League: Chelsea lose

A great day for United in the title race was sealed on Saturday evening when rivals Chelsea lost 2-1 at Tottenham Hotspur.

The damage was done in the first half when Jermain Defoe punished John Terry's handball by firing a penalty past Petr Cech and then Gareth Bale scored a brilliant second goal to make it 2-0 to on-song Spurs. Frank Lampard pulled a goal back for Chelsea in second-half injury time but it was too little, too late for the below-par league leaders.

It was poetic justice, perhaps, that Terry's use of the arm was spotted by referee Phil Dowd - the Chelsea skipper was fortunate not to concede a penalty in similar circumstances when the Blues unconvincingly beat Bolton 1-0 in midweek.

Worse was to follow for Terry on his day of woe at White Hart Lane - he was sent off midway through the second half after committing two bookable offences.

The defeat for Carlo Ancelotti's side, following United's injury-time win in the Manchester derby, means their lead has been cut to just one point with three games remaining for each side.

The Reds could go top as soon as next Saturday, 24 April, when Tottenham travel to Old Trafford.