Carvalho keeps Chelsea hot on United's heels

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FIRST GOAL: Ricardo Carvalho (R) scores his first of the season as Chelsea beat Middlesbrough 1-0. (AFP)

Ricardo Carvalho kept Chelsea hot on Manchester United's heels as his first goal of the season clinched a 1-0 win over Middlesbrough on Sunday.

Avram Grant's side closed the gap on Premier League leaders United to five points as they moved back above Arsenal into second place thanks to Carvalho's first half header at Stamford Bridge.

While United show no signs of stumbling as the title race enters the final furlong, Chelsea are at least ensuring Sir Alex Ferguson's champions have to go the distance to reclaim the crown.

The Blues still have to host United on April 26 but they nearly blew this chance to maintain the pressure as their early dominance gave way to a nervous finale in which Middlesbrough hit the woodwork three times.

"I cannot say that it was our best game, but it was important for us to win rather than have quality in the game," Grant said. "They were unlucky but we also created some good chances from open play."

"We started very well and, maybe because of that, we thought it would be easy. But by not making it 2-0, it became a good chance for the other team."

"I think we deserved the win. At this stage of the season, it's about winning. We have to keep winning and hope that when United come here it'll be important."

Middlesbrough Gareth Southgate said: "In the first half I thought we'd come to admire Chelsea and swap shirts at the end of the game.

"But we said at half-time that we had to leave here with no regrets. Once we started to create openings, Chelsea got edgy."

"They're going for the title, but their confidence suffered as well. We could have walked away with a point."

Grant was without Frank Lampard as the England midfielder recovered from an illness, which had kept him out of the friendly against France in midweek.

But beating Arsenal last weekend has given Chelsea renewed belief they can catch United and that confidence was apparent at the start.

Didier Drogba set the tone as he tested Mark Schwarzer with a long-range effort that the Australian fumbled nervously.

Grant's side took the lead in the sixth minute. Wayne Bridge curled over a free-kick from wide on the left and Portugal defender Carvalho rose to power a perfectly-placed header into the far corner.

Chelsea threatened again when Drogba headed wide from Salomon Kalou's corner.

Kalou could have increased the lead after Michael Essien, bulldozing in from the right, picked him out with a low cross. Instead Kalou took one touch too many and allowed Luke Young to block his shot.

The killer touch eluded Drogba as well when Joe Cole's cross gave the striker a free header six yards out and he flicked his effort tamely over.

The subdued atmosphere suggested Chelsea's fans had less belief in their team's title chances than the players. But Grant's side were on top again at the start of the second half, with Schwarzer blocking at Cole's feet.

Essien was next to try his luck as the Ghana midfielder flashed a volley over from the edge of the area.

When Grant sent on Shaun Wright-Phillips for Michael Ballack midway through the half, the decision prompted jeers from a section of the home crowd.

It was the second week in a row Grant had to deal with dissent from the Chelsea faithful. His changes had inspired the win over Arsenal though and Wright-Phillips should have made an immediate impact.

The England winger dragged a shot wide with his first touch and blazed wastefully over moments later.

Those misses increased Chelsea's nerves and Middlesbrough striker Afonso Alves, on as a substitute, should have punished them. The Brazilian found space to reach Stewart Downing's cross, only to glance his header wide.

Alves was guilty of a worse miss in the 73rd minute. Chelsea keeper Carlo Cudicini gifted the chance when he missed his clearance after sprinting out of his area. Alves had an open goal to aim at but his shot hit the post and rebounded back to Cudicini.

Schwarzer made a brilliant save to turn Kalou's diving header over the bar. But Chelsea were wobbling and they had to survive another incredible near-miss 10 minutes from full-time.

Alves headed against the bar from no more than two yards then, after Essien tried to clear, David Wheater also hit the bar with another header.

Middlesbrough appealed in vain for handball when Belletti misjudged a cross but somehow Chelsea held on.

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