United succumb to Blues revival

PERHAPS the time has come for the FA to rename their prize shield: on the basis of this spiteful evidence, any semblance of community spirit has long since evaporated where Manchester United and Chelsea are concerned.

The antics of Michael Ballack and Patrice Evra and a predictably volcanic reaction from Alex Ferguson ensured the new season opened with the most sulphurous of bangs yesterday, but even when the acrid smoke had cleared, the implications were hard to decipher.

Chelsea can take heart from yet another display of resolute bloody-mindedness, which saw United’s early lead overhauled in the second half and Wayne Rooney’s gut-wrenching last- gasp equaliser shrugged off in the penalty shoot-out.