Manchester United defeated Chelsea 2-1 at Old Trafford here on Sunday to leave itself on the brink of a record 19th Premier League title. Earlier, Arsenal slumped to a 3-1 defeat against Stoke, all but extinguishing the Gunners' faint title hopes
First-half goals from Javier Hernandez and captain Nemanja Vidic clinched a superb victory which means United needs just one point from their remaining games against Blackburn and Blackpool to clinch the title.
Chelsea, whose lone goal came from the boot of Frank Lampard, had clawed back a 15-point deficit to leave itself only three points behind United heading into Sunday's heavyweight showdown.
Quick strikes
But the reigning champion was blown away in a devastating opening period which saw United take a 2-0 lead within 23 minutes, Hernandez scoring after only 37 seconds to spark delirium at Old Trafford.
South Korean international Park Ji-Sung surged into space from midfield before sliding a pass through to the young Mexican, who nipped in behind David Luiz and slotted past Petr Cech.
It got better for United in the 23rd minute, when a short corner routine saw Park feed Giggs, who jinked past Salomon Kalou before whipping over a cross for Vidic, who shrugged off Branislav Ivanovic to nod home.
The double strike left Chelsea reeling although the team did have its chances to get back in the game, Edwin van der Sar blocking Kalou's close-range header superbly.
The veteran Dutch keeper was pressed into action again soon afterwards, blocking a long-range Luiz shot with his midriff.
Lampard gave Chelsea hope on 68 minutes, prodding in from close range after Ivanovic knocked down a deflected Ramires cross, but United was not to be denied.
Deserving win
Earlier, First-half goals from Kenwyne Jones and Arsenal old boy Jermaine Pennant followed by a late Jonathan Walters strike secured a deserved win for the Potters at the Britannia Stadium.
The results: Manchester United 2 (Hernandez 1, Vidic 23) bt Chelsea 1 (Lampard 68); Stoke 3 (Jones 28, Pennant 40, Walters 82) bt Arsenal 1 (Van Persie 81); Wolves 3 (Fletcher 15, 47, Guedioura 28) bt West Brom 1 (Odemwingie 55-pen).
