Eden Hazard sent Chelsea to within two wins of the Premier League title by scoring the only goal in their 1-0 victory over Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.
The PFA Player of the Year favourite applied the finishing touches to a wonderfully-worked team move to put the Blues 10 points clear at the top of the table.
United are now 11 points back and victory over second-placed Arsenal next weekend and another win after that would seal the championship for Jose Mourinho side.
The Red Devils had won their last six top-flight games to move within eight points of the leaders and started brightly as Luke Shaw’s perfect cutback set up Wayne Rooney for a left-footed shot which curled just wide.
Ander Herrera and Paddy McNair, recalled in defence in one of several changes enforced on Louis van Gaal by injury, shot wide from distance as United’s bright start continued while Chelsea struggled to offer a threat.
Cesc Fabregas got into a couple of promising positions for the Blues only to be snuffed out by Herrera and Marouane Fellaini, and the Spaniard played a role in the move which cut the visitors open for the 38th-minute goal.
After John Terry had forcefully dispossessed Radamel Falcao on the halfway line, Fabregas pass into Oscar’s feet and, with his back to goal, the Brazilian back-heeled into the path of Hazard, who ran clear of the defence and tucked through David de Gea’s legs for his 18th of the season.
The Belgian remained the outstanding player after the break, although he missed a glorious chance to increase Chelsea’s cushion when awkwardly poking the ball against the crossbar from inside the six-yard box after Didier Drogba’s deflected strike nearly punished a stray Herrera pass.
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