Chelsea landed a crucial blow in the Premier League title race with victory over rivals Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.

Skipper John Terry led from the front and scored the only goal for the Blues. And the result moves the London outfit five points clear of Arsenal and defending champions United at the top of the table.

It was Chelsea who came closest early on when Branislav Ivanovic charged down the right and let fly with a left-foot shot which Edwin van der Sar did well to stop.

But Wayne Rooney then fired into the side netting from close range as United controlled the possession.

There was little in the way of goalmouth chances for either side in the first period, although United shaded it in terms of possession with Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher pulling the strings in the middle of the park.

But with Rio Ferdinand out and Nemanja Vidic on the bench, United were always going to be vulnerable at the back, and Didier Drogba should have made them pay. However, the big striker failed to make the most of a slick passing move down the right by lashing the ball high and wide at the near post.

Rooney came close with a superb curling effort from distance, only for Petr Cech to pull off a sensational save to deny the England striker. And United’s defensive frailties were shown up when Chelsea scored the only goal of the game midway through the second period.

The visitors had looked reasonably comfortable at the back with Wes Brown and Jonny Evans paired together.

But they had no answer as Chelsea skipper Terry glanced home a Frank Lampard free kick from the left, and that was enough to separate the sides and push Chelsea clear at the top of the table.

Meanwhile, Hull coach Phil Brown lived to fight another day after his side came from behind to secure a vital win against ten-man Stoke City at the KC Stadium.

Under-fire Brown’s team went behind to a Matthew Etherington strike in the first half, but a second-half equaliser from Potters old-boy Seyi Olofinjana and then a stoppage-time winner from Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink after Stoke’s Abdoulaye Faye was sent off, gave the Tigers a crucial three points - and some slight breathing space for their boss. And influential midfielder Jimmy Bullard revealed the team were still right behind their manager.
“You could see out there today we gave 100 per cent for the gaffer and for ourselves. We kept believing and I think we deserved the win in the end.
“We can kick on from here. We’ve got belief in the changing rooms.”