JUAN MATA was the hero as Chelsea boosted their top four hopes with victory at Manchester United.
The Spaniard struck a low effort on 87 minutes that gave the Blues three vital points ahead of Wednesday’s showdown with Tottenham.
Newly crowned United were below par and ended the match with 10 men after Rafael saw red moments after Mata’s winner.
And Alex Ferguson will not have appreciated losing to old foe Rafa Benitez either.
Chelsea now sit three points ahead of fifth-placed Spurs, having jumped above Arsenal to claim third spot.
Oscar had a great chance to opening the scoring for Chelsea in the 14th minute after a bucaneering run down the left.
Unchallenged, the Brazilian fired a low shot which Anders Lindegaard — in for David De Gea — just managed to tip onto the post.
Moments later Victor Moses was quilty of wasting another chance — firing into Row Z after being teed up on the edge of the box.
United sprung into life, and Anderson was inches from converting Phil Jones’ cross from the right.
After a lacklustre start the champions started to tick, with Tom Cleverley copying Moses by blasting the ball high and wide after Petr Cech had punched Ryan Giggs’ cross clear.
The second half started in similarly open fashion, with Phil Jones finding himself through on goal early on — only to skew his effort.
United were first to make a change in search of a goal, with Wayne Rooney and Alex Buttner coming on for Anderson and Tom Cleverley with 70 minutes gone.
Chelsea responded by sending masked striker Fernando Torres on for Moses.
And seconds later Mata came within inches of opening the scoring, with the diving Spaniard failing to connect with a Frank Lampard cross.
But finally the Spanish international got the goal his side craved, with a daisy-cutter from just inside the box defeating Lindegaard.
And there was even time for a late red card as Manchester United’s Rafael was given his marching orders for a clash with David Luiz.
Man Utd: Lindegaard, Rafael, Evans, Vidic, Evra, Jones, Anderson (Rooney 69), Cleverley (Buttner 68), Valencia (Hernandez 90), van Persie, Giggs. Subs Not Used: De Gea, Ferdinand, Scholes, Kagawa.
Sent Off: Rafael (89).
Booked: Vidic, Jones.
Chelsea: Cech, Azpilicueta, Ivanovic, Luiz, Cole, Ramires, Lampard, Oscar, Mata (Ake 90), Moses (Torres 76), Ba. Subs Not Used: Turnbull, Ferreira, Cahill, Terry, Benayoun.
