Chelsea beat United to clinch title

Chelsea clinched the title with a 3-0 home win over Manchester United - but Wayne Rooney was carried from the pitch on a stretcher with his World Cup dreams in disarray. Injury to United's England star, just 42 days before England start their World Cup bid, marred the championship party at Stamford Bridge.

To make matters worse for England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson, centre-back John Terry ended the game hobbling badly after a crunching early challenge from Rooney.

United striker Rooney was hurt 12 minutes from time in a fair tackle from Paulo Ferreira.

The Chelsea full-back timed his tackle well and won the ball, but Rooney tumbled awkwardly and rolled around in agony, clutching his right foot. It looked serious and he was carried off after lengthy treatment.

He was applauded by the 42,000 crowd, who were all aware of the consequences of what they had seen.

Rooney's team were outplayed from the moment Gallas nodded Chelsea ahead in the fifth minute, after Didier Drogba had climbed highest to win a corner from Frank Lampard.

United claimed Lampard had fouled Cristiano Ronaldo in the build-up to the move which forced the corner. They had a case, but referee Mike Dean did not agree.

Blues boss Jose Mourinho leapt to his feet. A finger to the temple and two palms pressed towards the floor warned his team not to lose concentration and to stay cool. The title was almost there.

Rooney left Terry writhing on the ground in agony early in the game. Rooney's studs crashed into Terry's shin as the pair challenged for a loose ball.

No foul was given, but play stopped seconds later when Rooney clattered Ferreira.

The United striker escaped a yellow card, but Petr Cech was booked for racing out of his goal to complain about the tackle on Terry.

Chelsea's captain, not normally one to surrender to pain, needed lengthy treatment on the pitch. He dragged himself to his feet and continued, but he looked uncomfortable.

Rooney burst clear of the Blues defence with a brilliant explosion of pace in the 22nd minute.

He picked up the ball when it spilled out of a Terry tackle on Louis Saha and accelerated clear of Terry and Ricardo Carvalho.

Rooney then side-stepped Ferreira but miscued his shot when he only had Cech to beat. It rolled harmlessly wide and was to prove United's best chance of the game.

Sir Alex Ferguson's team pressed hard either side of half-time but could not find a way through and Cole ended their faint hopes with a beautiful solo goal in the 61st minute.

He picked up the ball 25 yards from goal and twisted clear of Rio Ferdinand and Mikael Silvestre with a twinkle-toed trick.

Cole dragged the ball quickly under the studs of one boot then the other, turned, injected a burst of pace and was away.

Edwin van der Sar rushed out to narrow his options, but Cole stayed cool, slotting the ball past the big Dutchman.

He ripped off his shirt and sprinted to celebrate with Chelsea fans. They could sense the title was secure.

Ref Dean booked Cole for his celebration, but nothing could dampen the mood of Chelsea fans - not even Rooney's injury - and Carvalho added a third when Cole's pass found him free on the edge of the area and he blasted home a right-foot shot.