Red Devils in the box seat

Chelsea 0 Man United 1

Manchester United, the ultimate heavyweights of English football, left west London with a 1-0 victory that makes them strong favourites to reach the semi-finals when the second leg is played at Old Trafford on April 12, and it was street fighter Rooney who gave them the advantage.

In a match that saw six players booked Rooney — on trial this week for his trash-talking at West Ham — survived a barrage of ferocious tackles that in days gone by would have tested his temper before producing a 24th minute goal that underlined his undoubted quality.

The result also relied heavily on United’s stalwarts; Edwin van der Sar made several fine saves, Ryan Giggs was outstanding in midfield and Rio Ferdinand was impressive on his return from injury. But it also needed a controversial last-minute decision that saw referee Alberto Undiano Mallenco turn down a strong Chelsea penalty appeal when Patrice Evra clearly brought down Ramires in the area.

There were ugly scenes, too, when Fernando Torres was booked for diving seconds later but United, and Rooney, were worthy winners in a match that showed just why they are such dangerous and seasoned performers in Europe.

Whatever you may think about Rooney’s lack of finesse off the pitch, you cannot help but admire his quality and determination on it.

His workrate, desire and will to win was matched by skill, touch and end product as the real Rooney — the one who tore the Premier League apart before being injured at Bayern Munich last year — returned to the fore.

Of course he had already made an appearance at Upton Park last weekend, a fact that seems to have been forgotten amid all the furore over his foul-mouthed rant that has cost him a two-match suspension — and possibly a three-match one if an FA verdict on his appeal goes the wrong way when it is announced at 10am this morning.

But Rooney’s hat-trick against West Ham signalled the striker, who scored 34 goals last season, is back to his best just in time for the most crucial part of the season.

Certainly Rooney was outstanding here in west London where it was almost impossible to take your eyes off United’s mercurial number 10 in a first half in which Chelsea clearly targeted him for punishment.

Michael Essien was the first to make his mark, thundering into a challenge in which his full weight landed on Rooney’s foot and left him writhing in agony.

Ramires thundered into another challenge, taking the striker’s standing leg with him as he went.

To his credit, Rooney took the challenges like a boxer on the ropes and came back fighting to put United ahead in the 24th minute.

The goal was created by evergreen Giggs, whose perfect cut-back was side-footed home first time by Rooney, his slide-rule finish rolling past Petr Cech, onto the post and into the net.

Rooney had another instant shot well saved before half-time and almost set up a second goal for striker partner Javier Hernandez with a chipped cross that probably should have been dispatched into the net by the Mexican from close range.

But Chelsea have their own battering ram in the shape of Didier Drogba.

The Ivorian, of course, was sent off in the Champions League final against United in Moscow in 2008 so this was never going to be one of his quiet matches.

Drogba could have put Chelsea ahead in the 19th minute, forcing Van der Sar into a wonderful save as he thrashed an angled shot towards goal after accepting a cute pass from the ever-improving Ramires; and he also set up the still-out-of-touch Torres to hit the post on the stroke of half-time — with Frank Lampard seeing his follow-up cleared off the line by Patrice Evra.

The second half proved every bit as feisty.

United lost Rafel Da Silva to injury and Chelsea replaced Drogba with Nicolas Anelka as the action ebbed and flowed; but possibly the best chance fell to Torres, the £50m man who just can’t seem to buy a goal at the moment.

He was perfectly placed to meet a Jose Boswinga cross after 75 minutes and directed it superbly towards the far post — only to see Van der Sar make an outstanding save at full-stretch.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side dominated possession after that but United’s defence, featuring an impressive performance from Ferdinand, worked tirelessly to keep them at bay and when Ramires was felled at the death, they got a slice of luck their performance may have deserved.

Chelsea now are on the ropes — and they could soon be out for the count.

Subs for Chelsea: Mikel for Bosingwa 78, Malouda for Zhirkov 70, Anelka for Drogba 71.

Subs for Man Utd: Nani for Rafael 51, Smalling for Park 90, Berbatov for Hernandez 78.

Ref: AU Mallenco (Spain).