Master Mourinho

Another big game, another defensive job by the master, Jose Mourinho. Manchester United had 70 per cent possession, double the amount of shots to the home side but - bar the early Wayne Rooney strike and Radamel Falcao's shot against the post - didn't ever look like breaking the Blue wall down.

Chelsea are undefeated against all of their biggest rivals this season, and the must-not-lose mentality in these matches will eventually be what brings the Premier League trophy back to Stamford Bridge. Chelsea only had real chance and that's all they really needed. They remain the masters at grinding out results when it matters the most.

Single life

Chelsea winning by a single goal is the surest bet in football at the moment. Since putting five past Swansea on 17 January, Chelsea have played nine Premier League games, are undefeated, winning three of them by just a single goal. Holding on to a narrow lead may not have worked against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, but it is money in England's top flight.

Chelsea 1 Manchester United 0 player ratings Show all 24 1 /24 Chelsea 1 Manchester United 0 player ratings Chelsea 1 Manchester United 0 player ratings CHELSEA: Thibaut Courtois - 6/10 Not very busy, but saved well from Falcao in the first half and commanded his penalty area GETTY IMAGES Chelsea 1 Manchester United 0 player ratings Branislav Ivanovic - 5 Often left isolated against Luke Shaw and Ashley Young but coped as well as he could. Chelsea 1 Manchester United 0 player ratings Gary Cahill - 6 Did not allow United to run in behind him, avoided conceding late penalty. GETTY IMAGES Chelsea 1 Manchester United 0 player ratings John Terry - 7 Won his physical battle with Falcao comfortably. Might have been different had he been facing Rooney up front. GETTY IMAGES Chelsea 1 Manchester United 0 player ratings Cesar Azpilicueta - 6 Barely got forward to attack but it was not that sort of afternoon for Chelsea. Defended well. Chelsea 1 Manchester United 0 player ratings Kurt Zouma - 5 Brought back into midfield, Zouma stuck well to Marouane Fellaini, without doing much in possession. Getty Images Chelsea 1 Manchester United 0 player ratings Nemanja Matic - 6 Relished the physical battle and gave United more of a fight than Yaya Touré managed last Sunday. Getty Images Chelsea 1 Manchester United 0 player ratings Cesc Fabregas - 5 Despite platform of two holders, he struggled again to dictate play, he was often outmanoeuvred by Herrera. GETTY IMAGES Chelsea 1 Manchester United 0 player ratings Oscar - 5 Smart backheel for Hazard’s goal but let Luke Shaw rampage down the left too many times. Chelsea 1 Manchester United 0 player ratings Eden Hazard - 8 Proved once again why he is going to be footballer of the year with a brilliant goal. Chelsea 1 Manchester United 0 player ratings Didier Drogba - 5 Worked heroically hard and nearly scored, but did not look quick or sharp enough any more to play at this level. Chelsea 1 Manchester United 0 player ratings Best off the bench: Ramires - 6 Did a better job than Oscar of shutting down the right flank once he came on. Chelsea 1 Manchester United 0 player ratings MANCHESTER UNITED: David De Gea - 4 Beaten through his legs with Chelsea’s first attack and chipped by Drogba with their second. GETTY IMAGES Chelsea 1 Manchester United 0 player ratings Antonio Valencia - 5 Did not enjoy going one on one with Hazard but which full-back has this season? GETTY IMAGES Chelsea 1 Manchester United 0 player ratings Paddy McNair - 6 Back after two months out, the teenager defended well and always looked comfortable in possession. Getty Images Chelsea 1 Manchester United 0 player ratings Chris Smalling - 6 The new leader of United’s back-line, his position was good and he organised with maturity. Getty Images Chelsea 1 Manchester United 0 player ratings Luke Shaw - 6 Impressed on his first league start for two months, bursting down the left with plenty of pace and ambition. Getty Images Chelsea 1 Manchester United 0 player ratings Marouane Fellaini - 5 Chelsea are too good in the air for Fellaini to cause them problems, he was largely ineffective. Getty Chelsea 1 Manchester United 0 player ratings Ander Herrera - 6 Played the Michael Carrick role with class and assurance, dropping between the centre-backs and keeping possession. Getty Images Chelsea 1 Manchester United 0 player ratings Juan Mata - 5 Drifted dangerously but could not find the decisive final pass when United were on top. Getty Images Chelsea 1 Manchester United 0 player ratings Ashley Young - 5 Not as influential as he has been in recent weeks, with delivery often disappointing. Getty Images Chelsea 1 Manchester United 0 player ratings Wayne Rooney - 6 Forced back into midfield, he worked hard and passed well. Would have been a better option up front than Falcao. Getty Images Chelsea 1 Manchester United 0 player ratings Radamel Falcao - 5 Dismal in the first half, slightly sharpened up after, and hit the post late on. Getty Images Chelsea 1 Manchester United 0 player ratings Best off the bench: Angel Di Maria - 6 Added some spark in the final 20 minutes, but not enough to get his side back in the match. Getty Images

Experienced touch

The 37-year-old has lost the explosive athleticism and he's no longer much of a goal threat, but he's turned into a wily pro who knows how to work a centre-back. Poor Paddy McNair has 18 years on the Ivorian and was able to match him yard for yard, but Drogba worked the teenager from the high ball, jostling him out of position and holding the ball up well for his team to relieve the pressure. He showed some nice touches to keep Chelsea moving and won free-kicks at important times.

El Tigre toothless

Radamel Falcao would appear one step closer to the exit door after another game in which he failed to make any mark. Even in his best days he was never the kind of striker to make other players look better with hold up play or silky skills - he was always an out and out poacher. But with that killer instinct gone, Falcao is a passenger. He had one real chance, but when through on goal from a tight angle he took the wrong option and went to the near side, hitting the post. He should have equalised.

Oscar performance

After a string of disappointing outfits from the midfielder (he hasn't scored a Premier League goal since 17 January), Oscar has been linked with a move away from Chelsea this summer. For the first 40 minutes he hadn't done anything to make those rumours go away - shunted out to the right and with the Blues playing a deep, defensive system Oscar barely had a touch. But he provided the moment of the first half when his brilliant back heel set Eden Hazard through on goal for the first half. Oscar stuck to his task well on the right but the flick was his own meaningful touch in an attacking sense. He'll need to do that kind of thing more often if he wants a future under Mourinho.

Impressive Ander

Michael Carrick has been one of United's best players this season and the news that the England midfielder would miss the game would have come as a huge blow to Louis van Gaal and his staff. Ander Herrera was asked to play the deep lying playmaker role at the Bridge and he was excellent. Not only was the Spaniard precise in possession, he was disciplined in his defensive duties providing a good screen in front of the back four. Should Carrick be out for any length of time then Van Gaal need not worry about his replacement - the other central midfield position is an area of concern, however.

Wayne Rooney complains to referee Mike Dean Out of the danger zone

Wayne Rooney is definitely good enough on the ball to be a central midfielder full time, he has a wide range of passing and the energy and ferocity to match his opposite number. But as good as Rooney is, the England skipper is not going to hurt you when he's picking the ball up 50 yards from goal (even if he should have scored with that early strike) Carrick needs to return as quickly as possible.

Zouma wins heavyweight battle