Chelsea against Manchester United

Not pretty from the home side at all but their new boss will not care about that. Chelsea are simply sitting deep in numbers, packing the box and punting clearances towards the game Kezman. Winning ugly, perhaps?

Same route towards goal and same result, except this time Gallas gives away a corner in stopping Richardson

Richardson shows good movement and a desire to get forward to receive a pass round the back of the chelsea defence but he lets it run away from him

United counter with some changes of their own. Off go the impressive Miller and less impressive Fortune. On come Richardson and Bellion

This might open up the play a bit. Off goes Gudjohnsen and on comes Parker. Mourinho quite fancies a 1-0 then, eh?

Great chance for Giggs. Smith, still running his socks off, peels to the righ corner of the box and sends over a wondeful cross to the back post. Giggs, 8 yards out, wins it cleanly but heads too straight and it goes wide. A real chance

This is a very strange match as Chelsea are simply conceding possession and packing the box. Normailty resumed as Forlan gets into a good position and then messes the move up under no pressure at all

Chelsea are defending so deep that Neville is camped about 15 yards into Chelsea's half

Chelsea finding it hard to get out of their own half - or are they even trying? - and United are having all the possession. Crowd are a bit frustrated but their side are still winning

Good run into space from Forlan and a decent take down from a long forward pass gives no indication of what is to come. With space and time the big striker tries to burst the net but hits row z instead

United are picking up a bit of momentum without really troubling the Chelsea defence, mainly due to the numbers they have back

Raking ball from Scholes aimed at Fortune causes problems for Ferreira to the benefit of Forlan. He picks up the loose ball and skips past Gallas before Ferreira picks his pocket just as Forlan was about to shoot

Substitution for United. Off goes Djemba-Djemba and, with United needing goals, who other than Forlan to enter the fray

Kezman shows his intent early. A wonderful track back and tackle robs Millaer and a give and go with Makelele sets the Serb away. Tackled by Keane whilst tryiong to burst through a pair of United men. Very positive

Substitution for Chelsea sees one new arrival replaced by another. Drogba, who has worked hard but offered little, makes way for Kezman

Neville fires in a shot on the half-volley that doesn't trouble Cech but very nearly lands in the path of Scholes who surely would have scored. Dangerous for Chelsea

I get the feeling that Chelsea are under instructions to sit deep and stifle United's attacks and only attack when opportunities present themselves. Doesn't make for exciting football

Loose ball from Lampard on the half way line allows Scholes to break. Giggs forced wide by an intelligent pass from his team mate before the initiative is lost by a soft pass from Giggs to the overlapping Fortune who is tackled

O'Shea, getting into the box more and more as the game progresses, sess a near post header fly just high and wide from what was a difficult angle

O'Shea very nearly finds himself free in the box. A clever return pass from Giggs is into his path but Gallas, after looking to have let O'Shea go, recovers just enough to pinch to ball from the United man

Lampard carries the ball forward right down the middle until he finds himself in shooting range. Winds up for the shot but doesn't catch it well by his own standards and it is a weak effort that Howrd gratefully collects

Chelsea seem reluctant to commit numbers forward and as a United attack breaks down only Drogba and Gudjohnsen cross the half way line before the entire United defence has time to regroup

Fortune, who is not having the most composed of matches is faced with a host of team mates waiting for his cross from the left but he over-hits the attempt and once more United turn over possesssion

Smith gets another sight of goal. Good work from United finds Neville on the right. He cuts back and sends over a tempting, left-footed cross. Smith cuts back across goal to meet it with a glancing header but the touch is too fine and he sends it just wide. More encouragement for the visitors

Corner finds it's way through a crowded box and away to safety

Quick, clever free kick from Lampard tries to pick out Drogba who is sandwiched by Keane and Silvestre at the expense of a corner

Smertin, a real livewire if a little scruffy in his play, goes on a run into United territory that looks promising until Miller gets hold of him and matches him for effort in winning the ball back

Giggs, who really needs to be getting into this game if United are to prosper, is guilty of wastefullness as an attempted cross spoons high over the bar

