Premiership: United will recover says Hasselbaink

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink backed Manchester United to "bounce back" from their current crisis after Chelsea cruised to a 3-0 win at Old Trafford.

Hasselbaink, who grabbed Chelsea's second goal, was eager to play down the significance of a win which lifts the Blues to fourth place in the Premiership.

Mario Melchiot and Eidur Gudjohnsen got the other goals and Chelsea could have had more.

But Hasselbaink said: "We can't think now that we're better than Man United. They will bounce back for sure.

"We've got three points but that's all it is."

Asked if Chelsea could be considered title contenders after their stunning victory over the champions, Hasselbaink replied: "We're not thinking about the championship. We're only thinking about one game after the other. We will just keep battling and trying to win every game."

Melchiot headed Chelsea in front from Hasselbaink's sixth-minute corner and, after Hasselbaink had fired a second from a narrow angle in the 64th minute, Gudjohnsen rubbed salt in United's wounds when he made it 3-0 four minutes from time.

It was United's fifth league defeat of the season and saw them slip to seventh place in the Premiership.

On his goal, a raking shot into the far corner when the angle seemed to be against him, Hasselbaink added: "I was looking for Eidur to pass to but, a few moments later, I couldn't pass any more. I had to shoot for the far corner and I was a little bit lucky that it went through Keane's legs.

England hopeful John Terry, outstanding in Chelsea's defence, said: "It's a great result and hopefully we'll go on to do better."

Terry also saluted keeper Carlo Cudicini for his early point-blank save which denied Ruud van Nistelrooy.

"It was a great save by Carlo but I was a bit disappointed that van Nistelrooy got away from me."

Claudio Ranieri said: "The players have played two games against Leeds and Manchester United and won both so the spirit and confidence are good.

"The first half was fantastic but the second half we still tried to press and play football.

"United are a great team and can always score against you. I was worried because if you don't take your chances against them they do."