Manchester United claimed a record-equalling 18th successive home win to march two points clear at the Premier League summit with victory at Old Trafford. And that does not even scratch the surface of a day of drama against Chelsea.
First-half goals from Chris Smalling, Nani and Wayne Rooney – his ninth of the season – proved enough for the hosts.
However, Rooney also had a ‘Moscow moment’ missing a second-half penalty, slipping as he went to strike it, Fernando Torres scored only his second Chelsea goal, then unbelievably fired wide of a completely empty net after rounding David de Gea.
De Gea had already repelled a marginally less glaring chance for Ramires and in stoppage time, Dimitar Berbatov was denied by Cole, whose earlier poor challenge on Javier Hernandez had led the Mexican to hobble off in considerable pain.
It all ended with United matching an achievement from the 1904-05 season, when they were a Second Division club.
Champions United top the standings with a perfect 15 points from five games and have now scored 14 goals at home against Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Chelsea. Chelsea’s first defeat under new manager Andre Villas-Boas leaves them in third place with 10 points from five games, two points behind Manchester City who drew 2-2 with Fulham for their first dropped points of the league.