WHEN mild-mannered Darren Fletcher comes off spitting feathers you know there's been an injustice.

The seething Scot still shook referee Martin Atkinson's hand but it was a reluctant gesture and the midfielder stomped away from the official raging and shaking his head in abject frustration as Chelsea bagged three points they did not deserve.

The source of his anger wasn't difficult to detect and it cost United at least a precious point in the title race and saw their Stamford Bridge record without a win on this manor stretch to eight matches.

Fletcher was boiling with rage after a clean tackle on Ashley Cole in the 76th minute was viewed by Atkinson as a foul. The official might have got away with any ire from the Old Trafford camp had not the resulting free-kick led to Chelsea's winner. The situation was made worse when TV replays showed Didier Drogba clearly trying to connect with Nicolas Anelka's match-winning touch from an off-side position.

Fletcher must be wondering what on earth he has done to deserve this jinxed comeback from injury.

Only in midweek he was booked in Europe for cheating after an alleged dive against CSKA Moscow that should have been a penalty in his favour - and now this.

United boarded their train from Euston 12 months ago having been beaten at the Emirates down the road by Arsenal. The loss left them trailing Chelsea by eight points and no doubt that journey north was taken up with a deep debate on how the Reds could turn a season that was starting decidedly worryingly into another serious assault on a series of trophies.

Discussions

The answer they came up with was to go on that record-shattering run of clean sheets.

There would have been no such long discussions into the proceedings at Stamford Bridge yesterday on the long journey home because Sir Alex will have known he couldn't have asked more from his champions.

The three goals United shipped against CSKA Moscow appeared to have focused the Reds and Wes Brown and Jonny Evans didn't look like they were second choices on this occasion.

Heads and boots were employed diligently by both of them to comparatively keep a lid on the dangerous Chelsea attack of Drogba and goal-scoring Anelka who claimed he had got in the way of the John Terry header that controversially led to Chelsea's winner. United's young defenders were helped by the Reds' engine room who even though numerically having the advantage with five men on patrol, had their hands full against the Ancelotti diamond.

While Essien and Lampard in particular enjoyed a plethora of possession, they were so harassed by Fletcher and Anderson their normal service to the front men was rushed and hurried.

It meant with United standing firm, and up front only having Wayne Rooney as a lone spearhead, chances were limited but it was the Reds with the better efforts from Valencia, Giggs and Carrick outweighing Chelsea's collection coming solely from Anelka.

The home crowd were without question the most nervous among the fans after the first 45 minutes and were so unimpressed by any signs of early improvement that they were urging Ancelotti to bring on Joe Cole.

The Italian resisted until just after the hour and to remove the ineffective Deco was a popular choice. Fergie was under no such vocal pressure from the Reds travelling support as his opening line-up continued to keep Chelsea under wraps while providing a few moments to worry the Londoners' defence.

Steam

The best of the lot came as Rooney fizzed a daisy-cutter past Cech's right-hand post and then forced the keeper to paw away another curling effort minutes later.

United were building up a head of steam that suggested they may even end that dismal record at the Bridge. They might not have been able to replicate the 3-0 success they had here last time they won in April 2002 but without doubt a win was not beyond a side who were proving most pre-match predictions wrong.

Building on Rooney's outstanding second half they were looking the likely winners of a match that wasn't really living up to its potential.

However, then Fletcher's curse resurfaced and Terry was indirectly able to get his own back for his slip-up in the Champions League final in Moscow 2008 when he let the Reds off the hook in that memorable penalty shoot-out.

It led to a typical barnstorming United finale that Chelsea survived. Whether they will ultimately survive the inevitable furious answer from United after another London loss is going to make for an interesting winter.