FT: Man Utd 3 Chelsea 0

The final whistle goes and it has been a disastrous afternoon for Chelsea. United have produced an impressive display to win 3-0 and the result takes them to within one point of the Blues, with two games still in hand.

90 Three minutes of stoppage time have been signalled but the final whistle cannot come soon enough for Chelsea.

88 There are just a couple of minutes remaining and this really has been a sorry performance from Chelsea, especially in the second half.

87 GOAL Ronaldo curls a delightful free-kick towards the near post and Berbatov stabs the ball home from close range.

86 I am losing count of these Chelsea bookings as Belletti is yellow carded for a foul on Ronaldo.

85 Scolari makes his final change and it is no surprise to see Joe Cole come off. Di Santo enters the fray for the final few moments.

84 Ronaldo really wants a goal today and he goes close with a stunning effort that whistles just past the post.

83 The ball is in the back of the Chelsea net again but Ronaldo's strike is ruled out for offside.

82 Ronaldo's deflected free-kick loops high and Cech needs to stay alert to tip the ball over the crossbar.

80 Terry is cautioned for bringing down Park in a midfield area.

79 Giggs receives a standing ovation as he makes way for Carrick.

77 Chelsea surely need to strike soon if they are to have any chance of getting a point but United's defence has been rock-solid.

76 Ash from Hull wants Fergie to bring on Tevez and I am sure the watching Maradona feels the same way.

74 Drogba sinks to a new low as he tries to connect with a half-volley and only gets the faintest of touches.

72 Chelsea are still struggling to find any fluency. Do you think there is any chance of them getting back into this?

71 Argentina boss Diego Maradona is in the stands at Old Trafford but the only sight he has had of Tevez was when the striker warmed up on the touchline.

69 Chelsea have not responded too well to going 2-0 behind and United look in complete control.

With all the excitement of United's second goal I neglected to mention that Bosingwa had gone off injured with Belletti coming on in his place.

67 Ferguson makes his first change as he replaces Evra with O'Shea.

66 Rooney becomes the latest player into the book. That has been coming all afternoon.

65 Park surges forward in pursuit of a third but is brought down. United look like they want to win this even more convincingly.

63 GOAL Rooney makes it 2-0 with a fine finish from Evra's excellent left-wing cross.

61 Ronaldo's powerful free-kick from wide on the left crashes into the Chelsea wall.

60 More sloppy play from Chelsea as Bosingwa surrenders possession following a promising run down the right.

59 Chelsea look completely devoid of ideas as Mikel's pass goes straight through to Van der Sar.

57 Anelka, who has looked only marginally better than Drogba since coming on, shoots well wide from 25 yards.

56 Drogba's miserable performance continues with a shot that is sliced so wide it goes out for a throw-in.

54 United take another quick corner and Chelsea are nearly caught out again as Ronaldo's cross causes panic in the Chelsea box.

52 Joe Cole has had a quiet afternoon and his ambitious pass with the outside of the boot does not land within 30 yards of somebody in a blue shirt.

51 United have sat back in the early stages of the second half but they are still looking dangerous on the counter-attack.

49 Chelsea are showing a lot of urgency but they seem more interested in taking long shots and crosses than picking their way through the middle.

48 Drogba has an early opportunity in the second half but cannot get control of the ball and is crowded out before he is able to pull the trigger.

47 Sharon from Acton believes Chelsea will come out fighting and turn this around with Lampard on the scoresheet.

46 United get the second half underway. Scolari has made a change at the break with Anelka coming on for the ineffectual Deco.

Kieron from Merthyr Tydfil feels United will seal the win with two more goals and go on to claim the title, while Gbenga in Nigeria believes there could be late drama with Drogba or Joe Cole nicking a winner for Chelsea.

Remember to get in touch at Lewis.Rutledge@bskyb.com. Can Chelsea bounce back or will United hold on for victory?

The goal before half-time has meant the odds look very different now. Sky Bet have United as strong favourites at 1/4 with Chelsea at 9/1.

The half-time whistle goes with United 1-0 in front. They have carved out the clearer opportunities and Chelsea now face a battle to get back into the game.

45 GOAL United have a goal disallowed as they take a corner too quickly but Chelsea do not learn from the mistake and it is 1-0 moments later as Vidic nods in at the far post.

44 United create an opening with a neat move. Ronaldo pulls the strings and sets up Park, but Terry slides in with a good block.

43 The tempo slows temporarily as United's defenders enjoy a bit of keep-ball.

41 Ballack has time and space to send over a good cross but his delivery is poor.

40 Chelsea's preparations for this match were disrupted when they were woken by a fire alarm at their hotel at seven o'clock this morning, but they are looking the fresher of the two sides just at the moment.

39 Chelsea are enjoying a better spell now as we approach half-time and will hope to break the deadlock before the interval.

38 Drogba has had a quiet first half but he does well to muscle his way towards the byline and win a corner.

36 Ronaldo switches over to the left and somehow manages to squeeze a low cross into the box, but none of his team-mates are in attendance and Cech gathers safely.

35 The game is becoming very disrupted with free-kicks being awarded about every 30 seconds.

33 Chelsea break down the left and Ashley Cole whips in a cross, but Drogba cannot control the ball with his chest and Ballack falls theatrically in an attempt to win a penalty.

