8th November vs Chelsea. 0-1: Robbed, Cheated...and Dominant at the Bridge.

Anderson was amazing all game; working tirelessly in the centre, chasing down the ball every time Chelsea were in possession and being instrumental at creating attacking opportunities.

Manchester United against Chelsea is a big game, and always has been. Today however was one our most important league encounters against the West London rent boys. This was a game where a performance was not only imperative in order to regain top-spot; it was a necessity to inject our ailing, slow and generally unimpressive season with life and genuine hope. A win against the season's most impressive side would show the rest of this unconvinced League that we are still the real deal, are able to retain the trophy that we have kept at old Trafford for 3 seasons running, and are still 'united', even without the best player in the world.

Yet, as was perhaps inevitable coming into the game with the form Chelsea were in and the poor-form our own team have been in, we lost by a typically narrow margin. 1-0 to Chelsea.



But let’s get one thing straight: this was our best performance of the season.

The result may suggest otherwise, and I know this is probably something someone like Phil Brown would say if Hull ‘only’ lost 4-0 at the Bridge, but for once, we genuinely CAN highlight strong positives and promising features of our game today. In a season that has failed to gain any momentum and has been confined to below-par performances and ground-out victories that arguably highlight the influence of Ronaldo and his departure, this was a game that saw us challenge the thoughts of the growing number of haters, doubters and those quick to jump on the ‘Chelsea are DEFINITELY gonna win the league this season’ bandwagon due to their early good-form (…still only 12 games have been played…) compared with ours.

It was in a way a classic 'top 2' encounter. Opportunities weren’t so much presented in the form of direct goal-scoring chances (with us leading on shots on target 10 to 9), but more in the way the sides showed overall superiority on the ball that would slowly threaten the opposition defence. Coming forward we were (and in fairness, Chelsea also were) confident, clinical with our passing and movement, and extra careful in possession. This was THE game where room for error was not allowed; ironic considering that going into the game we were on the back of conceding 3 sloppy goals at home to an ok Russian side.

By fulltime though, I was genuinely encouraged and, above all, proud by our over-all team performance and of course, the players. It was a game where, as mentioned, we couldn’t dare be anything less than good; a performance consisting of our full dedication and concentration. And that’s exactly what we showed today, and to those so quick and naïve to dangerously rule us out of the running.

In each area of the field, we were confident and capable of signalling our intent on keeping hold of this title. Van der sar was flawless; composed and professional, however he only really had to make one decent save (from Anelka in the first half), thus leading me nicely onto the defence. The full-backs were comfortable enough at performing their attacking and supporting duties; yet it was the makeshift centre-back pairing that was most accomplished so that VDS was barely threatened in goal. Brown and Evans gave two of the most in-form strikers in the world a quiet afternoon – especially the prolific Drogba, who never exceeded beyond average all game. It’s not that he suddenly had an off day or played completely out of position; it was because young Johnny Evans and Wes Brown didn’t give him a sniff. They were tight on the attackers, heading the ball confidently and solidly out of the danger-zones, intelligent with their movement on the ball and above all, perfectly positioned and never caught wondering to give Chelsea too much space (Evans brilliantly recovering and learning from his fault mid-week for CSKA’s first goal).

In midfield, Fletcher and especially Anderson were technically better and surprisingly more dominant with possession than Lampard (who I thought was sh*t and couldn’t win the ball back without trying to break someone’s legs) and Essien (who was actually quite good). Rooney in the first half, as I feared considering the ineffectiveness of playing him as a lone-striker (NB: Arsenal at home), was isolated and unproductive; yet in the second half his movement into deeper areas of the field allowed him to play a better passing game, where he found more of the ball and was even able to shoot from distance.

I do realise that I have made myself out to sound like the most loyal, believing supporter in the world who has single-handedly been fighting my idealistic claim that ‘United are still the best!’…when in fact, I can easily – and ashamedly – be classified amongst those ‘naïve’ enough to think that we were not good enough this year. But who can blame me? Going into this game we were the underdogs, and the stats will show that we lost in what is considered a fair result baring in mind the form of the two teams as well the heightened level of quality Chelsea have shown in recent games.

But the reality was, on the day, we were as good, if not better. It goes without saying that Chelsea are going to be right up there in May, but as runaway winners? Not if United have anything to do with it. And let’s face it; everyone knows that today’s game – which was destined to head into a nervy final 10 minutes with both teams fighting for a win; but probably ending up sharing the points – was decided by an unfair goal. One that should have been disallowed on 3 counts to be precise. Fletcher’s challenge that conceded the free-kick? Fair. Drogba’s handling of Brown as the ball was played in? Should have been a United free-kick. And finally, Drogba’s positioning as the ball was played in and his consequent involvement with the goal (sticking a leg out to try and meet the ball)? Offside.



It really was an unfortunate, sickening incident that I knew we would be unable to recover from and that our brilliant performance would be undone and ignored. We continued pushing and fighting the United way (as 15+ minutes were still left on the clock), but of course Chelsea resiliently held off our threat.

For all our efforts, we ended up frustrated and deep down cheated out of what should have been at least a point; and a firm re-establishment of our authority on this league.

I do hope that people will not merely look at this as a 'Chelsea win against the crumbling Champions'; although I have no doubt they will. But it doesn't really matter. Beyond the unfortunate result and annoyance at not taking advantage of being able to regain top spot, we will be encouraged. Anderson had the game to get his season going (and reassert Sir Alex's faith in him); our defence, consisting of only 1 regular, was secure and forceful against one of the best strike-partnerships in the world; Rooney coped well against their back two and worked tirelessly all game; and Fletcher once again staked a claim at being the new Keano.

Today we lost, but today we also showed the potential and willingness forever inert in this side. The shape, style and core of this side may be different this season; but it clearly still has life and promise and above all, that fighting, championship-winning, United spirit. Chelsea to runaway with it this year? I think the Champions might have other ideas about that.





 RoM Reaction To Daylight Robbery At Stamford Bridge