United ends Chelsea's unbeaten run Monday, November 06, 2005
Ronaldo races past the Chelsea defence
Darren Fletcher ended a turbulent week for Manchester United with a first-half header that sealed a 1-0 victory at Old Trafford and ended Chelsea's 40-game unbeaten run in the Premiership.
Fletcher, one of those players criticised by Roy Keane during his now infamous MUTV interview last week, clinched the win and restored United's battered pride when he headed home on 31 minutes.
Although both sides went into the game on the back of a defeat, United's need for a positive result far outweighed Chelsea's.
Last week's 4-1 hammering at Middlesbrough, Keane's explosive comments and the midweek Champions League defeat against Lille in Paris prompted talk of a club in crisis and United simply had to deliver the goods against Jose Mourinho's men.
It was not going to be an easy task considering Chelsea's impressive record at Old Trafford.
The London club had lost just four league games at United since 1966-67, but United started the game in a determined mood and the events of the past week appeared to act as an inspiration.
And United boss Alex Ferguson denied there had been pressure prior to the hard-fought victory.
"The talk about pressure was absolute bollocks. Did you know that we actually went thirteen games without winning once? People forget these things.
"I don't care about it at all and winning is all that's important here and how you handle the criticism. The players have got on with the job. Everybody goes through bad spells and when you have bad spells, you fall points behind the leaders.
"For an hour against Chelsea we were terrific, but we were under the cosh for the last ten minutes because they went for everything, but that's what champions do.
"My young players have to get consistency, but the bones of my team are sitting in the stand at the moment and are no use to us, so the young players have been carrying the mantle for weeks now, but they showed cool heads and lot of composure," Ferguson said.
Chelsea counterpart Jose Mourinho claimed his side should have at least salvaged a point from the game.
"We didn't deserve to lose the game and I am not happy to lose, but I am proud of the performance of my players.
"We were by far the better team in the second half, but United got in front and defended with a lot of spirit and effort. They didn't deserve to win, but they fought for their victory."
Cristiano Ronaldo emphasised the attacking ambition within the United ranks when he fired a 30-yard strike over the crossbar within the opening three minutes, but Didier Drogba reminded the home side of the task they faced when he reacted to Frank Lampard's pass before seeing Edwin van der Sar save his close range lob five minutes later.
Having played so dismally against Lille, United had bite in the tackle and a purpose to their attacking play, with man-of-the-match Alan Smith and Paul Scholes in particular making life difficult for Chelsea in midfield.
And the home side were rewarded on 31 minutes when Fletcher deservedly put United ahead with a looping far post header.
The Scotland midfielder escaped his marker at the far post to connect with Ronaldo's cross, but his header appeared to be too acute to find the net.
However, the ball looped high before dropping into the net at the far post beyond the head of Chelsea captain John Terry.
Buoyed by the goal, United continued to press Chelsea in the second-half and the home side wasted a golden chance to extend their lead on 54 minutes when Ruud van Nistelrooy fired over the crossbar from ten yards.
Wayne Rooney's floated pass had picked out Fletcher inside the penalty area, but the Scot's perfect pass to Van Nistelrooy lacked the finishing touch it deserved.
United couldn't afford to be so wasteful against a team of Chelsea's attacking threat and Drogba and Lampard both gave the home side worrying moments as the champions went in search of an equaliser.
Chelsea's onslaught continued and Lampard and Asier del Horno both went agonisingly close to equalising as United were pushed further and further back.
Lampard was brilliantly denied by van der Sar from close range on 68 minutes after good work by Drogba and full-back Del Horno then volleyed over the crossbar from six yards after racing onto Duff's cross.
Substitute Shaun Wright-Phillips then forced van der Sar into another fine save with a low strike from 25 yards, but United held out to seal a dramatic victory.
"That kind of performance has always been there," said United star Smith.
"But sometimes you need a reminder that you are performing at a big club and that you are no longer at your previous club," he said in reference to Keane's outburst at his team-mates.
English Premiership table after Sunday's matches (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points):