31 Rooney releases Berbatov with a delightful flick but the Bulgarian's weak shot is comfortably held by Cech.

30 Tempers are becoming flared with challenges flying in. It would not be the boldest prediction in history to suggest that somebody may get sent off today.

28 Carvalho and Ronaldo are both booked after a tussle in the area. The Chelsea defender was pulling Ronaldo's shirt and the United winger was not best pleased.

27 Rooney has the last laugh as he is brought down by Bosingwa and the Chelsea full-back receives a yellow card.

25 Rooney escapes a booking after reacting angrily to a Bosingwa challenge and then storming away from Webb.

24 United win another free-kick in perfect Ronaldo territory but his effort this time takes a deflection and flies wide.

22 Cech beats Ronaldo's strike away to safety. Replays show Cole was extremely close to conceding a penalty.

21 Ronaldo has made a lively start and his duel with Ashley Cole is always an intriguing feature. The Chelsea left-back concedes a free-kick for handball right on the edge of the area.

19 Giggs may not have the pace he once did but he is quick enough to track back and thwart Bosingwa's burst down the wing.

18 Cole obstructs Ronaldo down United's right and is spoken to sternly by Webb.

17 Chelsea appeal for a penalty as Evra dives to head away a Lampard strike. The Blues players claim it hit his hand but referee Howard Webb is not convinced.

16 Mikel's long-range shot is blocked by Evans before Ashley Cole is dispossessed in the box.

15 United reclaim possession and pass the ball around patiently as they seek an opening.

14 The expectation builds during a slight delay but Ballack's low free-kick is truly awful and United cut it out before Van der Sar has to make a save.

13 Chelsea win a free-kick in a dangerous position following a foul by Fletcher on Deco.

12 United look just a little bit sharper at present as Evra nips in to steal the ball off Joe Cole.

10 There is a fantastic atmosphere at Old Trafford and the early signs are that we will be in for an absorbing encounter.

9 A rare United pass goes astray to give Chelsea the chance to get on the ball and gain something of a foothold in the match.

8 Carvalho slides in with an excellent challenge on Rooney as United apply even more pressure.

7 Ronaldo's cross from the right is dropped by Cech but luckily the ball falls to one of his Chelsea team-mates.

6 The corner comes to nothing but United have certainly made a bright start. They are dominating possession at the moment.

5 Park poses problems down the left and wins a corner as his cross is charged down by Bosingwa.

4 Lampard is booked for a clumsy challenge on Ronaldo, who stays down in severe pain for all of 10 seconds before springing back to his feet.

3 Rooney looks to play in Berbatov but his pass is under-hit and Chelsea clear the danger.

2 Chelsea break quickly but Lampard misses an early chance to test Van der Sar as he drags a shot wide from 20 yards.

1 Cech slices a clearance straight out of play, much to the delight of United's fans.

1 Chelsea get us underway for one of the most eagerly awaited matches of the season.

Ferguson's midfield selection has generated plenty of feedback and Brian believes he must be playing for a draw.

Matt in Spain also feels Fergie has been clever by pairing Giggs with Fletcher in midfield. Matt claims Scolari is not good at in-game tactics and expects this decision to catch Chelsea off guard.

James from Ellesmere Port believes Ferguson knows what he is doing and has predicted a 2-1 win for United, while Lindsey from Belfast is backing Chelsea to secure victory.

Shehan cannot understand why Fergie is starting with Fletcher and Giggs in such an important game, while United fan Srikesh fears Chelsea will win 2-1 with Terry and Anelka on the scoresheet to make up for their Moscow disappointments.

Rio Ferdinand has failed to recover from a back injury so Jonny Evans continues alongside Nemaja Vidic. Ryan Giggs has been preferred to Michael Carrick in central midfield. Didier Drogba starts as the lone striker for Chelsea, who have John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho together in defence for the first time since October.

Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Carvalho, Terry, Ashley Cole, Mikel, Joe Cole, Lampard, Ballack, Deco, Drogba. Subs: Cudicini, Ivanovic, Di Santo, Ferreira, Kalou, Belletti, Anelka.

Man Utd: Van der Sar, Neville, Vidic, Evans, Evra, Ronaldo, Fletcher, Giggs, Park, Berbatov, Rooney. Subs: Kuszczak, Anderson, Carrick, Scholes, Welbeck, O'Shea, Tevez.

Sky Bet have United at 13/10 with Chelsea at 11/4. Neither side has claimed a win against another member of the 'big four' this season and the result in the corresponding fixture at Stamford Bridge was 1-1. Will it be a tight affair this afternoon or can we expect a thriller full of goals?

Rafa Benitez may have launched an astonishing attack on Ferguson on Friday but he would probably be happy to see United pick up a point against Chelsea. What do you think the outcome will be? Let us know your thoughts by getting in touch at Lewis.Rutledge@bskyb.com. Who needs the points most? Which side is currently in better form? Who are likely to be the star performers?

Welcome to our minute-by-minute commentary of Manchester United's Premier League clash with Chelsea. Sir Alex Ferguson's men are back in fourth following Aston Villa's win yesterday but they are just four points behind Chelsea with two games in hand. The Blues, who have been so impressive on their travels this season, can close to within one point of leaders Liverpool with a victory at Old Trafford.