Gary Cahill the creator as Chelsea defeat Man Utd

Sunday 19 Jan 2014
Cahill celebrates Chelsea's second goal

England defender Gary Cahill created two goals as Chelsea earned a 3-1 victory over Manchester United at Stamford Bridge. 

It was a near perfect afternoon for Cahill, who signed for the Blues in January 2012, as he helped supply hat-trick hero Samuel Eto'o with two of his three goals.

Jose Mourinho's side took the lead thanks to an 18th-minute effort from the Cameroon international, whose shot took an unfortunate deflection off England midfielder Michael Carrick and looped over David De Gea in the Manchester United goal.

With the home side in the ascendancy and half-time approaching, Moyes' men failed to clear a corner and Cahill found himself in space on the right. 

Roy Hodgson

The England manager was at Stamford Bridge to see Chelsea beat Man Utd

 

The 28-year-old picked out Eto'o in the middle with ease and the striker fired home past a despairing De Gea for Chelsea's second.

As the second half got under way Cahill was at it again. 

Again the visitors failed to deal with a Chelsea corner and the centre-back had a free header at goal. 

His effort was well saved by De Gea, but the ball dropped kindly for Eto'o who poked home from close range. 

England manager Roy Hodgson was present at Stamford Bridge and will have been encouraged by Cahill's all-round display, and despite a late Javier Hernandez goal ending a run of three consecutive clean sheets for Cahill and Chelsea, it proved nothing more than a consolation goal for the visitors.

Hodgson would also have been able to take a closer look at several other current squad members ahead of Denmark's visit to Wembley on Wednesday 5 March.

As well as Cahill for Chelsea, Phil Jones, Michael Carrick, Danny Welbeck, Ashley Young and Chris Smalling all featured for the visitors.

Elsewhere on Sunday, England's Kyle Walker, Danny Rose, Michael Dawson, Aaron Lennon and Kyle Naughton all turned out for Tottenham Hotspur in their 3-1 victory at Swansea City.

Kyle Walker

Walker created Spurs' second goal at Swansea


Spurs left south Wales with all three points thanks to an Emmanuel Adebayor brace and a Chico Flores own-goal.

With Tim Sherwood's men already one ahead, impressive wing-work and a dangerous low cross from England right-back Kyle Walker gave Flores no option but to stick out a leg and attempt a clearance. 

It was to no avail, however, and the Spanish defender watched his attempted clearance fly past Tremmel and in for an own-goal.

It was Spurs' fifth win in their last six Premier League outings and they move to 43 points - level with fifth-placed Liverpool.

Meanwhile Chelsea's victory over Manchester United takes them back to within two points of leaders Arsenal, and one behind second-placed Manchester City.

By Jamie Reid Senior Writer Stamford Bridge