Eden Hazard's first-half goal was enough to give Chelsea a 1-0 win over Manchester United which puts them two victories shy of the Premier League title.

The Belgian struck after 38 minutes to settle an even encounter at Stamford Bridge and bring the Blues to the brink of the trophy that has eluded them since 2010.

Here, Sports Mole takes a look at how the game was won in West London this evening.

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Match statistics

CHELSEA
Shots: 7
On target: 2
Possession: 71%
Corners: 3
Fouls: 10

MANCHESTER UNITED
Shots: 15
On target: 2
Possession: 71%
Corners: 7
Fouls: 13

Was the result fair?

Without a doubt. From the moment that Chelsea went ahead, United never looked like equalising despite an abundance of possession. It was yet another in a series of gritty defensive performances that looks poised to drag them over the finishing line. They limited their visitors to nothing but half-chances and, Louis van Gaal can have no complaints about the result.

Chelsea's performance

Winning ugly seems to be a prerequisite for title challengers at this stage of the season, and while Chelsea's route to glory has been anything but pretty in recent weeks, it has been immensely effective - and today was no exception.

It was a disjointed performance from Jose Mourinho's side for the first 38 minutes or so, with Didier Drogba leading the forward line to little effect as the trident of Cesc Fabregas, Oscar and Hazard behind him never settled in any one position.

Out of nowhere, though, Chelsea clicked as Oscar's brilliant back-heal released the Belgian, who raced through with David de Gea before one-upping his fellow PFA Player of the Year nominee with a composed finish.

It proved enough to earn a half-time lead and the Blues never looked worried in a second half that spawned very few goalscoring chances for either side, with Hazard's clever flick coming back off the crossbar in the best opportunity.

Mourinho successfully killed the game when he withdrew Oscar for Ramires on 67 minutes to stifle the adventurous Luke Shaw, who had been United's best player in the final third, and it was relatively straightforward from that point courtesy of another exceptional defensive display from Branislav Ivanovic, Gary Cahill, John Terry and Cesar Azpilicueta - a back four that appears to have limited weaknesses.

Victory puts them 10 points clear of second-placed Arsenal and level on games played and, barring arguably the biggest miracle in the history of English football, it remains their title to lose.

Manchester United's performance

Despite coming into the contest on the back of a six-game winning streak, this undoubtedly represented the Red Devils' biggest test of the season and their performance proved that they are not quite yet at the level of their London counterparts.

With eight points separating them before kick-off, the clash was merely a useful exercise to gauge how close Van Gaal's side can push the would-be champions next season but, on this evidence, there is still plenty of work to be done during the summer.

Although United started relatively well, and went close through Wayne Rooney early on, there was never a point in the entire game when a United goal looked imminent - especially after falling behind with seven minutes left in the first half.

It was a goal that flattened them and, barring Radamel Falcao's effort in the second half, they seldom looked like finding an equaliser. In the end, Van Gaal will know that he has a major task on his hands during the summer months if he is to come back and beat his former assistant to the title next season.

Sports Mole's man of the match

Eden Hazard: It has to be Hazard, who produced a performance that surely solidifies his grip on PFA Player of the Year. He was not always involved, but he was decisive once again with a well-taken goal on 38 minutes to put Chelsea within two wins of the title. He underlines his importance with each passing game.

Biggest gaffe

It is Rooney who is perhaps guilty of the biggest gaffe - and it came after just four minutes. Ashley Young played in Shaw down the left-hand flank, before the defender cut back for Rooney on the edge of the box and the skipper curled just wide of the post.

It was close, as De Gea knows because he celebrated, but Rooney should have done better with what ultimately proved to be their best chance of the evening.

Referee performance

Mike Dean should have had a big call to make midway through the first half when De Gea appeared to handle outside the area, but the incident was not spotted by Dean or any of his assistants, something that would have surely irked Mourinho had the result gone against his side.

Dean's best moment came right at the death, when he correctly booked Ander Herrera for simulation after the Spaniard intentionally fell over Cahill's leg in a desperate bid to win a last-gasp penalty.

What next?

Chelsea: Mourinho's men travel to the Emirates next Sunday for what promises to be another stern test against Arsenal.

Manchester United: Also on Sunday, Van Gaal's charges travel to Everton in the day's earlier kick-off.