Slow, cagey start to the second period

Djemba-Djemba breaks up a promising Chelsea attack and gives the ball to Scholes who in turn sets Giggs down the right. His left footed cross is too deep for any of his team-mates

Drogba caught offside again, higher up the pitch this time, when he had the chance to look down the line. Careless as Lampard's pass would have released him down the left flank in oceans of space

Another left sided cross from United, this time from Giggs, sees O'Shea go up to compete with Cech. The big keeper wins - just about

Fortune gets forward well and crosses towards Smith, close on goal. The ball is cleared but only as far as Scholes 20 yards out. He strikes it on the volley but Teryy had recovered to block in time

No changes at the break and United it is who restart the game

Full blooded Premiership encounter between these two heavyweights with Chelsea just shading it so far. Makelele is sitting in front of his defence to good effect, allowing Lampard to get forward more. Drogba hasn't shown the silk to his game yet but the steel is causing United's makeshift defence a lot of trouble. Giggs and Scholes have looked intermitently threatening for United with Smith's tireless running offering hope. Plenty more football to be played in this one

That was the last action of the half and the sides go in with the score 1-0 in Chelsea's favour.

Free kick into the box results in a corner in the final moments of the half. Giggs sends over a viciously dipping one that looks likely to cause problems. Cech has to be alert to leave his line and punch clear

Keane, typically, decides to take the game to Chelsea and it is his poweful run from the back that draws a foul from Gudjohnsen midway in to the homes side's half

Half coming to a close with Chelse on top

Drogba uses his power and strength to muscle past Keane in the box but unfairly according to the referee

Mourinho shares a joke with his substitutes and looks considerably more relaxed than his opposite number

After enjoying a period where they were starting to create chances, United have been forced onto the back foot once more and they really don't look comfortable in that position

Patient build up from Chelsea before Bridges eventually decides to move up field. Received a good ball and then crossed from deep with only Gudjohnsen to aim for. A yard lower and it would have landed on the strikers forhead perfectly

Makelele, who is having a very good afternoon, drives forward through the heart of the United midfield, lays of to Gudjohnsen who's return ball, had it been accurate, would have released Makelele one on one with Howard. O'Shea makes the timely block

Lampard tries his luck this time and it is not too far away. Low drive seemed to go under the jumping wall but the flashes a foot wide of Howard's right stick

Tenacious work from Lampard out-muscles Djemba-Djemba and feeds Drogba heading for goal 20 yards out. Knocks the ball past Keane and then hits the ground as his path is blocked by the United captain. Free kick dead centre just outside the box

Free kick, 25 yards out and to the right of the United goal, tempts Drogba to hit one. Wall does it's job though

Even better chance for Smith. Shot from Fortune deflected to Giggs 15 yards from the Chelsea goal. Cute lay off into the path of Smith but he doesn't really connect with the shot and scuffs it wide. It did bounce up a bit in front of him but Smith will be disappointed with that one

Chance for Giggs. Smith pops up on the left and cuts back before sending over a well placed cross to the penalty spot. Giggs looks favourite for it until Cech gets there before him. He really shouldn't have done as Giggs should have used his head - literally

After the fast paced openign and the goal the game has settled a bit in the last few minutes. United showing signs of promise but have no cutting edge at all

Long throw from Neville into the Chelsea box causes a small amount of panic before Makelele beats Firtune to the loose ball to clear

Intricate forward play from United, initiated by Scholes almost picks a way through a crowded Chelsea back liine on the edge of the box. O'Shea and Giggs also involved but it ultimately comes to nought. Better though from the Reds

United finding it hard to even get out of their half at the moment despite retaining possesssion

Chelsea playing a bit of keep ball until Lampard spoils it with a wayward forward pass to no one

Miller out by the Chelsea left corner flag twists and turns, looking for an opening. Smerin arrives to win the ball cleanly and has the presence of mind to get it out of his feet and on to Lampard. Great tackle from the Russian

Drogba, who has looked powerful and srong if not very polished as he settles in, snatches at a shot from the edge of the box and slices it high, wide and possibly into orbit

Smith, working tirelessly as always, chases a ball right to the corner flag and hooks over a decent looking cross but no one in a red shirt is anywhere near it

