Chelsea ruthlessly exposed Sir Alex Ferguson's claims that there is nothing between his Manchester United side and the new Barclays Premiership champions with a clinical demolition of the Red Devils at Old Trafford.

It might have taken them until nine minutes from time to establish clear blue water over the north-west's fallen giants but their superiority had long since been emphasised.

Chelsea took control after Tiago had magnificently levelled Ruud van Nistelrooy's early strike and never looked remotely like relinquishing it.

Eidur Gudjohnsen deftly chipped the Londoners in front just after the hour mark before Joe Cole capped a superb display by tapping Frank Lampard's cross home from close range.

It was Chelsea's third win over United in four attempts this term, created a new Premiership record of 94 points - a monumental 20 more than United - and was their eighth consecutive away league success.

It also maintained Jose Mourinho's unbeaten record in head-to-head duels with Ferguson which stretches back to Porto's Champions League triumph 14 months ago - and on this evidence it could be a long time before Ferguson breaks the duck.

With the notable exception of his dealings with Arsenal, the United boss can generally be relied upon to react to any situation in a sportsmanlike manner.

So it was no surprise he ordered his players to form a guard of honour to herald the entrance of a side who have now collected the trophy which has adorned Old Trafford eight times.

Nevertheless, it must have been pretty galling for serial trophy winners like Roy Keane, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville to applaud opponents who threaten to topple United from their lofty perch, not just on the field but off it as well.

The hosts certainly started as if they had something to prove, and also like a team under orders to test Carlo Cudicini at every opportunity judging by the number of times Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney attempted to pepper the Italian's goal with long range efforts.

Ronaldo had already sent one early effort fizzing wide when another exploded off his right boot which Cudicini fumbled unconvincingly wide.

The reprieve proved to be brief as the corner which followed ended up at Paul Scholes' feet. He let fly with another drive but it was when that one deflected out to Wayne Rooney the trouble really started.

Rooney could easily have been shooting himself, such was the ferocity with which he drove the ball back into the box. It was going too quickly for any of the Chelsea players to stick a boot out with any degree of comfort, allowing Ruud van Nistelrooy to bundle home from close range.

It was the normally prolific Dutchman's first Premiership strike since November and only his second from open play in the league all season, a damning statistic, and one of the major reasons why United's title aspirations tailed off so badly.

Aside from a chronic failure in front of goal, the Red Devils have also suffered from the inconsistencies of goalkeeping duo Roy Carroll and Tim Howard.

Ferguson appears to have overlooked the hastening expiry of Carroll's contract and handed him the slot for the remainder of the campaign.

The United boss might not have been too pleased to see Carroll rooted totally to the spot when Tiago lashed Chelsea level but in fairness the Northern Ireland international had no chance of keeping the midfielder's shot out as it arced its way into the top corner.

Of more importance was the failure to close down the midfielder's space, a problem which was not immediately rectified, allowing Cole to take command.

The days of Cole being a bit-part player in Mourinho's side are long gone and whether it was going close himself with a couple of decent efforts either side of the interval, setting up team-mates or trying to break through himself, the former West Ham man was a major influence.

With Chelsea's stranglehold on the contest slowly but surely gaining strength, it was a surprise United came within inches of regaining their lead 10 minutes after the restart when Darren Fletcher rasped a 25-yard effort against the bar.

It only served to raise false hope among the home contingent though as, after Ronaldo had been bundled over in the box by Geremi, Chelsea launched a rapid counter which ended with Tiago sending Eidur Gudjohnsen clean through, the Icelandic striker advancing on goal before calmly lifting a delicate chip over Carroll's prone body.

United's challenge was over and Cole just finished them off.

Man Utd: Carroll, Gary Neville, Brown, Ferdinand, Silvestre, Fletcher (Saha 72), Keane, Scholes, Ronaldo, Rooney, van Nistelrooy.

Subs Not Used: Howard, Smith, O'Shea, Fortune.

Booked: Keane, van Nistelrooy.

Goals: van Nistelrooy 7.

Chelsea: Cudicini, Johnson (Jarosik 72), Ricardo Carvalho, Huth, Gallas, Geremi, Tiago, Makelele, Lampard, Cole (Grant 90), Gudjohnsen (Nuno Morais 86).

Subs Not Used: Cech, Forssell.

Booked: Makelele, Lampard, Gallas.

Goals: Tiago 17, Gudjohnsen 61, Cole 82.

Att: 67,832

Ref: G Poll (Hertfordshire).