United's overall performance needs to improve but a win is a win

LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 28: Javier Hernandez of Manchester United celebrates his goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on October 28, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

My first trip to Stamford Bridge on Sunday yielded our first league win at the home of the European Champions for a decade. Whilst we relied on luck, some great saves from David De Gea and a bit of a helping hand from Mr Clattenburg, it saw us pick up three points that could prove decisive at the end of the season.

We made a great start – I could never have imagined being 2-0 up within the first 15 minutes, dominating the game so comfortably for the first half hour. However, true to the form recently, that dominance ended and we were on the back foot approaching half time. Wayne Rooney gave away a silly foul and Juan Mata curled a free-kick into the top bag.

After half time a defensive mix-up between De Gea and Jonny Evans resulted in Ramires heading in an equaliser. As disappointing as that was, I had thought a draw would be a good result so resigned myself to this. However, when Branislav Ivanovic clipped Ashley Young’s heels and earned himself a red card just after the hour, I thought that might be the bit of luck we needed. Fergie changed things around and the extra man advantage counted and we looked to be getting on the front foot again for a few minutes.

I had a bit of a panic however when Fernando Torres went one-on-one with Jonny Evans. My first reaction was that Evans should have been carded (I still think there was enough contact to warrant a foul) so you can imagine my happiness when Clattenburg awarded Torres a second yellow card and sent him off. Whilst that decision was a joke, Torres was lucky not to see red for a high challenge on Tom Cleverley during the first half. Justice was done.

When Chicharito scored the late winner, I was predictably delighted. To win at Stamford Bridge has become somewhat of a luxury during the Abramovich era, so it was a great three points to earn and three big points that we never get. They could just be the points that secure the title at the end of the season!

Whilst we are still playing relatively poorly, a win is a win and three points are three points. We are second in the league despite not really getting out of first gear and once again have to thank RVP for bailing the back four out. However, as big players start to come back from injury and our form starts to return, that balance will be restored. If the last few weeks are anything to go by, just watch what happens when we do hit form…