- 1 week ago
Chelsea have won all three home games at Stamford Bridge in the league this season. United are top of the table and unbeaten.
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00:00October 1999 and Stamford Bridge was the setting for one of the Premiership's biggest games.
00:05Manchester United began this one as early leaders of the Premiership with 21 points from 9,
00:10while Chelsea were in 7th with games in hand.
00:13United were full of confidence, boasting a 9-game unbeaten run against Chelsea,
00:18and overall Sir Alex Ferguson's team were on a remarkable 29-game unbeaten run,
00:23a record for the Premiership at the time.
00:26Gianluca Vialli had scored the winner the last time Chelsea had managed to beat United.
00:31His diminutive striker Gianfranco Zola hadn't been in top goal-scoring form at the start of the season,
00:36he'd gone 10 matches without finding the net, unusual by his own high standards.
00:41Vialli drafted in Danish defender Yes Ho in place of Marcel Desailly,
00:45and Didier Deschamps replaced Jodie Morris.
00:48Sir Alex Ferguson looked relaxed in these stands as he exchanged presentries with Chelsea chairman Ken Bates.
00:54Summer signing Massimo Taibbi continued in goal, despite a clangour against Southampton the week before.
01:01Another new signing, defender Mikel Silvestre, who'd arrived from Inter Milan, played at left-back.
01:07Phil Neville moved into midfield to replace Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
01:10Your commentator for this one, Alan Parry.
01:15The Chelsea pitch resurfaced during the summer in beautiful condition here,
01:21and everything is set, really, for a classic encounter.
01:25Today's referee, Dermot Gallagher, Manchester United, in the red shirts,
01:29defending the goal to the right.
01:32The shadows falling across the Stamford Bridge pitch on this beautiful afternoon.
01:39Albert Ferrer, the little Spanish player, with a lay-off to Zola.
01:45Chris Sutton, who keeps his place ahead of Tor André Flo.
01:48And the first ball for Manchester United to deal with it, it's a goal!
01:51Puyet sneaks in and scores inside 30 seconds!
01:56What a sensational opening here at Stamford Bridge!
02:00Confusion in the Manchester United defence,
02:03and that must be the quickest goal that any team has scored against Manchester United
02:08for a very, very long time.
02:11Straight from the kick-off, from the very first attack,
02:14and the goalkeeper, Taibbi, has to take the lion's share of the blame again, I'm afraid.
02:21He came too far out, didn't make contact,
02:24clashed with his own player, Dennis Irwin,
02:26and Petrescu's cross was headed in by Puyet,
02:30one of the best headers of a ball in the Premiership,
02:33and what a start we've got now, here at Stamford Bridge.
02:39Well, he really has got a fabulous scoring record.
02:41It's his 23rd goal in just over 60 appearances.
02:46Gustavo Puyet, the big Uruguayan,
02:49has been a fantastic signing for them.
02:53Dwight York loses out, Chelsea are up for this.
03:00Stam's clearance, picked up again by Petrescu,
03:04and the little Romanian held off the challenge from Neville.
03:10really flying now after that start.
03:12Ferrer fires another one in,
03:14but this time beyond Chris Sutton.
03:17Good little player, Albert Ferrer.
03:20Excellent signing by Gianluca Vialli,
03:22who's been 20 months in charge at Chelsea now.
03:45Stam, for Manchester United.
03:48The captain gets it back again.
03:51The noise was fantastic even before a ball had been kicked,
03:54but with Chelsea getting a start like that,
03:57the atmosphere really is something special now.
04:02Possibly some spectators didn't even take their seats in time to see that goal.
04:06But Zola is trying to give them a bonus here,
04:09and look for Sutton, who went down under the challenge on the near post.
04:13Looks to the referee, but gets nothing.
04:15He was hoping for a penalty.
04:17Lovely build-up play.
04:20Zola just glancing up to see where Sutton was,
04:23and it certainly looked as though it might have been a bit of a push as well by Henningberg.
04:34Ten minutes gone.
04:35Chelsea one, Manchester United nil.
04:40Ferrer going forward.
04:42That's a good ball too.
04:43And suddenly Sutton found himself unmarked.
04:46Not Sutton, rather.
04:47It was Poyet again.
04:48Found himself unmarked.
04:49And really almost had too much time.
04:52He brought the ball down on his chest, but couldn't control it.
04:56Poyet finding himself for the second time in the match with a chance of a goal here.
05:01Everyone appearing for offside in the United camp.
05:04And it seemed to catch Poyet on a worse almost, because although he took the ball down then,
05:09he just controlled it too far away from himself.
05:13And in fairness to Taibbi, he was brave going down at his feet like that.
