Manchester United Beat Chelsea to Edge Closer in Premier League Top-4 Chase

Manchester United picked up their first win in four matches in the Premier League by beating Chelsea 2-0 at Stamford Bridge on Monday. 

Goals from Anthony Martial and Harry Maguire either side of half-time secured Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side all three points in west London as Chelsea had two goals ruled out by VAR.

It ended a three-game winless run for the Manchester giants in the league and moved the Red Devils to within three points of the Premier League's top four.

Fourth-placed Chelsea remain without a victory in the English top flight since January 11. 

The opening 45 minutes at Stamford Bridge were low-quality but not without incident.

Chelsea were dealt an early blow when N'Golo Kante had to be replaced by Mason Mount after 10 minutes. Maguire was then fortunate to stay on the pitch after kicking out at Michy Batshuayi:

The refereeing went against Chelsea again 10 minutes from the break when Willian was cautioned for simulation on the edge of the box under a challenge from Bruno Fernandes.

Blues manager Frank Lampard did not only have cause with the officials to be frustrated, though.

Making his first start of the season in the Premier League, Batshuayi wasted three decent opportunities in the opening half:

United were little better in front of goal for most of the first half, and they finally produced a genuine moment of quality to go ahead just before the break.

After finding space down the right flank, Aaron Wan-Bissaka delivered a brilliant ball into the box, which Martial met after getting ahead of Andreas Christensen. His glancing header nestled in the far lower corner of the net:

The luck continued to go against the hosts when Christensen had to be replaced by Kurt Zouma at half-time, and the Frenchman had a goal from a corner ruled out by VAR after Cesar Azpilicueta was adjudged to have pushed Brandon Williams in the box:

That galvanised United, who pushed for a second and got it through Maguire in the 66th minute.

Fernandes delivered a deep corner from the left, and the United captain planted a powerful header past Willy Caballero from 12 yards:

Substitute Olivier Giroud thought he had pulled one back for Chelsea in the 77th minute when he turned home a fine diving header off a low cross from Mount, but it was ruled out for offside:

It was a hammer blow for most inside Stamford Bridge and effectively marked the end of any hopes of a comeback.

For United and Solskjaer, though, it was a fillip, and the visitors ended the match in the ascendancy, with loan signing Odion Ighalo almost getting a goal on debut in his four-minute cameo from the bench. 

What's Next?

United return to UEFA Europa League play on Thursday when they visit Club Brugge for the first leg of their last-32 tie.

Chelsea are next in action on Saturday when they host Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.