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Chelsea skipper John Terry celebrates a goal - Source: Reuters -
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Captain John Terry headed Chelsea five points clear at the top
of the Premier League on Monday 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, who
also lost to Liverpool last month.
Tottenham Hotspur are fourth on 22 after they beat Sunderland 2-0
on Sunday. Liverpool host Birmingham City on Tuesday.
Earlier on Monday, 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.
Weakened defence
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 United applied some pressure but it remained tight.
The absence of Ferdinand and Vidic proved key, however, eight
minutes later when United's defence got hopelessly confused
defending a straightforward Lampard free kick 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 forward Dimitar
Berbatov also absent through injury, too much fell on Rooney's
shoulders and the Chelsea defence was able to crowd him
out.
Terry's delight
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 told Sky Sports.
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."
United manager Alex Ferguson was left complaining about the free
kick that led to the goal and claimed his defenders were impeded
defending it.
"That goal shouldn't have been allowed," he said. "The referee's
position to make the decision was absolutely ridiculous, he can't
see anything.
"It was a bad decision, but there's nothing we can do about it. You
lose faith in refereeing sometimes, that's the way the players are
talking in there - it was a bad one.
"We have dominated the game and had great chances to win the match
and that's our fault.
"We should be finishing it off and we have only ourselves to blame
in that respect but we never got the break we needed. We did play
well and were the far better team."
What did you think of the game? Is the title Chelsea's to lose now or could Arsenal have a chance? Leave your comments below.......
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