Martial and Maguire fire United’s Euro push after Blues KO
but now they do. Chelsea’s cause was not helped when N’Golo Kante went off injured inside 12 minutes and, even though Mason Mount came on and did well, it disrupted their plans in a sluggish opening half-hour.
Maguire was lucky to survive a VAR check after appearing to kick out with a trailing leg at Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi. It looked like a red card.
Batshuayi missed a big chance in the 26th minute when Pedro and Mount combined to set up the Belgium striker, who failed from 12 yards.
Bailly looked sharp and alert in defence in his first start since last April, while Willian was unlucky to get booked for a dive after United new boy Bruno Fernandes had made a clumsy challenge.
But it was United who finished the half well – and with the opening goal.
Chelsea defender Andreas Christensen needed treatment after being left with a bloody nose and had only just returned to the pitch when he was left exposed.
Wan-Bissaka broke down the right, Willian did not do enough to stop him crossing the ball and there was Martial, rising above Christensen, to glance home his 13th goal of the season.
Martial can so often be a frustrating player, goes AWOL for long periods and looks disinterested but then comes alive in priceless moments.
Chelsea looked to have equalised after 56 minutes when Kurt Zouma ‘scored,’ only for VAR to disallow it for Cesar Azpilicueta’s push on Brandon Williams.
Ten minutes later, United were two-up. Fernandes, who had hit the post with a free-kick, floated in a corner and Maguire powerfully headed his first Premier League goal for United in front of watching England boss Gareth Southgate.
Chelsea sub Olivier Giroud appeared to have got one back after 77 minutes, only for VAR to rule he was offside.