Goal has clearly lifted the home side and they look more purposeful and energetic

Drogba's pace looks to have earned him a goal scoring chance. Beats the offside trap to race onto a firmly struck through ball but Howard, this time, is out to the edge of his box well and steals the ball from the striker's feet

Scholes looks to reply quickly with a solid drive from a long way out. Cech looks comfotable though watching it go a yard wide of his right hand upright

United's defence looked very suspect in conceding the goal. poor positional awareness from Keane showed that he is not used to playing centre back

Swift break down the right involving Lampard who finds Drogba on the edge of the box. His header finds Gudjohnsen onside bearing down on goal. Howard is out but not quick enough and Gudjohnsen flicks it over the American and, despite Keane struggling to hold him back, watches the ball roll into the empty net. 1-0 Chelsea

Proves costly as Chelsea streak up the pitch to open the scoring

Loose ball from Drogba sets up a United attack but Neville rather wastes the ball by punting it into the box and not finding any of the three red shirts in there

Free kick for Chelsea mid way inside the United half on the left. Lampard puts over a good, inswinging ball but no one is able to profit from it. Referee blows in United's favour anyway

Deep free kick slung into the box by Neville but it is all too easy for Cech as he strides forward and catches comfortably

Another long ball forward nearly sets Drogba free but the linesman's flag stops him in his tracks

First real chance. Or possibly half-chance. Giggs worked well down the right with Scholes and it is his cross that picks out Smith unmarked around the penalty spot. Cross is fractionally behind him and too high. He did his best to compensate but the header goes over. Difficult chance in truth

Bright, lively opening but nothing in the way of chances

Bridges turn to get forward forcing Neville into more defensive duties. Lays back to Lampard who helps it on to Smertin. Eventually Gudjohnsen tries to dink the ball into Smertin's path in the box but over-hits it.

Neville got forward well to receive a ball out right in space. An early cross actually falls well for O'Shea but he seemed rather surprised to get the ball and his header is weak.

Midfield space at a premium. Giggs tries to create something for United but runs into a solid Chelsea back line

As you would expect the tackles are biting from both sides and stifling passing play at the moment

First 'shot' from Chelsea comes from Smertin. Ball broke to him in a bit of space 25 yards out but the Russian dragged the effort so wide it went for a throw.

Chelsea begin by giving the back line some early touches. Looking to pick out the forward run of Drogba with a high ball, the GBP 24 million man's first contribution is to be caught offside

The most recent 'new look Chelsea get us underway in a packed, noisy Stamford Bridge

Arsenal got off to a flier earlier today so how will the other two clubs tipped for the title get on. Chelsea v United; Ferguson v Mourinho; old money v new money - expect fireworks

The contrast couldn't be sharper as Forlan, Bellion, Richardson, Neville and Ricardo offer less sparkling cover today, underlining the problems facing the Old Trafford club. 10 top players are missing for one reason and another and a heavy burden rests on the young, willing shoulders of Miller and Smith

No place in Chelsea's starting line-up for Kezman, Carvalho meaning Gudjohnsen and Smertin have a chance to impress the new boss. Oh, and the Blues bench has a combined transfer value of over GBP 50 million

Neville fires in a shot on the half-volley that doesn't trouble Cech but very nearly lands in the path of Scholes who surely would have scored. Dangerous for Chelsea

I get the feeling that Chelsea are under instructions to sit deep and stifle United's attacks and only attack when opportunities present themselves. Doesn't make for exciting football

Loose ball from Lampard on the half way line allows Scholes to break. Giggs forced wide by an intelligent pass from his team mate before the initiative is lost by a soft pass from Giggs to the overlapping Fortune who is tackled

O'Shea, getting into the box more and more as the game progresses, sess a near post header fly just high and wide from what was a difficult angle

O'Shea very nearly finds himself free in the box. A clever return pass from Giggs is into his path but Gallas, after looking to have let O'Shea go, recovers just enough to pinch to ball from the United man

Lampard carries the ball forward right down the middle until he finds himself in shooting range. Winds up for the shot but doesn't catch it well by his own standards and it is a weak effort that Howrd gratefully collects

