Sir Alex Ferguson went into the game complaining about the refereeing decisions going against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea in several of their previous matches. On Sunday, though, the United manager will have absolutely nothing to complain about, after all the big decisions went the away side's way in a dramatic 3-2 win over nine-man Blues.
Robin Van Persie played his part in all three of United's goals - scoring, one with the other two coming from a David Luis own goal and a Javier Hernandez winner.
Chelsea had pulled themselves back into the game after being 2-0 down, through Juan Mata and Ramires, and were very much in the ascendancy, before Branislav Ivanovic was given a straight red card, and to make matters worse Fernando Torres received a second yellow for a perceived dive, which replays showed was deeply unfounded.
United began the match like a house on fire, their previous slow starts this season seemingly a thing of the past with Van Persie, Wayne Rooney and the two wingers -- Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young - making merry.
The first goal came a little fortuitously for the away side in the fourth minute. Robin Van Persie saw his left-footed strike, off a Rooney cutback, hit the post, but unfortunately for Chelsea, the ball cannoned off Luiz and into the back of the net.
Eight minutes later United were 2-0 ahead, and this was a typical Van Persie finish. A pin-perfect pick out from Valencia on the right, after Chelsea went to sleep, saw the prolific Dutchman expertly place the ball into the net with his right foot, after Gary Cahill inexplicably left the striker all alone in the box.
United continued to look the better side, working the Chelsea defense considerably by creating two-on-one situations on the wings, but the third goal did not come, and as the half wore on Chelsea finally started to find their feet.
The trio of playmakers - Oscar, Juan Mata and Eden Hazard - were finally seeing the ball after barely being relevant in the first half hour. A period of Chelsea dominance ensued, with Luiz, Hazard and Cahill going close - David De Gea making a couple of good saves.
Chelsea's pressure finally paid off just before half-time, with their best player this season reducing the deficit. Hazard held of Rooney initially near the United penalty area, before the England forward made a rash challenge on the Belgian, giving Chelsea a free kick on the edge of the box. Mata stepped up and curled in a brilliant left-footer from 20 yards to make it 2-1.
The second half saw Chelsea continue their dominance - the Blues showing they are a team well worthy of holding aloft the English Premier League trophy come May 2013.
Torres nearly made it 2-2, after Mata's cross to the far post was well headed by the Spanish striker - but his compatriot De Gea clawed the ball away brilliantly. De Gea then again came to United's rescue, keeping out Mata's strike off a Torres through ball.
Mata was again involved in Chelsea's equalizer. The Spaniard showed a brilliant piece of skill to keep the ball in play off a pass from Oscar, then played the ball into the far post area, which fell to Oscar, who in turn floated it back to the six-yard box for Ramires to power home a header in the 53rd minute.
Chelsea looked like they could go on and win the game, but the game turned United's way just past the hour mark. Ivanonvic brought down Young, with the United winger through on goal, after a brilliant pass from Van Persie, and the referee was left with no choice but to show a straight red.
If the Stamford Bridge faithful thought the misery had ended there, they were in for a rude awakening. Torres, at pace, went down under the challenge of Jonny Evans, with the referee blowing the whistle and seemingly on his way to book the United defender. However, much to the surprise of everyone, Mark Clattenburg, went towards Torres and showed him a second yellow card for a dive, when clearly Evans had caught the Spanish striker.
The home side went from ten-men to nine-men, and the task of even holding onto a point seemed impossible. The inevitable happened in the 75th minute, when first Van Persie saw his striker brilliantly saved by Cech. The rebound, however, fell to Rafael, whose low drive into the box was deflected in by Hernandez - replays showed the Mexican striker was offside when Rafael played the ball in. The flag never went up, though, and United were 3-2 ahead.
The away side comfortably held on to their lead, reducing Chelsea's lead at the top to just one point -- but the spotlight, unfortunately, will be on the referees.
Other results: Southampton 1-2 Tottenham; Newcastle 2-1 West Brom.
