Chelsea serve notice of intent

Chelsea - 1 Manchester Utd - 0 The score was tight enough to constrict the larynxes of home supporters, but the message came through loud and clear. Chelsea are in this Premiership contest for the long haul. Anyone waiting for the fizz to go out of Claudio Ranieri's side learned yesterday there is also a precious stillness to this squad.

In addition to creating some good opportunities Chelsea maintained a vigilance that never flagged and it was the discreet, trusted servants who took more credit for the result than the stars. Of the back four and goalkeeper, only Wayne Bridge was a summer purchase and, no matter how highly developed a taste for experimentation Ranieri has, even he knows when it is best not to meddle.

Although Chelsea, thanks to Frank Lampard's penalty, now lead the Premiership, a four-point deficit cannot leave Manchester United desolate since they loped across a far more intimidating stretch of territory than that to take the title last season. Having turned away from this result, though, Alex Ferguson may pause to stare at the calendar and count the days to the opening of the transfer window.

The injuries to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Paul Scholes expose the shallowness of his creative resources. At Stamford Bridge there was a paucity of incident against opponents who would not oblige them with a helpful bungle. Chelsea have completed six consecutive shut-outs in all competitions.

After five minutes Gary Neville and Ruud van Nistelrooy made an opportunity that was sliced by Diego Forlan and deflected by Mario Melchiot so that Carlo Cudicini had to be alert to concede only a corner. There were, however, just 15 minutes remaining when van Nistelrooy wheeled and saw United's next clear-cut chance being deflected wide.

Once Cudicini had put a 20-yarder from Ronaldo behind in the 82nd minute, United merely scuffled along to the full-time whistle. United's great Dutchman had an arid spell earlier this season but it is becoming apparent that there are too many afternoons when it is impossible for him to be dashing.

In a lot of matches he is being forced to use that impressive physique to grapple for balls into the goalmouth that do not put him at an advantage. Ryan Giggs was one of the few team-mates who was tireless in his bid to bring craft to bear and those who have heard rumours of his 30th birthday will feel even more like demanding a recount of his age.

The Welshman, virtually alone, tried to ferry some of United's traditional qualities into the play. Otherwise Chelsea, like conscientious stewards, ensured that the visitors' few offensive weapons were confiscated.

The well-drilled nature of Ranieri's side had to be engrossing because anyone anticipating a spectacle would have regarded this action as mediocre. Small interventions might have caught the approval of coaches, however, as when Geremi nipped in front of John O'Shea to head out a deep cross in the 45th minute.

Even if that is not the sort of incident over which ballads will be penned it is the stuff of achievement. Even when United, frantic for recovery, had most of the possession, no one could claim that Chelsea were reduced to desperate covering.

The levels of concentration by John Terry and William Gallas were at an exalted height. No other club in the Premiership can boast of having four forwards of the calibre that Ranieri has at his command, yet the Italian furtively upholds the conservative tradition of his countrymen.

Claude Makelele is the linchpin and, here, he occasionally set aside his modesty to engineer build-up that put established playmakers to shame. His through-ball, in the 69th minute, for a Lampard snap-shot that Tim Howard diverted round the post was subtle.

United's American goalkeeper was their best performer and perhaps it was inevitable that only a spot-kick would be beyond his reach. After 30 minutes Hernan Crespo fed Joe Cole and Roy Keane, in a stretching effort to cover, caught the attacking midfielder at shin level.

Lampard exacted punishment as he ignored Howard's hopping on the goal-line and fired the penalty low into the corner of the net. The goalkeeper was never marginalised thereafter, parrying a Melchiot attempt from a Adrian Mutu cut-back after 31 minutes and producing his greatest moment with three minutes left. Having palmed Bridge's cross to Geremi he still reacted to reach the midfielder's drive.

It will have made Ferguson glum to see his goalkeeper outshine the rest of the United team and Chelsea must draw strength from this result.

United supporters, knowing the title last came here in 1955, sneeringly inquired if anyone had ever seen Chelsea win the league. After the loss those fans can probably visualise such a scene being played out on this ground in May.