Chelsea seem reluctant to commit numbers forward and as a United attack breaks down only Drogba and Gudjohnsen cross the half way line before the entire United defence has time to regroup

Fortune, who is not having the most composed of matches is faced with a host of team mates waiting for his cross from the left but he over-hits the attempt and once more United turn over possesssion

Smith gets another sight of goal. Good work from United finds Neville on the right. He cuts back and sends over a tempting, left-footed cross. Smith cuts back across goal to meet it with a glancing header but the touch is too fine and he sends it just wide. More encouragement for the visitors

Corner finds it's way through a crowded box and away to safety

Quick, clever free kick from Lampard tries to pick out Drogba who is sandwiched by Keane and Silvestre at the expense of a corner

Smertin, a real livewire if a little scruffy in his play, goes on a run into United territory that looks promising until Miller gets hold of him and matches him for effort in winning the ball back

Giggs, who really needs to be getting into this game if United are to prosper, is guilty of wastefullness as an attempted cross spoons high over the bar

Slow, cagey start to the second period

Djemba-Djemba breaks up a promising Chelsea attack and gives the ball to Scholes who in turn sets Giggs down the right. His left footed cross is too deep for any of his team-mates

Drogba caught offside again, higher up the pitch this time, when he had the chance to look down the line. Careless as Lampard's pass would have released him down the left flank in oceans of space

Another left sided cross from United, this time from Giggs, sees O'Shea go up to compete with Cech. The big keeper wins - just about

Fortune gets forward well and crosses towards Smith, close on goal. The ball is cleared but only as far as Scholes 20 yards out. He strikes it on the volley but Teryy had recovered to block in time

No changes at the break and United it is who restart the game

Full blooded Premiership encounter between these two heavyweights with Chelsea just shading it so far. Makelele is sitting in front of his defence to good effect, allowing Lampard to get forward more. Drogba hasn't shown the silk to his game yet but the steel is causing United's makeshift defence a lot of trouble. Giggs and Scholes have looked intermitently threatening for United with Smith's tireless running offering hope. Plenty more football to be played in this one

That was the last action of the half and the sides go in with the score 1-0 in Chelsea's favour.

Free kick into the box results in a corner in the final moments of the half. Giggs sends over a viciously dipping one that looks likely to cause problems. Cech has to be alert to leave his line and punch clear

Keane, typically, decides to take the game to Chelsea and it is his poweful run from the back that draws a foul from Gudjohnsen midway in to the homes side's half

Half coming to a close with Chelse on top

Drogba uses his power and strength to muscle past Keane in the box but unfairly according to the referee

Mourinho shares a joke with his substitutes and looks considerably more relaxed than his opposite number

After enjoying a period where they were starting to create chances, United have been forced onto the back foot once more and they really don't look comfortable in that position

Patient build up from Chelsea before Bridges eventually decides to move up field. Received a good ball and then crossed from deep with only Gudjohnsen to aim for. A yard lower and it would have landed on the strikers forhead perfectly

Makelele, who is having a very good afternoon, drives forward through the heart of the United midfield, lays of to Gudjohnsen who's return ball, had it been accurate, would have released Makelele one on one with Howard. O'Shea makes the timely block

Lampard tries his luck this time and it is not too far away. Low drive seemed to go under the jumping wall but the flashes a foot wide of Howard's right stick

Tenacious work from Lampard out-muscles Djemba-Djemba and feeds Drogba heading for goal 20 yards out. Knocks the ball past Keane and then hits the ground as his path is blocked by the United captain. Free kick dead centre just outside the box

Free kick, 25 yards out and to the right of the United goal, tempts Drogba to hit one. Wall does it's job though

Even better chance for Smith. Shot from Fortune deflected to Giggs 15 yards from the Chelsea goal. Cute lay off into the path of Smith but he doesn't really connect with the shot and scuffs it wide. It did bounce up a bit in front of him but Smith will be disappointed with that one

Chance for Giggs. Smith pops up on the left and cuts back before sending over a well placed cross to the penalty spot. Giggs looks favourite for it until Cech gets there before him. He really shouldn't have done as Giggs should have used his head - literally

After the fast paced openign and the goal the game has settled a bit in the last few minutes. United showing signs of promise but have no cutting edge at all

