Manchester United maintain unbeaten start to the season

The score line may read 3-1 but that doesn't tell the whole story. Manchester United may leave today with all three points, but Alex Ferguson will know his side may not have kept their 100% record had Chelsea been more clinical in front of goal; Ramires and Torres missing sitters for the away side. Chelsea will be kicking themselves as they failed to convert chance after chance that fell their way; however Andre Villas-Boas will be able to take some positives from the game. None more so than the performance of under fire striker Fernando Torres. His performance today was a throwback to his days at Liverpool were he terrorised defences. His two assists in midweek seemed to have boosted his confidence and he gave United’s young defence all sorts of problems. His goal, seconds into the second half was brilliantly taken; after an exquisite pass from substitute Nicolas Anelka the Spaniard calmly flicked the ball over the oncoming David De Gea. Torres though will be rueing his missed chance with ten minutes to go. Having done all the hard work to get round United’s number 1, after selling him a brilliant dummy he somehow managed miss the target from two yards.

Chris Smalling gives his side the lead

Nothing should be taken away from the home sides attacking performance, although it may have not been as clinical as the 8-2 thrashing of Arsenal they still converted more chances than their opposition; scoring three of their seven chances on target compared Chelsea’s one from nine . The game started very open with both sides going on the attack, but it was United who took the lead after eight minutes. Chris Smalling heading in Ashley Young’s free kicking unmarked at the back post. The replays showed he was offside but the linesman’s flag stayed down. Half an-hour later the home side doubled their lead the impressive Nani receiving the ball out wide on the right, before cutting in and rocketing a right footed shot past the helpless Petr Cech. Again there was a hint of offside. The game seemed to be wrapped up on the stroke of half time when Rooney scored his 9th goal of the season after a fortunate deflection in the box allowed him to tap in from two yards. Torres scored only his second goal for Chelsea twenty-five seconds into the second half. Aswell as Torres' awful miss in the second half, Rooney managed to put his penalty wide aswell as hitting the post from 6yards.



Nani celebrates doubling Uniteds lead

Ferguson will be happy after taking all three points but there will be concerns about Javier Hernandez who hobbled off after an awful challenge from Ashley Cole. With City dropping points today United now lead the premiership outright and at the moment you can't really see anyone stopping the 19 times champions making it 20.

Jack Doone-Daniels