After an ordinary first half, the game exploded after the catalyst of Chelsea's third, fortuitous goal. Juan Mata's great volley, created by his fellow Spaniard Fernando Torres, had lifted Chelsea's spirits but their team, devoid of core players – Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard, John Terry and Didier Drogba – fumbled their way forwards after Sir Alex Ferguson's changes worked to perfection.

His alterations were aided by André Villas-Boas's decision to substitute Daniel Sturridge, the one player who could create a pressure point for the home team, teasing Patrice Evra to the first goal and then drawing the Manchester United left-back into committing a yellow-card offence. Without his trickery in wide areas, Torres was even more bereft of support. In truth, Torres's approach play was better than in recent games but in delaying a golden opportunity to score when Chelsea were 3-2 up he displayed a lack of confidence. Chelsea never got into advanced areas down the left because the left-footed Florent Malouda was too narrow, particularly in the first half. Mata, also a left-footer, played his scheming role more centrally, and the right-footed José Bosingwa was trapped when advancing into the middle third.

Torres did not receive one cross from the left to attack from an advanced position and his goal famine goes on.

It was Wayne Rooney, more than anyone else, who rocked Chelsea as United stormed back. Picking up balls from all areas he needed to be man-marked. His energy is incredible and his desire to be accurate in all he does is admirable. His finding of space is so intelligent and his forward runs, with or without the ball, exemplary.

Michael Essien, understandably lacking energy, might have attempted to sit on him had Ramires been available to play alongside Raul Meireles. They needed someone with enough energy and discipline to nail Rooney.

Paul Scholes, in the centre, was clinical and Ryan Giggs, calm and classy on the left, held sway. The Blues lacked the confidence to keep the ball and gain passages of possession to take the sting out of the game. They got submerged into the ebb and flow, but they desperately needed to hold the game as United threw caution to the wind. Ferguson had a field day. Even David de Gea, the much-maligned goalkeeper, came up trumps in the final minutes. It was that kind of day.