Man Utd 1-0

Independent:


Chelsea 1 Manchster United 0

By MICHAEL CALVIN

Eden Hazard proves the difference as Blues close in on Premier League title

Hazard's first-half finish was enough to secure victory and mean Chelsea need six points to win the title


Chelsea have not lost since New Year’s Day, and will approach next Sunday’s visit to Arsenal with an understandable degree of confidence. They are ten points clear, with eminently winnable games against Leicester City, Crystal Palace, West Bromwich Albion and Sunderland to come.

Since this is the time of the year when football’s gong shows take centre stage, the onus was on Eden Hazard to justify the acclamation.  The best players, the most revered marquee signings, dominate such occasions by instinct and inclination.

He has answered doubts about his workrate, having increased the ground he covers during an average match from 9.5km to 10.2km. He was central to Chelsea’s strategy of coping with United surfeit of possession and hitting them on the break.

His decisive goal, seven minutes from half time, was a mixture of precision and incision. He ran on to Oscar’s back heel, and his awareness of space and time enabled him to wait for the perfect moment to slide the ball between De Gea’s legs.

Louis Van Gaal screamed into the face of fourth official Craig Pawson, who stood at the mouth of the tunnel, that Terry had fouled Falcao just inside the United half in the build up. His post-match handshake with Mourinho was a notably stern formality. Chelsea know United will be a different proposition next season.

United’s monolithic commercial department had evidently missed a trick, given the speed at which tee shirts, depicting Angel Di Maria as Rodney and Louis Van Gaal as Del Boy, were flying off the roadside stalls. The tagline - “this time next year we’ll be champions” – was a cross between a wish and a demand.

The outcome of Chelsea’s trade-off between fulfilment and popularity was as pre-ordained as the game plan. They are quite happy to be regarded as charmless champions, since its suits the myth of their victimhood. They are Millwall manqué, rebels with regal pretensions.

Mourinho was, of course, charm personified beforehand. He even got Manuel Pellegrini’s name right, the ultimate give away since his studied sympathy for the City manager’s plight signalled his lack of threat and status. Van Gaal is an entirely different platter of Dutch deep-fried meatballs.

All new managers proclaim a clean slate and promise reputations have been consigned to history, but his United team mirrors meritocratic principles.  Ashley Young and Marouane Fellaini, fragile beauty and unkempt beast, began well to reinforce their reinvention as big time players in a big match team that had lost only once in eight previous meetings with the top six.

The presence of Kurt Zouma in midfield was a backhanded compliment to Fellaini’s threat as he played off the recalled Radamel Falcao. Wayne Rooney dropped deeper, and clearly considered himself the orchestrator. He forgot to be a finisher.

Paddy McNair brought the ball intelligently out of defence in the fifth minute, before finding Young, whose pass inside Branislav Ivanovic was met by the overlapping Luke Shaw. He had the presence of mind to roll a pass into the path of the unmarked Rooney, but his left footed shot from just inside the penalty area went wide.

The ball hit the stanchion behind the goal and bounced along the net, which rippled and provided enough of an optical illusion for David De Gea to turn to celebrate with the travelling fans in the Shed, at the other end of the ground.

It was the sort of fixture which attracted the Premier League tourists. One classic specimen, more suited to polo in the park than a barney at the Bridge, wore salmon pink trousers and suede elbow patches on his sweater. At least as the drama of the game deepened, the atmosphere was suitably vibrant.

De Gea, subject of further speculation he has succumbed to Real Madrid’s courtship rituals, was relatively untroubled, apart from a peerless punch under pressure from John Terry and a marginal handball call on the edge of his own area.

Chelsea may lack  the edge of Carlo Ancelotti’s title winners in 2010, who recorded league doubles against United, Arsenal, and Liverpool, but no one can deny their resilience, and ability to strike with speed and calmness on the break.

Fabregas, last seen in a face mask following a Dick Turpin performance at QPR, excelled in a number ten role which gave Hazard room to ,manoeuvre . Chelsea’s problem was further forward, since Didier Drogba has reached the stage of marginal decline in which he is taunted by visions of his former self.

The Drogba of old would have galloped on to a pass of the quality provided by Nemanja Matic, eleven minutes into the second half. He had the strength to hold off Chris Smalling but his shot was delayed and deflected. Hazard sensed an opportunity, and hooked the ball against the top of the upright.

