Chelsea 1-0 Manchester United: Terry winner takes Blues five points clear at the top

Captain John Terry put Chelsea five points clear of Manchester United at the top of the Premier League, with a second half winner at Stamford Bridge.

Terry glanced home a 76th minute free-kick from Frank Lampard - although United claimed Didier Drogba was in an offside position.

United had their chances, Wayne Rooney twice going close, but the Blues made it a club record of 11 straight home wins.

Centre-back Ricardo Carvalho returned to partner John Terry in the centre of Chelsea's defence against Manchester United.

Deco was preferred to Joe Cole at the front of the midfield diamond, while Branislav Ivanovic continued at right-back and Ashley Cole was at left-back after missing the last two league games through injury.

Nicolas Anelka and Michael Ballack both returned after being left out of the starting line-up for the 2-2 draw against Atletico Madrid in midweek.

Dimitar Berbatov was omitted from United's side, as was defender Nemanja Vidic.

The Bulgaria striker had not recovered from the knock that kept him out of midweek Champions League action and the Serbia centre-back was relegated to the bench.

The minute's silence on Remembrance Day at Stamford Bridge was immaculately observed by both sets of fans before the action got underway.

United, without Nemanja Vidic or Rio Ferdinand in defence, made the brighter start in terms of possession.

But it was the home side who created the first goal attempt when Branislav Ivanovic burst down the right flank and let fly with a left-foot shot which Edwin van der Sar did well to hold at the near post.

In the 10th minute, United responded when Wayne Rooney collected a pass from Patrice Evra and fired into the side-netting from the angle of the six-yard box.

Chelsea were struggling to settle into the game and most of the action was confined to the home side's half.

United were far more comfortable on the ball with the home side given little time to build from the back.

But a long cross from Michael in the 18th minute found the lurking Didier Drogba on the edge of the six-yard box but the Ivory Coast striker failed to direct his header on target.

United, despite their dominance, had not created a clear cut chance. Antonio Valencia missed with a 25-yard effort in the 20th minute as Chelsea continued to restrict Sir Alex Ferguson's side to long-range shots.

In the 23rd minute, Chelsea won a free-kick but Lampard wasted the chance to test the United defence when he sent his curling effort beyond the far post.

Drogba was fouled by West Brown in the 27th minute in a central position some 25 yards from goal.

It was another chance for the home side but again Lampard's free-kick was poor as he sent his effort straight into United's defensive wall.

Moments later Anelka tried to beat Van der Sar from fully 35 yards but the United keeper dealt with it comfortably.

On the half hour, Darren Fletcher, who had been at the heart of United's best moves, fed Ryan Giggs on the edge of the Chelsea penalty area but the winger sent his volley over the crossbar.

It was a difficult chance for Giggs but a clear warning to Chelsea. Moments later Michael Carrick tried to beat Petr Cech from 20 yards but it did not have the power or precision to beat the home keeper.

But it was Van der Sar who was tested next when made a one-handed save to keep out a curling shot from Anelka in the 32nd minute.

In the 39th minute a collision between Ashley Cole and Terry left the Chelsea captain on the floor in pain.

But with England boss Fabio Capello watching from the stands, Terry was allowed to continue after treatment.

A quick counter attack from Chelsea saw Anelka put Deco free on the right flank but his cross eluded Ballack before arriving at the feet of Drogba.

The Ivory Coast striker was unable to control the ball and it ran harmlessly into the arms of Van der Sar.

Drogba then broke into the penalty from the right flank but his angled drive ended in the upper tier of the stand as referee Martin Atkinson brought proceedings to a finish for the opening period.

United almost engineered a breakthrough in the 47th minute when Rooney found Giggs on the left-hand edge of the Chelsea penalty area, but the winger's chip towards the far post was wasted.

In the 50th minute, Drogba got the better of United's John O'Shea - but his 25-yard shot went wide of the target.

Ivanovic was booked for a foul on Giggs in the 57th minute as the game began to open up.

Ricardo Carvalho managed to get his body in the way of a fierce shot from Fletcher moments later. It was a fine piece of defending by the Chelsea man.

A cross from Anelka fell kindly to Lampard on the edge of the penalty area, but the England midfielder's shot was easily saved by Van der Sar.

Chelsea had gone more than 14 hours since they last conceded a goal at Stamford Bridge.

It was time for the home side to make a change, and Carlo Ancelotti opted to remove Deco in favour of Joe Cole - who was celebrating his 28th birthday.

Rooney should have punished Chelsea in the 66th minute when he took a return pass from Valencia on the edge of the penalty area. But the England striker sent his shot a foot wide of the far post.

Seconds later, Rooney brought a fine save from Cech with a 20-yard curler which was destined for the top corner until the Czech international intervened.

There was a worrying moment for Chelsea in the 71st minute when Drogba was kicked in the chest by Jonny Evans. Astonishingly, Drogba was then booked by Atkinson.

However, Chelsea were in front in the 76th minute - after Ashley Cole was fouled by Fletcher on the left flank.

Captain John Terry rose to glance Lampard's free-kick into the corner of the net, but United were furious that Drogba appeared to be in an offside position as the ball bounced beyond Van der Sar and into the net.

Rooney was booked afterwards, and then Atkinson booked O'Shea and Carvalho in the 82nd minute as tempers flared. Valencia was lucky remain on the pitch after a two-footed challenge on Lampard, for which Atkinson produced a yellow card.