Long throw from Neville into the Chelsea box causes a small amount of panic before Makelele beats Firtune to the loose ball to clear

Intricate forward play from United, initiated by Scholes almost picks a way through a crowded Chelsea back liine on the edge of the box. O'Shea and Giggs also involved but it ultimately comes to nought. Better though from the Reds

United finding it hard to even get out of their half at the moment despite retaining possesssion

Chelsea playing a bit of keep ball until Lampard spoils it with a wayward forward pass to no one

Miller out by the Chelsea left corner flag twists and turns, looking for an opening. Smerin arrives to win the ball cleanly and has the presence of mind to get it out of his feet and on to Lampard. Great tackle from the Russian

Drogba, who has looked powerful and srong if not very polished as he settles in, snatches at a shot from the edge of the box and slices it high, wide and possibly into orbit

Smith, working tirelessly as always, chases a ball right to the corner flag and hooks over a decent looking cross but no one in a red shirt is anywhere near it

Goal has clearly lifted the home side and they look more purposeful and energetic

Drogba's pace looks to have earned him a goal scoring chance. Beats the offside trap to race onto a firmly struck through ball but Howard, this time, is out to the edge of his box well and steals the ball from the striker's feet

Scholes looks to reply quickly with a solid drive from a long way out. Cech looks comfotable though watching it go a yard wide of his right hand upright

United's defence looked very suspect in conceding the goal. poor positional awareness from Keane showed that he is not used to playing centre back

Swift break down the right involving Lampard who finds Drogba on the edge of the box. His header finds Gudjohnsen onside bearing down on goal. Howard is out but not quick enough and Gudjohnsen flicks it over the American and, despite Keane struggling to hold him back, watches the ball roll into the empty net. 1-0 Chelsea

Proves costly as Chelsea streak up the pitch to open the scoring

Loose ball from Drogba sets up a United attack but Neville rather wastes the ball by punting it into the box and not finding any of the three red shirts in there

Free kick for Chelsea mid way inside the United half on the left. Lampard puts over a good, inswinging ball but no one is able to profit from it. Referee blows in United's favour anyway

Deep free kick slung into the box by Neville but it is all too easy for Cech as he strides forward and catches comfortably

Another long ball forward nearly sets Drogba free but the linesman's flag stops him in his tracks

First real chance. Or possibly half-chance. Giggs worked well down the right with Scholes and it is his cross that picks out Smith unmarked around the penalty spot. Cross is fractionally behind him and too high. He did his best to compensate but the header goes over. Difficult chance in truth

Bright, lively opening but nothing in the way of chances

Bridges turn to get forward forcing Neville into more defensive duties. Lays back to Lampard who helps it on to Smertin. Eventually Gudjohnsen tries to dink the ball into Smertin's path in the box but over-hits it.

Neville got forward well to receive a ball out right in space. An early cross actually falls well for O'Shea but he seemed rather surprised to get the ball and his header is weak.

Midfield space at a premium. Giggs tries to create something for United but runs into a solid Chelsea back line

As you would expect the tackles are biting from both sides and stifling passing play at the moment

First 'shot' from Chelsea comes from Smertin. Ball broke to him in a bit of space 25 yards out but the Russian dragged the effort so wide it went for a throw.

Chelsea begin by giving the back line some early touches. Looking to pick out the forward run of Drogba with a high ball, the GBP 24 million man's first contribution is to be caught offside

The most recent 'new look Chelsea get us underway in a packed, noisy Stamford Bridge

Arsenal got off to a flier earlier today so how will the other two clubs tipped for the title get on. Chelsea v United; Ferguson v Mourinho; old money v new money - expect fireworks

The contrast couldn't be sharper as Forlan, Bellion, Richardson, Neville and Ricardo offer less sparkling cover today, underlining the problems facing the Old Trafford club. 10 top players are missing for one reason and another and a heavy burden rests on the young, willing shoulders of Miller and Smith

No place in Chelsea's starting line-up for Kezman, Carvalho meaning Gudjohnsen and Smertin have a chance to impress the new boss. Oh, and the Blues bench has a combined transfer value of over GBP 50 million