Falcao, as underwhelming as ever, hit the outside of the upright as time ticked away. United’s fans got a measure of retaliation in, by suggesting Mourinho “wanted to come” to Old Trafford, but he is enjoying life at Stamford Bridge, thanks very much.



Chelsea: (4-2-3-1) Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta; Zouma, Matic; Oscar (Ramires 67), Fabregas (Mikel 91), Hazard (Willian 93); Drogba.

Manchester Utd: (4-1-4-1) De Gea; Valencia, Smalling, McNair, Shaw (Blackett, 80); Herrera; Mata (Januzaj, 70), Fellaini, Rooney, Young (Di Maria, 70); Falcao.

Referee: Mike Dean

Man of the match: Hazard (Chelsea)

Match rating: 6/10


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Guardian:

Chelsea’s Eden Hazard sinks Manchester United to bring title closer

Daniel Taylor


There really can be no doubt now that when the ribbons are attached to the Premier League trophy the light blue of Manchester City will be replaced by a darker shade of the same colour. José Mourinho’s team are ticking off the challenges and their lead is now 10 points. With half a dozen games to go, the residents of Fulham can expect a letter advising them of plans for an open-top bus parade.

For long spells it was a conservative and restrained performance, but there is an expertise ingrained in this Chelseateam about the art of winning through structure, stubbornness and get-the-job-done know-how and, when the opposition makes an error, being absolutely clinical. It also helps they have a left-sided attacker, Eden Hazard, who could feasibly finish the season with a clean sweep of the player-of-the-year awards.

Hazard’s contribution has been immense and it was his goal, late in the first half, that gave Chelsea the opportunity to show their qualities of endurance. The ovation when he was substituted told its own story and it was not long afterwards that Mourinho was out of his dugout demanding more noise. His team could settle everything by winning their next two matches, against Arsenal and Leicester, and Mourinho was clearly just going through the motions when he insisted it was wrong to assume the title was heading to Stamford Bridge.

Tactically, he said, the game had been “exactly what we wanted” and his eulogy did stray dangerously close to sounding like a victory speech. “I’m the one that knows how fantastic it was. JT was amazing. Azpilicueta was the best player on the pitch. Matic worked like an animal. Zouma put Fellaini outside the game. The No11 [Didier Drogba] was another animal, fighting against two kids with the age to be his sons. And Hazard was what we know. Eden had that magic.”

Mourinho seemed pretty pleased with himself too bearing in mind the tactical straightjacket that meant all of United’s better performers recently – not just Fellaini but also Ashley Young, Juan Mata and Ander Herrera – were subdued. Radamel Falcao did strike the post in the second half but the player of old would have converted that chance and Louis van Gaal took everyone by surprise when he described it as United’s best performance of the season. The exaggeration was complete when he said Chelsea had not even managed a single chance in the first half. Hazard’s goal came in the 38th minute.

Mourinho’s first trick came before kick-off when huge jets of water started to cascade and the playing surface was drenched to the point the ball could actually be seen splashing in certain areas. The idea, plainly, was to slow down the game, though United did start brightly and moved the ball quickly during the early exchanges. Not long before Hazard stuck his shot between David de Gea’s legs, the possession statistics had flashed up that Chelsea had seen only 30% of the ball. Hazard’s goal arrived just at the point Stamford Bridge was starting to feel a little anxious.

Van Gaal could be seen remonstrating with the fourth official, Craig Pawson, after the goal because he was convinced there had been a foul by John Terry in the buildup. It was rare to see the Dutchman in that finger-pointing pose but his anger would be more accurately directed at his players. Chris Smalling’s pass out of defence was the first problem, in keeping with a recurring theme when the centre-half is on the ball. Falcao had Terry closing in from behind and as soon as Chelsea’s captain came away with the ball the away team were vulnerable. Oscar’s backheel was measured perfectly to leave Hazard scampering into the penalty area and the Belgian drew De Gea out of his goal before slotting in his shot.

Chelsea had looked short of ideas until that point, attacking only sporadically despite the presence of the promising but raw Paddy McNair in United’s defence and a new round of injury issues affecting Van Gaal’s thinking. Luke Shaw’s surging runs from left-back were a prominent feature.

Antonio Valencia had the same ambitions on the opposite side and, early on, Wayne Rooney really ought to have done better with one of Shaw’s cutbacks, managing only to hit the stanchion behind the goal. The chance fell to Rooney’s left foot and, for all his qualities, England’s captain rarely excels when the ball is on that side.

