Joe Cole gave Chelsea the lead on 20 minutes with a clever back-heeled finish from Florent Malouda's cross in a first half dominated by the visitors.

Didier Drogba came off the bench to net a second 11 minutes from time even though it appeared the striker was offside as he latched onto Salomon Kalou's pass.

Manchester United substitute Federico Macheda pulled a goal back two minutes later when Cech could only parry Nani's cross into the path of the Italian who bundled the ball into the net.

United threw everything at Chelsea in the closing stages, but Carlo Ancelotti's men held on to move two points clear at the top of the table.