Scott McTominay starred for Manchester United as the Red Devils defied the odds to grab all three points against Chelsea at Old Trafford.
United desperately needed a win against the Blues after being pegged back to default settings with an abject defeat to Newcastle United in their last game.
Reports of dressing room fallout followed the loss to the Magpies with Erik ten Hag coming under immense pressure to overturn the tides of dwindling fortunes.
The two sides came into the game at the back contrasting fortunes with Chelsea tipped to carry the day after a series of top-notch performance in their last four matches.
Chelsea drew all the big teams in the Premier League, including a statement win over Tottenham Hotspur, and a 4-4 draw with Manchester City.
United equally had a series of upbeat performances with a four-match winning run in the league before being inflicted with the factory resetting defeat against Newcastle United.
Against Chelsea, United put up a determined and more spirited performance, starting the game on the front foot trying to take the lead.
In the 9th minute, they had a penalty but Bruno Fernandes squandered the golden opportunity to give the home side the lead.
Ten minutes after the missed spotkick, Scott McTominay came up clutch against the Blues with an opening goal for the Reds.
Scott McTominay's opener saw the home side closed up on a first half win but were dealt a blow in the cusp of the break as Cole Palmer restored parity before the interval.
Manchester United came into the second half with a far better performance and were looking set to return to the lead.
Late in the 69th minute, it was Scott McTominay again, who bagged his brace latching on Alejandro Garnacho's cross to thump in a header at the back post.
It was a deserved second lead for the Red Devils, who were far more clinical than the visitors.
Chelsea made late attempts to nail home an equaliser but United held on to grab a big and crucial win which took the pressure off Erik ten Hag's back, and took the team to three points adrift of top four.
United desperately needed a win against the Blues after being pegged back to default settings with an abject defeat to Newcastle United in their last game.
Reports of dressing room fallout followed the loss to the Magpies with Erik ten Hag coming under immense pressure to overturn the tides of dwindling fortunes.
The two sides came into the game at the back contrasting fortunes with Chelsea tipped to carry the day after a series of top-notch performance in their last four matches.
Chelsea drew all the big teams in the Premier League, including a statement win over Tottenham Hotspur, and a 4-4 draw with Manchester City.
United equally had a series of upbeat performances with a four-match winning run in the league before being inflicted with the factory resetting defeat against Newcastle United.
Against Chelsea, United put up a determined and more spirited performance, starting the game on the front foot trying to take the lead.
In the 9th minute, they had a penalty but Bruno Fernandes squandered the golden opportunity to give the home side the lead.
Ten minutes after the missed spotkick, Scott McTominay came up clutch against the Blues with an opening goal for the Reds.
Scott McTominay's opener saw the home side closed up on a first half win but were dealt a blow in the cusp of the break as Cole Palmer restored parity before the interval.
Manchester United came into the second half with a far better performance and were looking set to return to the lead.
Late in the 69th minute, it was Scott McTominay again, who bagged his brace latching on Alejandro Garnacho's cross to thump in a header at the back post.
It was a deserved second lead for the Red Devils, who were far more clinical than the visitors.
Chelsea made late attempts to nail home an equaliser but United held on to grab a big and crucial win which took the pressure off Erik ten Hag's back, and took the team to three points adrift of top four.