Chelsea stuck rigidly to their tactics once they had taken the lead, determined not to lose their shape and restricting themselves to counter-attacks. Drogba got away at one point and when his shot flicked off Smalling it looped over De Gea to drop at the far post. Hazard tried an improvisational hook-shot but could only turn a bouncing ball against the post. That apart, De Gea was seldom threatened.

The old Falcao might have buried the chance that came to him later on, after spinning away from Zouma, but Ander Herrera deserved his yellow card after flicking out his foot to try to manufacture a penalty from Gary Cahill’s challenge. The final whistle came soon afterwards and Chelsea celebrated like champions in waiting, however much their manager insisted he was taking nothing for granted.


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Telegraph:


Chelsea 1 Manchester United 0

Eden Hazard strikes again as hosts close in on title

Jason Burt


Chelsea now have one hand on the Premier League trophy - and used the other to fend off an irrepressible Manchester United who were desperately unfortunate to lose this encounter which put a brake on their own resurgence.

There was no champagne football from Jose Mourinho's side apart from the brilliance of Eden Hazard - this was park-the-bus, get-the-job-done- but the corks will soon be popping. A 10-point lead at the helm of the table with six games to go appears insurmountable and with it a third league title under Mourinho even if they would appear set for a more formidable challenge from this developing United side next season. But that is for the future.

The fear was that with injuries and depletions a stalemate could evolve which would suit both sides, but that danger was swept away inside four minutes. Wayne Rooney should have scored. It came as Luke Shaw, recalled with left-backs injured, overlapped down the flank and cut the ball back to Rooney.

Unmarked, with time and space, the United captain steadied himself and slotted his shot wide. Not that far wide – David de Gea even celebrated in the United goal believing his team-mate had scored – but wide enough. Rooney knew he should have hit the target.

But it signalled United’s intent and soon afterwards Shaw’s low shot was blocked by Nemanja Matic. There did not appear to be a period of adjustment for the visitors, buoyed through their recent string of restorative victories, even if they had shuffled their pack with Rooney deployed more deeply in midfield although it was Ander Herrera who took the holding role.

Chelsea also strove. A chance opened up for Cesc Fabregas – pushed into the No  10 role as Mourinho shored up his midfield to counter the threat of Marouane Fellaini by using Kurt Zouma – but De Gea saved his poked shot with his legs. From the corner Didier Drogba headed over.

The game crackled with intent and it was United who began to take a degree of control. They began to dominate possession; were winning the challenges and recycling the ball and looked to press home their advantage.

Chelsea’s frustrations grew. The dominant chant came from United supporters goading Mourinho. “Jose Mourinho, you wanted the job,” they sang.

Drogba was struggling to lead the line and Chelsea could not gain a foothold as Herrera and Rooney conducted matters through the United midfield. Such was their dominance that United surely had to press home their advantage. They did not. It was Fellaini who had to be alert, as Chelsea broke, to steal in ahead of Oscar inside the six-yard area after a clever back-heel by Fabregas. That move also involved Eden Hazard – and where there was the Belgian there was hope for Chelsea.

They broke again, from a poor United free-kick, with Branislav Ivanovic bravely heading on to Oscar, who crossed deep. The ball dropped on the edge of the penalty area and was cleared by the onrushing De Gea – with his hand, just outside the area. De Gea had kept his arm down but certainly used it although that was only clear through replays. The assistant referee was unsighted by the covering Antonio Valencia. De Gea could, indeed should, have been sent off.

United did not escape, though. Soon afterwards Falcao was too easily shrugged off the ball by John Terry – Van Gaal protested that it was a foul – and Oscar eventually back-heeled into the path of Hazard, whom Herrera failed to track. Hazard ran on and easily slipped the ball between De Gea’s legs into the net. Chelsea, improbably, were ahead.

Just before half-time Falcao almost stole in, after fine build-up by United, but Thibaut Courtois was alert to flick the ball away for another corner.

It capped a miserable half for the Colombian who had also tussled with Terry by the touchline after another challenge but he emerged, early, along with the rest of the United team for the resumption. Mourinho also took his seat early. He will have been pleased with the stickability shown by his players and the edge given by Hazard.

And it was Hazard again surging forward from his own half, evading Rooney’s lunge – fortunately for Rooney - and lifting his team again as Chelsea attempted to increase their lead and United attempted to work their way back into contention.

