Chelsea beat United to go top

Chelsea stormed to the top of the Premiership with a 1-0 victory over Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.

Frank Lampard's 30th minute penalty was enough to secure a crucial victory over United that sent Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich's Chelsea a point clear of Arsenal, who were held to a goalless draw by Fulham earlier in the afternoon.

Ironically it was United's most experienced campaigner, skipper Roy Keane, who handed Chelsea a huge psychological edge in the championship battle by upending Joe Cole in the area half an hour into the eagerly-anticipated encounter.

Lampard made the most of his former West Ham team-mate's endeavour by stepping up to send Tim Howard the wrong way from the spot.

As the biggest game in the Premiership so far this season, the encounter may have failed to live up to expectations in terms of quality.

But there was no doubting that Chelsea deserved their three points and only a fine save from Howard prevented Geremi from wrapping things up by a more convincing margin five minutes from the end.