Football; Ferguson has no clues about Chelsea mystery

Manchester United. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0

Chelsea. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

ALEX FERGUSON had the sang- froid of the fictional British Army officer refusing to be hurried through his meal. Yes, the natives may be revolting, the garrison may be on fire but, damn them, surely there's time for the port?

Old Trafford crackled with speculation about the top of the Premiership. Supporters fretted about the dwindling lead, reporters studied the fixtures to ascertain when United will travel to Blackburn, but the manager had put on his best 'Crisis? What crisis?' guise.

'Oh well, all good things have to come to an end,' he said with the unperturbed air of a man who had seemed to have nothing more profound to worry about than the finishing of his favourite jar of marmalade. 'Maybe it's a not a bad thing to happen. A reminder at the right time.'

Perhaps it was an act, but the volatile Ferguson who harangued Jimmy Hill after the FA Cup tie at Norwich was missing and in its place was the voice of reason. Had he been so philosophical in the dressing-room? 'Yes. You get days like this. To be honest I never thought we looked as if we were going to win.'

There were two mysteries about Saturday. The first was what Chelsea have got that makes them different to the rest of the Premiership. To beat the champions 1-0 once was surprising enough considering their meagre League form, but to get the double over them and end a 34- match unbeaten run was staggering.

The second was what happened to United. On Wednesday they had ripped apart one of the best teams in England, Sheffield Wednesday, and yet when they played under-achievers Chelsea they were not so much off form as downright humdrum. Gavin Peacock said that after he scored it was like the Alamo for Chelsea but he was wrong. At the Alamo plenty from both sides could shoot straight.

For all the pressure, Dimitri Kharin in the Chelsea goal did not have to make a save apart from a richochet that he was fortunate to stop with his foot and a late drive from Ryan Giggs. United created several chances but they invariably failed to find the target.

The most blatant miss came from Mark Hughes who, unmarked, volleyed over from 10 yards. It made Peacock's cameo exhibition of the striker's art in the 65th minute all the more edifying.

Mark Stein, whose ankle ligament injury may have serious implications for Chelsea's FA Cup hopes, headed precisely into Peacock's path and, instead of opting for power as Hughes had done, he chipped the ball delicately over Peter Schmeichel as the United goalkeeper advanced and spread himself.

It was reminiscent of his goal against the champions at Stamford Bridge and means he will almost certainly be the only player to get two winners against United this season. 'This will send a few shock waves through the bottom half of the table,' he said.

He can rest assured it sent a few tremors in the top half, too. Even if Ferguson did not feel them.

Goal: Peacock (64) 0-1.

Manchester United (4-3-3): Schmeichel; Parker (Dublin 72), Bruce, Pallister, Irwin; Keane, Ince, McClair (Robson, 81); Kanchelskis, Hughes, Giggs. Substitute not used: Sealey (gk).

Chelsea (4-4-2): Kharin; Clarke, Kjeldberg, Johnsen, Sinclair; Burley, Newton, Wise, Peacock; Spencer, Stein (Hopkin, 87). Substitutes not used: Hoddle, Hitchcock (gk).

Referee: D Gallagher (Banbury).