But then it was almost over. Herrera, horribly, drove the ball straight to Matic who immediately released Drogba. Not so long ago the striker would have sprinted away but Chris Smalling scampered back. Even then Drogba lifted the ball over De Gea and there was Hazard. The angle was tight but he still nudged the ball against the post before it was hacked away.

Ivanovic tripped Shaw and from the free-kick the ball was pulled back to the United defender whose side-footed shot was deflected away. Paddy McNair then forced a block from Courtois with a powerful, swerving drive, with Matic beating Fellaini to the rebound, before Shaw again surged forward, again surged around Ivanovic only for Juan Mata - who had endured a frustrating return to Stamford Bridge - to struggle to keep his effort on goal under control. It bounced onto the roof off the net.

Once more the pressure increased. Again Shaw cleverly stepped forward to pick out Fellaini who chested the ball down to Rooney. Again the shot was deflected narrowly wide before Falcao drove an effort past the post and Rooney failed to get enough elevation in a chip to drift the ball over Courtois. Still the visitors persevered and Gary Cahill was quick enough to block Falcao's first-time shot.

Van Gaal acted. He changed both his wide attackers although he resisted the temptation to push Rooney further forward given that United continued to dominate in midfield. Finally Falcao did wriggle free, superbly turning Zouma, only to strike the angle of post and cross-bar. It just would not happen for Falcao or for United with Herrera booked for a dive as he sought a penalty.



===============


Mail:


Chelsea 1-0 Manchester United: Eden Hazard strikes as Jose Mourinho's men take another step towards the Premier League title


By Rob Draper for The Mail on Sunday


Two more games; that’s all it will take. Two more games and Jose Mourinho will have confirmed his mastery of the Premier League with a third title in five attempts at the trophy and Chelsea will be crowned champions.

The clue that this was the decisive game was in the manic nature of the second half. Not on the pitch, but on the touchline. Mourinho and his assistant Rui Faria were up and down with unusual intensity, even for them, waving players back with the most extravagant gestures when they lost the ball.

Hold on to this lead, was the implicit message, and a huge step will have been taken to the ultimate goal. In fact, as One Step Beyond played at the end of the game and the players congregated in the centre circle, there was a sense that the celebrations were already in swing.

Two more games of course have to be won and that includes a visit to Arsenal next week. But there can be little doubt as to the destination of the title after this result. The hard work of the winter has been done.

Mourinho was haveing none of it of course, rightly so, insisting they need eight points. They need nine, actually, to be sure, but beat Arsenal next week and then they will need just three more. ‘If the celebration is because we beat one the biggest clubs in the world, I understand that,’ he said. ‘If the celebration is because the players gave everything to win that game and they feel the result of the work they did this week, then I also understand that.

‘But if they are celebrating something more than that – not at all. It’s three points. Every point we get is one step in the title direction but no more than that.’

Yet though Chelsea were on the back foot for much of the game, though Manchester United did play well, the champions elect were worth their win not least in the fact that they were more or less in control of their destiny and they had the outstanding player on the pitch in Eden Hazard.

When he nut-megged David De Gea for the opening goal, it was as though the race to be player of the season – they are both shortlisted for the award - had become a personal feud. The finish was both ruthless and decisive, an indication of how far he has grown.

But he was not alone. The team approached their task with the cold, quite professionalism required of champions; not all titles are won at a canter with a spring in the step. Sometimes getting across the line is enough hand.

Louis van Gaal felt his team, shorn of Michael Carrick, Marcos Rojo and Daley Blind, deserved more. ‘I’m very proud of my team,’ he said. ‘We played the best match this season but in football you can lose in spite of you being the better team.

‘It's amazing how we have played here. When you have seen the statistics, it's unbelievable that the result is 1-0. We count it that we have made a big step forward in our process. But for the fans, they have lost. And Manchester United have lost.

‘We were always in our opponent's half. In spite of the difference and despite Chelsea's defensive organisation, we have created more chances. That's an unbelievable performance – but, read the score.’

Mourinho had the perfect riposte to that. ‘The game was exactly what we wanted. When we manage to play the game we want to play, it's fantastic. The game was exactly what we were working for the game to be. The team was fantastic.’

The truth was somewhere inbetween those two analyses. Mourinho would not have wanted the challenge Gary Cahill made in the final moments of added time, in which Andre Herrera trailed his leg into the clumsy tackle and fell.

