Latest: Chelsea 1 Man Utd 0 – Blues within sight of crucial win

Eden Hazard scored against the run of play to put Chelsea ahead at Stamford Bridge, where a victory would take them 10 points clear at the top of the Premier League.

Hazard struck eight minutes before half-time when he finished off a fine move by firing past keeper David De Gea.

After John Terry got the better of the unimpressive Radamel Falcao near the halfway line, Cesc Fabregas played the ball to Oscar and the Brazilian cleverly back-heeled in to the path of Hazard, who had drifted in from the left.

Manchester United had looked the more dangerous side and almost took an early lead when Luke Shaw broke clear on the left and pulled the ball back for Wayne Rooney, who curled a shot just wide of the target.

The England forward’s left-footed effort struck the stanchion behind the goal, leaving the visiting fans at the opposite of the end of the ground – and De Gea – briefly believing their team had gone ahead.

United, still mathematically in with a chance of winning the title, did most of the early pressing and Paddy McNair’s shot went wide after taking a deflection off Blues skipper Terry.

With Diego Costa and Loic Remy still out injured, Didier Drogba is again leading the line for Chelsea, who have Kurt Zouma in midfield and lacked fluency before scoring with their first real chance of the game – Hazard’s 18th goal of the season.

His 19th almost followed 10 minutes into the second half.

Drogba’s shot deflected off United defender Chris Smalling and over De Gea, and Hazard hit the bar from an awkward angle as he tried to divert the ball into the net at the far post.

Chelsea: Courtois, Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta, Zouma, Matic, Oscar (Ramires 67), Fabregas, Hazard, Drogba.
Subs: Cech, Filipe Luis, Mikel, Cuadrado, Willian, Solanke.

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