05:23Manchester United regaining some of their composure,
05:26which was certainly missing in the opening few minutes here when they went a goal behind.
05:31Inside 30 seconds, remember.
05:39Deschamps.
05:42Referee, rather belatedly, giving Chelsea the free kick when Deschamps would rather, I think, have gone on.
05:50Ferrer with a good ball into the box.
05:52And Taibbi's been beaten again.
05:55Chris Sutton has made it.
05:57Chelsea two.
05:58Manchester United nil.
06:00Only 16 minutes gone.
06:02Unbelievable stuff at Stamford Bridge.
06:05They're absolutely overjoyed, these Chelsea players and fans.
06:10What a start against the champions of Europe.
06:15Brilliant ball into the box.
06:17And Chris Sutton's header was superb.
06:20No blame attached to the goalkeeper this time.
06:24It was a perfectly placed header.
06:27And Chris Sutton, on the occasion of the 300th game of his career,
06:34has scored his first premiership goal for Chelsea.
06:40And Viali is delighted as anyone in the stadium in blue.
06:47Chelsea two, Manchester United nil.
06:51Sensational opening at Stamford Bridge to what was always going to be one of the fixtures of the season.
07:10For Sutton, the first Chelsea striker to score since the opening day of the season.
07:16Collision there between two tough little characters.
07:19How stupid can you get?
07:21Nicky Butt with the referee right beside him.
07:24Reacted ridiculously and he's off and he deserves to be off.
07:27I can't believe that.
07:29That is crazy.
07:31The referee was stood next to him.
07:33Well, even if he hadn't been, it would have been a ridiculous thing to do.
07:36But Alex Ferguson will be livid with Nicky Butt.
07:39What a totally unnecessary way to get sent off and get your team into deeper trouble.
07:45Dennis Wise being protected by his teammates.
07:49Well, whatever Nicky Butt's feelings about the rights or wrong of that challenge,
07:53to do that, right in front of referee Gallagher,
07:56gave the referee no option whatsoever.
07:58That is a ridiculous piece of indiscipline by Nicky Butt.
08:04It's going to be a yellow card by the looks of it for Dennis Wise.
08:07But I've rarely seen such a foolish sending off.
08:11All right, it was a bad challenge by Wise.
08:14But at that point, you would have thought it was all over.
08:16Nicky Butt would have settled for a free kick,
08:18settled for the fact that Wise was likely to get yellow carded as well.
08:22There was a bit of verbals by the looks of it.
08:25And now Alex Ferguson's going to have to change things around.
08:31Tactically, Wise yellow carded.
08:32Nicky Butt red carded.
08:34Manchester United all over the place.
08:36But a slip has let them back in suddenly here.
08:39Oh, great save.
08:41Scholes must have thought he was going to bring United back into the picture.
08:44But Ed de Hooy, diving to his left, made a fabulous stop.
08:49It's all happening here.
08:50This is wonderful entertainment.
08:54Scholes didn't do much wrong.
09:00Oh, a mistake again by Manchester United's defence.
09:03What are they playing at?
09:04Two successive mistakes, and this is unlike any Manchester United performance
09:10that I've seen for a long time.
09:13Basic errors being made at the back.
09:36Well, the sunshine's gone, but the entertainment is getting better by the minute, even if the weather isn't.
09:50And another little clash there involving Scholes off the ball.
09:55The referee seemed well-placed to see that as well.
09:57Him and Sutton having a go.
09:59Oh, Manchester United are trying to commit suicide here.
10:03They're already two down.
10:04They're already down to ten men, and they're getting involved unnecessarily.
10:08Oh, look at that.
10:09He took a kick at him again.
10:11And caught as well.
10:13He's lucky not to have joined Nicky Butt for an early shower.
10:17Good turn by Cole, and then a rather theatrical dive.
10:22Neville, Scholes, being booed now for his earlier involvement, and commits a foul on Poyet.
10:30He's better calm down, Paul Scholes.
10:35The referee's already been lenient once.
10:37He might not be a second time.
10:44It's a good ball for Zola.
10:51Got two to beat now.
10:55Sensibly went back to keep possession.
11:00Good ball wise to Ferrer.
11:02Petrescu to one side of him.
11:03Sutton in the middle.
11:05Another good ball in!
11:06Oh, Manchester United were caught again then.
11:10And these crosses, particularly from the right, are causing United's defence all manner of problems.
11:17Both the goals came from that sort of situation.
11:20The Poyet miss, and now a Sutton miss also.
11:27Now, Sir Alex's immaculate club blazer looking a little worse for wear.
11:31And his team certainly looking worse off than Viali's Chelsea.
11:38And Chris Sutton's goal is first in the Premiership for Chelsea.
