Just when everything seemed to be going well for Manchester United and they were being rightly acclaimed as worthy champions and potential Champions League winners, just about anything that could possibly have gone wrong on Saturday, went wrong at Stamford Bridge.

It wasn't simply that they lost although that was bad enough for them, it was the manner of the defeat and all the baggage that went with it.

For whatever reason, Manchester United failed to turn up for the first half. Chelsea dominated the game and went in at half time with a deserved 1-0 lead and probably should have had the game wrapped up already. United couldn't keep the ball and seemed intent on proving that they could play the 'long ball game' every bit as well as Chelsea. They can't.

The reds were then handed a lifeline through an horrendous error by Ricardo Carvalho. How glad I was that I'd written an article earlier that day describing Carvalho as 'magnificent'.

Wayne Rooney took his chance with style and it looked as though United would get the draw they required. A late penalty by Michael Ballack following a Carrick handball gave Chelsea the three points and although the visitors finally found some attacking quality and created a couple of good chances, it would have been a travesty if they had got anything from the game.

If it was only a poor performance and a defeat that Sir Alex had to contend with I'm sure he could deal with it. Two wins against West Ham and Wigan and they are champions after all. But there was so much more that went wrong.

Nemanja Vidic was injured again, taking a blow from Drogba's knee that would have knocked out a mere mortal! Wayne Rooney hobbled off and never looked comfortable. The behaviour of the players on the pitch was questionnable as they constantly surrounded and harrassed the referee Alan Wiley.

The penalty decision was hotly disputed by the players on the pitch and after the game and by Sir Alex and his staff afterwards. I have seen the incident several times now and I don't understand their arguments. It was handball. Simple as that.

After the game Rio Ferdinand kicked a wall in anger and accidentally kicked a female steward in the process. He has apologised and the steward has accepted the apology. Hopefully that will be the end of that incident.

On the pitch after the game the Manchester United substitutes were involved in some sort of scuffle with the Chelsea ground staff. The FA have requested the CCTV footage of the incident.

All in all this was not a glorious day in what has been a great season so far for Sir Alex and his team. They have just two days to recover and prepare for the visit of Barcelona. I hope that Saturday was a 'one off' and United's season doesn't unravel before our eyes at the very end.