A Sunday morning paper led with the scandalous revelation of John Terry’s dad, Ted, caught up in drug shame so it was fitting to see the England Captain using football to rise to the occasion, heading the only goal to sink a plucky United.

The Champions were overwhelming underdogs coming in to the match and the odds for an away win would have lengthened further when the team-sheet revealed the absence of Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and Dimitar Berbatov.

Undefeated in the previous five, and bagging nineteen goals with some awesome attacking displays, Chelsea where primed to give United a spanking. Even we here at Footy Matters could not help feel a metamorphosis of some sort was taking place between the two clubs with Chelsea turning on the flair and United grinding out victories in recent weeks.

Ironically, it was Chelsea who played poorly and without any attacking imagination, yet scrapped a very fortunate victory that sends them five points clear at the top.

United were set up in a 4-5-1 to deny Chelsea space and pressured their midfield diamond. With The Blues relying on their full backs for width, it was United who exploited the space left in behind with Wayne Rooney running the channels well. Wes Brown and Jonny Evans proved strong and disciplined as Drogba and Nicolas Anelka failed to make any form of impact.

It was United who suffered from a succession of poor decisions as the officials incorrectly pulled Rooney back for offside when through on goal; waved play on as Terry tugged Antonio Valencia to the floor inside the box; and awarded the dubious free-kick which led to the goal – the first time United have conceded from a set piece all season.

Didier Drogba, so long the boy who cried “wolf”, ensured his reputation earned him an unfair booking after an aerial collision with Evans, in which the United defender’s leap ended up as a flying kick into the fragile striker’s chest, leaving him rather comically writhing in pain. Overall however, it wasn’t a volatile match, unlike the defending on show here.

For all their possession and energy, United lacked that bit of quality in the final third. Ryan Giggs seemed uncharacteristically rushed in possession whilst Valencia seemed preoccupied with checking Ashley Cole’s forays.

Despite United producing their best display of the season, a draw would have satisfied both sides. Yet United know best of all that grinding out victories and having lady luck swing decisions in your favour goes a long way to becoming Champions.