Solskjaer equals away win record with victory at the Bridge

UNITED won away at Chelsea for the first time in over six years on Monday night and in doing so ended a remarkable run that dates back to the Ron Atkinson era.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has steered United to wins at Tottenham, Arsenal and Chelsea this season and the last time United were victorious at all three clubs was in 1984-85. Atkinson presided over a 3-1 defeat of Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, a 1-0 win at Highbury and a 2-1 triumph at White Hart Lane during United’s FA Cup-winning season.

Solskjaer’s success was United’s first at the Bridge in 10 attempts. The Reds have still only triumphed four times at Chelsea this century.

Solskjaer scored in United’s first win at Chelsea after the Millennium in 2002 but they had to wait nearly nine more years to beat Chelsea in their own back yard. Wayne Rooney decided the 2011 Champions League quarter-final first leg and Javier Hernandez settled an eventful 3-2 encounter in 2012.

In beating Chelsea, Solskjaer has also equalled a club record of seven successive away wins in all competitions. United have a 100 per cent record away from Old Trafford under Solskjaer, having beaten Cardiff, Newcastle, Tottenham, Arsenal, Leicester, Fulham and Chelsea.

Solskjaer was instrumental during United’s seven-game winning streak away from home during the 2001-02 run-in.

Over a hectic six-week period when there were two Champions League group phases, the Reds won at West Ham, Boavista, Leeds, Deportivo La Coruna, Leicester, Chelsea and Ipswich. Solskjaer scored at West Ham, Boavista, Leeds (twice), Leicester and Chelsea.