All the headlines unfortunately about refereeing standards, sending offs, offside goals, safety stewards hurt, diving etc.. just a typical premiership game!
Sir Alex pulled a surprise at the beginning by going for a 4-4-2 formation with Ashley Young making a return to the starting line up. The midfield was a surprise with Cleverley started with Carrick with Scholes on the bench. The team had a bit more zip about it with Rooney just behind Van Persie and the team started like a rocket with 2 goals in the first 11 minutes.
The first goal was a good move with Young feeding Rooney down the right hand side of the box who then found Van Persie and with a first time shot smacked the post which then came out and hit the hapless David Luiz and diverted back into the net. A great start and given United propensity to go a goal behind early, there was a great feeling that this would be our day. Chelsea never recovered and before they knew it they were 2 down. Rio passed to Rafael who fed Valencia who outpaced a flat looking Ashley Cole and as he approached the box he drilled a perfect pass to Van persie and he smashed it in to give united a 2 goal advantage.
Chelsea had no answer and were constantly chasing trying to combat United, then the last 15 minutes of the half the Chelsea trio of Oscar, Hazard and Mata then got a foothold in the game and put the pressure on United, there was the scary moment of Jonny Evans hitting the post for Chelsea and de Gea making some Pat Jennings type saves with his feet and a fantastic save from Torres header. The pressure was telling on United and with Rooney made a daft tackle and the result was a free kick despatched past De Gea to half the deficit. Half time couldn't come soon enough especially when De Gea clearance come back with a one on one with Mata but thankfully saved. Torres was lucky to stay one after his Bruce Lee kick on Cleverley, the fact Cleverley got up and moved on saved Torres.
The second half started and United never got going and as a few close shaves with De Gea keeping out Chelsea but eventually Chelsea got the equaliser after a cross by Oscar was met by Ramires and game on. However, the game turned in a 5 minute spell where Chelsea had 2 players sent off. Ivanovic was red carded for pulling down Young on route to goal. No arguing it was a clear red and no arguments from Chelsea. The second was possibly harsh as Torres got a 2nd yellow for diving. However, he was clipped by Jonny Evans but whether it was enough to go down only Torres will know.
With the reduction in numbers, Sir Alex sniffed blood and Hernandez was sent on to put the pressure on and within minutes he scored. A shot by Van Persie was saved by Cech, the clearance was driven back in by Rafael and hernandez coming back from an offside position diverted the ball into the net.
I know a lot of Chelsea fans were upset but I still remember the Offside goal by Drogba at Old Trafford which clinched the title in 2010. Hernandez goal possibly karma for that misdemeanour in 2010.
Chelsea still gave it a go but where conscious of not conceding further and in the end United snuffed out any threat and picked up the three points.
Overall, it was a great performance by United. Rio and Evans looked strong at centre half and De gea made some crucial saves. The spark in midfield was Tony Valencia who made Ashley Cole look like a novice and Van Persie was a constant threat up front and taking a fare bit of abuse from David Luis.
The aftermath will take the headlines but the thing United fans will take from this is the 3 points and the closing the gap on Chelsea
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