Herrera received a yellow card for diving – and Mourinho made much play of how his players might have been accused had they done the same – but another referee might easily have given a penalty.

Likewise when Luke Shaw, a constant worry to Branislav Ivanonic, played in Radamel Falcao and he smashed the ball against the post on 76 minutes, that would not have been in the Mourinho game plan. Nor the moment when Shaw found Rooney in the fourth minute and the captain curled the ball wide when he really should have scored.

That said, though United dominated midfield with Ander Herrera and Wayne Rooney, Chelsea had the better chances. Having conceded much of the possession, John Terry muscled Falcao off the ball – a foul according to van Gaal – and found Oscar on 37 minutes, whose impudent back heel saw Hazard set off like with an intent that would not be denied. His touch and finish was that of a man wholly sure of himself.

Herrera then blotted his copy book, with a wayward pass on 53 minutes, seized on by Didier Drogba, sprinting goal-wards. Chris Smalling made enough of a nuisance of himself to ensure that shot was deflected over David de Gea. Hazard was on hand, tearing in at far post, but, unable to break his stride for a simple finish, he instead flicked the ball and hit the post.

Nevertheless, you were left marvelling at the Belgian. He reminds you of Robert Pires when Arsenal were closing in on the title in 2002. It isn’t just that his speed terrorises or that his skill is above that of almost every player on the pitch. It is his state of mind that is so dangerous, that intuitive confidence great players possess; the knowledge that they have the capacity to change the game at any point. He did just that.



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Mirror:

Chelsea 1-0 Manchester United:

Blues have one hand on the title as Eden Hazard fires them 10 points clear

John Cross


United can count themselves unlucky as Louis van Gaal’s men played well and Radamel Falcao hit the post late on, but Mourinho's side did enough

Eden Hazard kept Chelsea stumbling towards the title with a priceless winner at Stamford Bridge.

It was hardly the most convincing display but Hazard once again provided the extra quality as Chelsea ground out a victory over injury-hit Manchester United.

United can count themselves unlucky as Louis van Gaal’s men played well and Radamel Falcao hit the post late on which would have earned them an equaliser.

But United - missing key men Michael Carrick and Danny Blind - just did not create enough chances as Chelsea manned the barricades and held onto Hazard’s 38th minute winner.

Chelsea were also missing big players, they also look tired and it said much about Jose Mourinho’s approach that he used Kurt Zouma as an extra midfielder to try and frustrate United.

While we were trying to figure out which formations both teams were playing, United keeper David De Gea provided one of the comedy moments of the season.

Wayne Rooney put a glorious chance wide after just four minutes, the ball hit the stanchion behind and the United fans celebrated when the net rippled.

De Gea turned away in delight, punched the air - and then looked back in disappointment. That clip will make a few sporting blooper shows.

United were steady, strong and the better team in the first half but they did not put Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois under enough pressure.

Chelsea did not offer much going forward either as Didier Drogba looked isolated and lost as he filled in up front for the injured Diego Costa and Loic Remy.

But when Chelsea put together their best move of the first half they made a breakthrough after 38 minutes.

John Terry bundled Radamel Falcao off the ball, Cesc Fabregas found Oscar and his back heel put in Hazard who raced clear into the United penalty box.

De Gea edged off his line but stood up and Hazard had to keep his nerve before slipping the ball past the United keeper to put Chelsea ahead.

It showed why Hazard is so many people’s Player of the Year because, even when Chelsea are not at their best, he can provide a decisive moment of quality.

United kept going and turned the game into a war of attrition as they pushed Chelsea further back.

Chelsea were left trying to play on the break and nearly went further ahead after 54 minutes. Drogba’s shot was deflected off Chris Smalling, the ball looped over De Gea and Hazard somehow back heeled the ball onto the post.

United kept pressing without creating enough clear cut chances. Luke Shaw’s through ball put in Falcao who went through but smashed his shot against the outside of the post.

In the end, Chelsea scrapped and battled to hold on for another victory which edges them ever closer to the title even if they appear to be running on empty as they approach the run-in.



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Express:


Chelsea 1 - Man United 0: Brilliant Eden Hazard gives Jose Mourinho a perfect 10

Eden Hazard struck on the 38th minute to give Chelsea the lead before half time

The Blues can wrap up a first title in five years with wins at Arsenal next Sunday and at Leicester three days later.

Terry said: “I think we are doing enough. We are still getting results and that’s the mark of champions. It would be nice to get it done soon.”

