Another Scott McTominay double relieved the pressure on Erik ten Hag as Manchester United earned a merited 2-1 Premier League win over Chelsea at Old Trafford.
A pair of strikes either side of the break from the Scotsman proved telling for the Red Devils, who were briefly pegged back by a fine Cole Palmer finish but ended the evening in full voice with their elated supporters, extending their unbeaten Premier League run against the Blues to 12 games in the process.
On the back of his lackadaisical display versus Newcastle United, Marcus Rashford was among a few St James' Park starters to lose their places, while Reece James only made the bench for Chelsea following his return from a ban.
Ten Hag's ruthless changes had the desired impact early on, as a fired-up Man United surged forward at every opportunity, and it took a smart Robert Sanchez save to deny Rasmus Hojlund his first Premier League goal in the fourth minute.
Another four minutes went by, and the hosts were awarded a spot kick thanks to a VAR intervention, as Enzo Fernandez caught Antony on the top of his boot, but the Argentinian's bacon was saved when Sanchez comfortably kept out Bruno Fernandes's tame penalty.
The Red Devils captain's weak effort breathed some life into the Blues, who went close through Fernandez and Mykhaylo Mudryk in the moments that followed, but Man United deservedly made the breakthrough in the 19th minute.
Alejandro Garnacho's clever cutback from the left found an unmarked Harry Maguire, whose shot was blocked by Marc Cucurella, but the rebound fell for McTominay to chip the ball up and drill home a well-executed volley low into the goal.
Chelsea wanted retribution with a spot kick of their own in the 35th minute, as Raheem Sterling went down under the challenge of Victor Lindelof, but Chris Kavanagh was not fooled and arguably should have cautioned the Englishman for diving.
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McTominay then wasted two glorious chances for his second in the 32nd minute, sending a header straight at Sanchez before his rebound from a few yards also fell at the feet of the goalkeeper, just one moment before a heavy Nicolas Jackson touch allowed Andre Onana to thwart the Senegalese attacker from close range.
With the Man United backline remaining disjointed, though, counter-attacks continued to reign supreme for Chelsea, who squandered another opening in the 36th minute when Mudryk's attempt at a near-post finish flashed just wide.
However, it was only fitting for ex-Manchester City product Palmer to restore parity for Chelsea against the run of play in the 45th minute, as faced with a handful of imposing Man United defenders trying to close the angle, the Englishman worked a yard for the strike on the edge of the box and managed to find the far corner beyond Onana's futile reach.
After below-par defensive displays from both teams in the opening period, James and Sergio Reguilon were drafted in for the second half, which began with Jackson inexplicably heading over the bar from a couple of yards out in the 49th minute.
The Red Devils pressure soon began to ramp up again, and the goal-happy McTominay propelled the hosts back into the lead in the 69th minute, meeting Garnacho's inswinging cross to the back stick and directing a bullet header into the net.
The Scotland international survived a brief VAR check to rubber-stamp his brace, and a shocking header back from James then set Garnacho away in the 75th minute, but the Chelsea skipper made amends with a terrific last-ditch block to deny the Argentine.
Another golden opening came and went for Garnacho in the 80th minute, as the teenager was in position to steer home Reguilon's cross to the back post, but he failed to get enough purchase on the shot, which trickled harmlessly behind.
There was one final heart-in-mouth moment for the Red Devils when Armando Broja headed against the post from close range, but Man United held out for the win which takes them back above recent conquerors Newcastle United into sixth and just three points behind Manchester City.
Bournemouth at Old Trafford is next on Man United's calendar for Saturday afternoon, which comes a day before Mauricio Pochettino's team - who stay 10th - take on Everton at Goodison Park.
Ben Knapton
