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Come Fan with UsSaturday, June 20, 2026

Chelsea Vs. Manchester United, 2012 Premier League: Howard Webb Laying Off The Whistle

Five minutes in to Chelsea - Manchester United, and it's just not as exciting as such a match could be. Shouldn't someone have scored by now? Danny Sturridge has come closest for the home side, but other than that, the most fascinating part of the week's biggest match is Andre Villas-Boas use of the 4-2-3-1.

Quite honestly, this game looks more a mess than the day's earlier Premier League match, between Newcastle and Aston Villa. Neither squad looks settled, with both sides content to simply knock the ball clear. And with this being a typical Howard Webb match, there have been few whistles as the referee prefers to wave play on. Webb shook his head when Fernando Torres went tumbling just outside the area.

But what really cheesed off Sir Alex Ferguson was the lack of the whistle when Danny Welbeck took a tumble. Apparently Webb didn't think the challenge by Chelsea new-boy Gary Cahill was worth a card, although United certainly had an argument in their favor. Still think that Webb is in United's pocket, everyone?

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