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As it happened: Chelsea v United

 CHELSEA 3-1 MANCHESTER UNITED
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Commentary by Carlo Petersen


20:02 - Thanks for joining us folks! Well done to the Blues and Mourinho. Chelsea are in third position on the table after this match, one point behind Man City, who have 50 after 22 games and Man United are in seventh on 37 points.


19:59Mourinho will be more than happy with the result as he bags his 100th Premier League win in 142 games. He's the fastest to reach that mark in the Premier League era. Phenomenal!


19:53 - That's it! Chelsea still in the race for top honours as Manchester United drop another three points. It's becoming shameful stuff for the champions, who should seriously be thinking about what is going to happen with Moyes. He looks a bit out of his depth at the club  his track record did not warrant being appointed manager of Manchester United. On top of that he faced the perfect storm at Old Trafford; Sir Alex Ferguson had retired, David Gill, the highly regarded chief executive had moved on and Moyes, himself, rashly replaced the existing coaching staff. Add to all this the fact that he inherited a team that was in need of urgent restructuring yet the summer transfer opportunities were botched. That restructuring will be more difficult now as the attraction of Old Trafford has surely diminished for top class players. A strong horse will always be preferred to a weak horse and unfortunately David Moyes will be regarded as a weak horse.


19:49 - Vidic gets his marching orders from ref Phil Dowd after bringing Hazard down rather harshly in the middle of the park.


19:49 - RED CARD! 


19:47 - We are in the last minute of the ninety. United still trying to get in there.


19:45 - Sickening symptom of modern football... Nemanja Matic is on for Chelsea, Willian makes way after running the length of the most popular Proclaimers song.Eish! Willian has been good to watch today though and has worked tirelessly. Good performance by the Brazilian.


19:41 - United free kick 30 yards out. Carrick plays a shot pass to Rafael. That's surely optimistic shot range? Worked to Januzaj on the left whose cross is caught high and easily by Petr Cech.


19:40 - Eto'o comes off to a standing ovation and is replaced by Fernando Torres.


19:38 -  It seems Mourinho has instructed Chelsea to treat the rest of the match as a defensive training session. They're deep and giving it to United every time they're on the ball. Even after the goal, United are struggling to string more than five consecutive passes together or do anything threatening in the final third.


19:36 - Chicharito finds the net for United after diverting in a shot from Jones.


19:35 - GOAL!!!


19:35 - After a better spell from United, some more hilarity at the back for Chelsea, with Cech nearly conceding in farcical fashion, controlling a back-pass he should have leathered and giving Chicharito invitation to nick it off him. Cech saves himself with a high element of fortune, slipping as he attempts to backheel the ball away. It ends up looking extremely skilful, but it almost certainly wasn't.


19:31 - TWEET:

Bring Rooney, even if he's on a stretcher! -
- @mthombothi


19:30 - John Obi Mikel is on for Chelsea! Goal time... Oscar makes way. Some high-level farce at the back from Chelsea to keep things marginally interesting, Cahill clearing into Ramires's backside and Cech scrambling back as the ball briefly looks like creeping in. Wide. Decent corner from United, Welbeck heads it wide of the other post.


19:25 - PICTURE:

Out of sorts: Dejected Manchester United players after Chelsea scored their third goal. (Gallo Images)


19:20 - Willian has been doing well to make a nuisance of himself against United today. He feeds Ramires 25 yards from goal and his shot is hit with power. Slightly too much, in fact. It's over the bar.


19:17 - Javier Hernandez makes the sign of the cross before coming on for Ashley Young. United will need that blessing today...


19:15 - Luck is with the Blues today. Ashley Young handles in front of the Shed. Those in it that support Chelsea scream for a free kick. Phil Dowd gives it them.


19:12 - Smalling replaces Evra, who limps off the pitch.


19:10 - Is there a way back for United? One would have tho9ught it possible with SAF in charge, but this seems too big a task for these Devils.


19:07 - Etoó again after some dismal defending from United the ball from a corner ricochets off De Gea and onto the striker's foot. Easily put away there by there by Etoó, who claims his hattrick!


19:06 - GOAL!!!


19:05 - United start well enough again with Young swinging in a freekick from the left. Not good enough though.


19:01 - The second half is underway at Stamford Bridge.


18:53 - PICTURE:

Brace yourself: Samuel Etoó has been on target twice for Chelsea today. Here he takes on Phil Jones from Manchester United. (Gallo Images)


18:48 - It's half-time!


18:46 - Chelsea are making their chances count today as Etoó again gets the better of De Gea. United clear the corner well enough but fail to deal with the aftermath. United trot forward, Ramires works the ball back out wide for Hazard, his low ball finds Eto'o in a dangerously empty box. He only needs a suggestion of a finish to direct it past De Gea. Where were the markers? Well worked from Chelsea, though. Ramires, particularly.  


18:45 - Eto'o scores again!


18:45 - GOAL!!!


18:42 - The Blues turn o n the gas now with Hazard, who pulls away two defenders to the right before flicking the ball in to Eto'o, who gets another deflection, this time on a pass inside to Oscar. The ball hangs up in the air - Oscar watches it all the way and attempts an overhead kick. Decent contact, but it's over the bar. 


18:39 - Januzaj with some good skill on the edge of the box but his shot too tame for Cech.


18:37 - Januzaj does well to get a low ball over from the left and finds Welbeck in a bit of space. A great chance to score but the young striker can't get his foot around it. Soft effort in the end and far too easy a save for Cech.