11:43Has given Chelsea this 2-0 advantage after Poyet's strike inside 30 seconds.
11:55Keep ball is all that Chelsea need to do now.
12:07Simply running down the clock to make sure they go in with that huge psychological advantage.
12:13And that they will do.
12:15What an excellent 45 minutes for Chelsea.
12:18Poyet with a headed goal inside 30 seconds.
12:22Chris Sutton with another headed goal, making it 2-0 for Chelsea.
12:26Manchester United have rarely had such a disjointed and disappointing first half
12:31for many seasons in the Premiership.
12:33The half-time scoreline at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea 2, Manchester United 0.
12:41Neither Gianluca Viali nor Sir Alex Ferguson has made any changes
12:46during the half-time interval.
12:48Changes of personnel anyway, but Sir Alex Ferguson might have
12:52reorganised things following the sending off of his midfield player,
12:57Nicky Butt, in that first half.
12:59But if Manchester United could get a goal back,
13:02we might get a second half
13:04to match the excitement and drama of the first.
13:10The teams have met nine times in various competitions
13:14over the last two seasons.
13:16And United, remember, unbeaten in their last nine.
13:28A very composed, very impressive Chelsea performance so far.
13:40Interesting to see what tactics they adopt in this second half, really.
13:44Chelsea, Chelsea, do they go looking for a third killer goal
13:47that would surely mean the end for Manchester United?
13:51Or do they just contain, keep the ball as often as they can
13:55and let Manchester United do the chasing?
14:05Viali will be very happy about everything at the moment.
14:07Ray Wilkins alongside him.
14:12Ferrer with the cross, which caused so many problems
14:15to United in the first half.
14:17Beckham.
14:21Only three teams managed to beat Chelsea
14:24in the Premiership last season.
14:26Coventry on the opening day, Arsenal and West Ham.
14:29They won 20 of their 38 league games.
14:33And they've started in even better form this season.
14:39Wise has possession for them again.
14:42Zola on the right.
14:50Stam winning the header.
14:55And a hard challenge coming in there.
14:57The referee didn't like that.
15:01Scholes with a smile of sarcasm
15:04rather than pleasure, I'm sure.
15:08And I'll tell you what, that's a bad tackle by Paul Scholes.
15:11For me, he's a lucky lad to still be on the field.
15:14He should have been in trouble earlier in the first half.
15:18He is now, and one more misdemeanour.
15:22He is going to be shown the red card.
15:30Poyette and Sutton trying to lose their markers here.
15:36Goes short to Dennis Weiss.
15:38And on to Leberf, who can really hit the ball
15:41from this kind of range, but he finds Babayaro instead.
15:44Babayaro leaves it to Leberf.
15:46It's a third goal for Chelsea.
15:49Poyette has scored again.
15:52And surely now, surely, Manchester United have been beaten.
15:59Ten minutes into the second half,
16:02Chelsea sail into a three-goal lead.
16:06And any one of three players might have scored this.
16:10Poyette was on hand to score again.
16:13And his particular baron spell is well and truly over.
16:16He's on a hat-trick now.
16:18Against Manchester United of all teams.
16:24And even if Alex Ferguson had his full complement of players out there,
16:28you couldn't see how they could ever turn this situation around.
16:31With ten men, it's well-nigh impossible.
16:40And Chelsea have deserved everything they've got today.
16:43Right from the start, they went at Manchester United,
16:47quite literally, with a goal inside 30 seconds.
16:51They've played good possession football.
16:54They've looked bright and sharp around the opposition penalty area.
16:58They've defended comfortably.
17:00And they fully deserve their three-goal lead.
17:07And the only question now is, can they score again?
17:14Leberf with a long ball.
17:18Stampp with the interception.
17:19Leaves it to Berg.
17:22I must say I've been disappointed in David Beckham's contribution today.
17:26Dropping deeper and deeper here.
17:28And he's been very subdued.
17:32Very lethargic performance from him, almost.
17:36And you look for your stars to deliver on a difficult day like this.
17:40And he most certainly hasn't.
17:46Babayaro for Chelsea.
17:53Well, you never would imagine you could use the word easy when you're playing Manchester United.
17:59But really, it's looking easy for Chelsea now.
18:02A three-goal lead.
18:03They're keeping possession comfortably.
18:07And you cannot see a way back for Manchester United.
18:13And here goes Zola.
18:15Sutton is alongside him.
18:16And he picked him out unselfishly.
18:18And in it goes.
18:19I think it might have been off the defender unless Sutton is claiming the final touch.
18:23Sadly, I think that goes down as an own goal by Henningberg.
18:26And Manchester United's woeful day gets worse.
