LONDON (The Thursday Times) — Chelsea beat 10-man Manchester United 2-0 at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, with second-half goals from Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer and a red card for Lisandro Martínez piling further pressure on United manager Michael Carrick.
United were the better side in a scrappy first half but wasted a string of chances. Andrey Santos, who left Chelsea for United last summer, swept a shot wide, Bruno Fernandes fired over from a counter-attack, Amad Diallo twice forced saves and Matheus Cunha had a goal ruled out by the video assistant referee for offside. Moisés Caicedo diverted a Wesley Fofana header against the woodwork for Chelsea.
Xabi Alonso’s side took the lead five minutes after the break. Caicedo blocked Bryan Mbeumo, Roméo Lavia nicked the ball away from Carlos Baleba, and Rogers, Chelsea’s £117 million signing, ran unchallenged through the middle before dinking over goalkeeper Senne Lammens.
Martínez was then sent off for conceding a penalty, and Palmer converted from the spot for his 50th Premier League goal for Chelsea in his 105th appearance. Only Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Diego Costa reached the milestone faster for the club. Estêvão Willian, handed his first league start of the season, had two goals ruled out for offside.
The win lifted Chelsea into fourth place and gave them their first home league clean sheet in 13 matches, days after they lost to Liverpool on penalties in the League Cup.
For United it was a seventh defeat in 13 games and a ninth match without a win in all competitions, their longest run since 1984. Travelling fans chanted against the Glazer family and director of football Jason Wilcox, and booed the players at full time after applauding Carrick. United face Roma on Tuesday.