18:34 - Ashley Young takes a necessary booking as Ramires muscles past him towards the right flank.


18:32 - PICTURE:

Close shave: Ashley Young's shot at goal in the opening minutes. (Gallo Images)


18:27 - Evra goes flying down the left wing before unleashing a venomous shot which looks like it's gone in, but hits the side netting. Chelsea off the hook.


18:26 - Hammered low across the six yard box. No-one in red gets anything on it. Worrying. Fortunately for them there's no-one in blue to apply a close-range finish either. It's recovered on the other side, and Hazard's chipped cross goes behind for a goal kick.


18:26 - First stirrings from Hazard wide on the left. He glides past Vidic then Rafael like he's powered by a far more powerful fuel than both. Evans sticks a leg out at his cross. It's a corner.


18:26 - The bitter and fuirious United bench get excited about a heavy challenge from Luiz on Rafael right in front of them. David Moyes suggests an elbow might have been involved via the medium of mime. Don't think he's right, but it was overly physical, and Luiz is booked.


18:24 - TWEET:

Eto'o justifying that selection after a bright start by Manchester United. Now the niggle begins.

- @JohnDykesUK


18:22 -  Mourinho is being goaded by the noisy United following in the Shed End, where they can be heard singing: "Jose Mourinho, you wanted this job."


18:19 - United are not taking that goal laying down though. They seem intent on keeping their attack going but Chelsea look very dangerous on the break.


18:17 - Eto’o gets the goal after his shot took the slightest of deflection off Carricks boot and went curling into the top left-hand corner.


18:16 - GOAL!!!


18:16 - Chelsea seem to be coming into the game a little more now, mostly on the break though. Not much in the way of pressure in the space in front of United's back four, Willian bringing the ball forward at pace without much bother. Shoots with fury, takes a big deflection but results in a clean catch for De Gea.


18:14 - So far Chelsea have found it difficult to get their passing game going with United looking to push the ball high up the pitch and attack their hosts.


18:12 - Moyes will no doubt be happy with United's start as we see United still bossing it. They havr had 73 percent of possession so far.


18:09 - Freekick to Chelsea as Jones loses the ball and then brings down Hazard, who tumbles over his own man, Luiz and they all go to ground in a heap of misery.


18:07 - Eto'o goes on a decebt looking run but then goes down under the challenge from Young... no foul given.


18:05 - Second corner goes begging for United as the ball goes whizzing across the face of goal and nobodies there to force it in.


18:04 - Good start from the Mancs!


18:01 - The Devils with some early possession - looking threatening in Chelsea"s final thrid. Young gets an early chance after a neat one-two with Welbeck on the edge of the area! He shoots across goal from the left, but Cech does well to get down and save with his legs.


18:00 - United kick-off and the match is underway.


17:59 - The players have taken the field at Stamford Bridge and all look focused to get stuck in there! 


17:57 - Chelsea will no doubt be going for the jugular after Manchester United's recent slump in form. But let's hope the Red Devils come to the party and make this match the classic game it could so easily be.


17:56 - Good day and welcome to Sport24's coverage of what should be a cracker of a game!


17:30 - WHAT THE 'EXPERTS' SAY...

Take our advice at your peril on this weekend's matches...


17:30 - CHELSEA TEAM NEWS

- Jose Mourinho is looking for his 100th Premier League victory as manager

- The Blues have won five and drawn one of their last six Premier League games, conceding only two goals

- It is 19 games since Chelsea last lost at Stamford Bridge - a 1-0 derby defeat by Queens Park Rangers on January 2, 2013


17:30 - MANCHESTER UNITED TEAM NEWS

- United are unbeaten in their last seven Premier League away matches (W5, D2)

- They have lost six of their first 21 league matches for the first time since 2001/02

- David Moyes' side have only won two of 10 matches against top-half opposition this season (W2, D3, L5)


17:30 - MATCH FACTS

- Manchester United have won more games than Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, with 30 wins to Chelsea's 22.

- The last fixture at Stamford Bridge saw United win 3-2 against Chelsea's nine men in October 2012.

- Jose Mourinho has never lost a home game against Manchester United in two spells as Chelsea manager.


17:30 - WEEKEND FIXTURES AND RESULTS

Saturday, January 18

Sunderland v Southampton
West Ham United v Newcastle United
Norwich City v Hull City
Arsenal v Fulham
Manchester City v Cardiff City
Crystal Palace v Stoke City
Liverpool v Aston Villa

Sunday, January 19

Swansea City v Tottenham Hotspur
Chelsea v Manchester United

Monday, January 20

West Bromwich Albion v Everton - 22:00


17:30 - ENGLISH PREMIERSHIP LOG

Click to view the latest English Premiership standings


17:30 - WOWZERS! 

This has to be the sexiest calendar you've EVER seen!

Click HERE to view...


TEAMS:

Chelsea: Cech; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta; Ramires, David Luiz; Willian, Oscar, Hazard; Eto’o

Subs: Schwarzer, Cole, Mikel, Matic, Lampard, Mata, Torres.

Manchester United: De Gea; Rafael, Evans, Vidic, Evra; Valencia, Carrick, Jones, Young; Januzaj; Welbeck.

Subs: Lindegaard, Giggs, Smalling, Hernandez, Cleverley, Fletcher, Kagawa

Ref: Phil Dowd


18:00 - Welcome to Sport24's LIVE scoring and interactive commentary on today's English Premiership clash between Chelsea and Manchester United from Stamford Bridge.


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