You may say it is a tad hypocritical for a Manchester United fan to say that the referee was unfair, inconsistent or incompetent considering the recent and well documented occurrences involving match officials and United. Fair enough, United do get the odd lucky decision their way, but tonight, Manchester United were the unlucky ones, with too many decisions changing the game unfairly in Chelsea's favour.
Wait! Before I go any further, credit where credit is due, Chelsea played far better than United in the second half. They controlled the game, they stopped us from creating, they scored more goals. They were the better side in the second period, and I am happy (not really happy actually, more angry) to admit it.
My notes tell me however, that United were far superior in the first half - at ease on the ball, dominant in possession, creating good opportunities, and overall, threatening Chelsea far more. My notes tell me that because it is true.
United played well down the wings, in a surprisingly open game. A Malouda shot early on, saw the Frenchman in acres of space only to weakly shoot into van der sar's chest and welcoming arms. This was countered with a United attack which saw Evra break into the box, only to swipe it across the goal mouth, agonisingly avoiding any United players contact.
29 minutes in however, United broke the deadlock, and allowed hopes of a very rare away win at Stamford Bridge, arise to the surface. It was a cute little interchange between Nani and Rooney, Rooney took a touch, and with Robin Hood accuracy, arrowed the ball into the bottom corner of the net. It was a great finish, and was, according to the statistics, Rooney's first goal outside of the box since February 2008 when he scored against Newcastle. It is his seventh League goal this season, as he continues to build his suspect goal tally.
As the end of the half neared, Chelsea realised where they were, and what they were doing, subsequently deciding that they better go for a goal rather than allow United to walk all over them. Their sudden interest meant a chance which showed just how valuable Mr Van Der Sar and Mr Vidic are. A sublime double save, and some quick thinking defending to scramble the ball away from goal after a Lampard free kick bounced around the area helped United go in at half time in the lead.
Now to the second half. The period where it all happened. Chelsea's decision to go for the win prompted an early response. The ball bounced to David Luiz to the left of the area, who was somehow clear of any defenders and Evra reacted too late to stop the ex-Benfica defender from smashing in an impressive volley which rifled past van der sar.
It was 1-1, and an hour had been played. Drogba came on for the ineffective Anelka to join the equally ineffective Torres up front. Then Giggs came on to replace Scholes, making his 606th Premier League appearance, equally Sir Bobby Charlton's record.
David Luiz. David Luiz. He looks like Sideshow Bob, a criminal from The Simpsons, and he acted just like that with at least two very bookable offenses. He got booked in the first half for a vicious and late tackle on Carrick, and then, in the second half, at a vital, vital time in the game, he stuck out a leg to cynically block off a Rooney run. It was off the ball, obvious, and unfair. It should have been another yellow and a red. It wasn't even a free-kick.
It is moments like that which change games. True enough, not long after that, Smalling gave away a penalty for much less than what Luiz did. Lampard duly scored which turned out to be the winner, causing United's second loss of the season, and a big, undeserved blow to the title chase (which Chelsea are out of).
Nemanja Vidic however, did get sent off. Player of the year so far, he tugged down Ramieres outside the box to receive his second yellow and his marching orders meaning he will miss the next game against Liverpool. In my opinion, this sending off is worse than the loss. Ferdinand is out with injury, Vidic has been United's rock and is now out, which puts more pressure on the young defender Chris Smalling.
