These two sides came into the clash on the back of PL defeats, hardly the best preparation for a huge clash in both teams’ quest for a UEFA Champions League qualification spot.
Chelsea, though, were particularly desperate to pick up points considering that they had won just one of their past seven at home, and they were the more threatening throughout an admittedly cagey opening half.
Estêvão was inches away from breaking the deadlock when he curled onto the post from outside the box, which proved to be his only real contribution as he was forced off with injury shortly after.
Enzo Fernández then shot narrowly wide from inside the area as Chelsea appeared to be moving through the gears, only for the visitors to strike with their sole shot on target of the half as Matheus Cunha buried from Bruno Fernandes’ cutback.
After the break, the onus was on Chelsea to take the game to their opponents to keep their top-four spot alive.
And that they did, twice hitting the bar following balls into the box.
First, Delap nodded against the woodwork, before Noussair Mazaraoui inadvertently did the same - although that would have been ruled out as it had already hit Wesley Fofana’s hand.
Cole Palmer then also shot wide, but the seemingly inevitable Chelsea onslaught never arrived.
While Moisés Caicedo was agonisingly close to finding the bottom corner late on, the Red Devils ultimately looked comfortable as they defended their narrow advantage.
The result only increases the pressure on Liam Rosenior, who may now have to turn his attention to qualifying for another European competition rather than the UCL, given the sides queuing up behind them to challenge.
United, meanwhile, have now opened up a 10-point gap to Chelsea in the table thanks to just their second-ever PL H2H double over the Blues, as interim boss Michael Carrick picks up more credit for the job he has done since replacing Ruben Amorim earlier in the season.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)