for Chelsea's fightback at Goodison has to be offset by questions about the manner in which they landed themselves in such a mess in the first place. United, for whom Wayne Rooney headed narrowly wide after 38 minutes, could have won and seen that hailed as proof of excellence.
Yesterday was actually dominated by the survival instinct of Chelsea, not to mention the technical excellence of their shooting. United now have to counter the impression that it is Jose Mourinho's rugged group who will be more durable.
Guardian Service