This was the day when the team that played like champions surrendered that title to the side that didn't.

Chelsea, under the cosh for so long yesterday to opponents who deserved far more than they got, will almost certainly claim the crown sooner rather than later.

With a lead that is now 10 points - plus more of the luck they enjoyed yesterday - Chelsea are surely as good as champions already. And they certainly will be if they win their next two games.

Louis van Gaal, meanwhile, was left to regret the stumbling start to a season that could have ended so much better if this was anything to go by. The United boss got his excuses in early having to make three forced changes, but the Dutchman could have no complaints about the way his side played yesterday.

In fact, Wayne Rooney - playing deep - fluffed a glorious chance after just three minutes when Luke Shaw found him in oceans of space.

Paddy McNair had another effort turned away by Thibaut Courtois soon afterwards as well. There was little doubt, even then, about who was ruling the roost here.

More than 20 minutes passed before Chelsea got anywhere near David de Gea's goal, which gives you some idea of how dominant United, with Rooney pulling most of the strings, were at that stage.

Hardly any wonder, really, that Jose Mourinho looked a worried prowler on the touchline - until the 38th minute that is.

Oscar, relatively anonymous up until then, produced a bit of Brazilian back-heel magic that caught United napping and set Eden Hazard on his way to score a champion goal.

The Twitter devotees went a bit barmy afterwards, blaming Radamel Falcao for losing the ball beforehand. But let's be fair here and not take anything away from what Oscar and Hazard did afterwards. It was poetry in motion.

The fact that on the balance of play Chelsea simply didn't deserve it is neither here nor there. The goal was superbly set up end even more excitingly executed. And it's exactly why Mourinho's men are where they are. They ground out a first-half lead without playing anywhere near their best.

The sort of stuff champions are made of, eh?

To be fair, there wouldn't have been a lot Van Gaal could have said to his players at half time. Apart from conceding the goal they had hardly put a foot wrong.

Having said that Chelsea could, and probably should, have been two up 10 minutes after the restart when they hit United on the break with a move that saw Didier Drogba beat De Gea, only to watch as Hazard hit the bar with the loose ball that followed.

A younger man than Drogba might well have done the business himself if he had got the legs.

Credit to United, though, they made a real fist of this one.

Courtois had to make a desperate save to deny Ander Herrara and the speedy Shaw also caused Chelsea all sorts of problems down that left flank. And Falcao, whose season has been such an up and downer so far, was denied the chance to make it alright when he rattled the bar instead of the net at a time when an equaliser would have been so deserved.

United left at the end looking justifiably crestfallen.

Chelsea celebrated like the champions they almost certainly will be. And with a hug of congratulations for everyone of them from their old mate Juan Mata.



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Star:


Man Utd 0: Hazard's first-half strike edges Blues closer to Premier League glory


The visitors made their intentions clear from the first minute of the game and immediately took the contest to the Premier League leaders.

And they had a glorious chance to take the lead in fourth minute of the game through Wayne Rooney.

But unfortunately for the travelling United fans, the England captain's left-footed effort went narrowly wide of Thibaut Courtois right-hand post.

The Red Devils, who went into the contest on the back of six consecutive league victories, continued to dominate the game and stretched Jose Mourinho's side on several occasions.

But despite dominating the hosts they struggled to create any clear-cut chances.

And they were punished for their failure to capitalise on their dominance in the 37th minute when Eden Hazard was put through on goal by Oscar.

The Belgian international, who had found the back of the net 18 times prior to today's match, raced onto a neat flick from the Brazilian and cooly slotted the ball past the onrushing David de Gea.

United started the second period the same way they did the first and continued to have the majority of the ball.

But they should've found themselves two nil down in the 55th minute when Hazard - who was nominated for the PFA Young Player and Player of the Year awards this week, got on the end of a parried shot from Didier Drogba.

However, the 24-year-old let the visitors off the hook as he somehow contrived hit the crossbar from two yards out.

Radamel Falcao, who started up-front ahead of United skipper Rooney, nearly levelled the scores for visitors in the 77th minute after being put through on Courtois goal.

But unfortunately for the Colombian, who has only found the back of the net four times this season, his effort from inside the penalty box hit the crossbar.

Van Gaal's men piled forward in the latter stages of the game in an attempt to rescue an unlikely point.

But despite their late surge they were unable to find an equaliser which meant the Blues moved one step closer to winning the title.