18:324-0.
18:33Zola doing brilliantly here.
18:35He knew where Sutton was.
18:37He unselfishly tried to slide it into him.
18:39And that definitely came off Berg.
18:41That's an own goal.
18:44I would like to say Manchester United's misery is complete.
18:48Somehow or other, I think it isn't.
18:50There could be further punishment inflicted here.
18:54Well, he must be wondering what it's all about.
18:57Coming to the most successful club in Europe.
19:01And it's been a torrid time for Massimo Taibbi so far.
19:06Phil Neville tries to get United moving in the right direction.
19:10He's injured there.
19:11And as he was challenged.
19:16Certainly can't afford an injury now, Manchester United.
19:21Although, to be honest with you, I don't really think it's going to make a huge amount of difference.
19:34All Chelsea have to do is what they're doing now.
19:37Keep the ball.
19:42Foul given.
19:45Sutton on Stam.
19:47And now I think United will make those changes.
19:50And Chelsea are also going to make a change.
19:53Jodie Morris coming on for that.
19:59Well, I'm not surprised to see David Beckham leaving the field.
20:03He's had a poor game, let's be honest.
20:10And Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is coming on.
20:15And I'm also not surprised to see Paul Scholes going off.
20:18I think he's been taken off to protect him from further punishment.
20:21As they say in boxing parlance.
20:24It looks like all three substitutions have been made, in fact, by Manchester United.
20:28Wilson has come on as well.
20:31So, an attempt by Sir Alex Ferguson to freshen things up.
20:34And now, of course, he's got the dilemma with 25 minutes remaining of knowing that if there's an injury, then
20:42they've had it.
20:43They've used all their subs.
20:46Dennis Wise, the Chelsea player off.
20:48And they almost scored again.
20:49That was a fine save by Taibbi.
20:53Well, he's given us course to criticise him today, the Italian goalkeeper.
20:58But you've got to say that was a marvellous save.
21:01Backpedalling all the way.
21:02And I think it even took a flick up off the boot of Japs Stam here.
21:07It did.
21:08But he made a very good save.
21:11Good goalkeeping, that.
21:16Still 4-0, though.
21:18Taibbi comes into the crowd and makes a mistake again.
21:24When he stays on his line, he looks a decent keeper.
21:26When he comes off, he looks anything but.
21:37Here's Irwin.
21:43Possible foul there by Lebervre.
21:45On Solskjaer, but it's not been given.
21:49Well, that's the first attempt on goal by Manchester United for some time.
21:53Teddy Sheringham making it.
22:00Everybody wants to go.
22:02I'm going to go.
22:42And Petrescu had the temerity there to try a little chip and Peter Taibbi from outside the penalty area.
22:50It's that kind of game today. I feel that anything's on here, Chelsea.
23:02And another taunting for Manchester United. What's it like to be outclassed, say the Chelsea supporters.
23:12And there's some merit to that question today. Never thought I'd say that.
23:16But Manchester United have not been at the races. Chelsea embarrassingly in control here.
23:28Le Boeuf. Baba Yara.
23:31Vessou has gone to this left-hand side of midfield and gets his first touch of the ball.
23:35And fires in a decent cross. Stam knocks it away.
23:41No blame at all attached to him today.
23:44I think he's defended in his usual superb manner.
23:47Yachstam.
23:49One or two others can't hold their heads up quite so high.
23:53Chance here now. Oh, it's another goal.
23:55And would you believe it?
23:57He's only been on the field a few minutes.
23:58But Jodie Morris has scored a rare goal for him.
24:02And he'll trumpet that to the heavens tonight.
24:05That's for sure.
24:06He whacked the ball between Taibbi's legs.
24:09And from a simple set-piece, a throw-in,
24:13Manchester United's defence has been beaten again.
24:16Lovely little ball by Lasseau.
24:18Jodie Morris makes it Chelsea 5, Manchester United 0.
24:25And now, perhaps, United's misery is complete.
24:29Or is it?
24:33He hasn't scored at all for the last eight months.
24:36Jodie Morris, who was born near the ground here,
24:39used to be a ball boy in his school days.
24:42Chelsea through and through.
24:44Sweet moment for him.
24:49It's all over at Stamford Bridge.
24:52A memorable day for Gianluca Vialli and Chelsea Football Club.
24:57The final score at Stamford Bridge.
25:00Chelsea 5, Manchester United 0.
25:05Some performance, but Chelsea couldn't reproduce that sort of form on a regular basis
25:10and contrived to lose their next three Premiership games.
25:13Gianluca Vialli's team ended the campaign in fifth spot.
25:17Massimo Taibbi never played for Manchester United again,
25:19but the team's still won the league with a...
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