All week long the debate had been about who was the best striker in the world. Was it Didier Drogba? Was it Wayne Rooney? So fate decreed that the biggest Barclays Premier League match of the season so far was won by a defender. By England and Chelsea captain John Terry. At least he claimed it, although there was a suggestion that Nicolas Anelka had a eyebrow in it too.

In any event, it was a header in front of England manager Fabio Capello that said so much about the value of Terry, as well as a good deal about the vulnerability of Manchester United's defence. You could have parked the team bus in the space United left in their penalty area as the free-kick fizzed in for Terry to give Chelsea a 1-0 victory.

It is not as if it is a secret that Terry is quite handy in the air. Or Anelka for that matter. But he was unmarked as he dispatched the header that sent Chelsea five points clear at the top of the table. And you could not help thinking that the absence of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, both of whom missed the game through injury, is the weak link which ultimately could cost United their title.

Jonny Evans and Wes Brown are fine replacements, but there is a marginal lack of authority when their peers are missing. And Barclays Premier League titles are won and lost by such margins. But back to the question of the best striker.

In truth, this match was not the best shop window for either Rooney or Drogba. The service to both was patchy at best and sometimes way short of that. But there is good reason why former England strikers Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker, among others, go for Rooney.

It is because when Rooney is not rippling the back of the net in the mode of an out-and-out striker, he gives you so many other qualities. He links play. Brings his team-mates into the action. Ups the energy levels. Most of all, however, he is a player who sheds buckets of sweat in the team cause. Cue the cameo midway through the first half when he chased back 60 yards or more, almost to the corner flag, to tackle a blue shirt and retrieve possession. Cue a spontaneous roar of applause and a chant of 'Rooney...Rooney' from the United faithful.

Such a mission would not have entered the thinking of Drogba. Drogba at times seems to be all about ego. Rooney always seems to be about what is best for the team. It is tough to put a price on such a quality, even if the Sunday papers were full of a potential £85m bid from Barcelona to take Rooney to the Nou Camp. You suspect that would have had Sir Alex Ferguson chortling over his cornflakes.

Rooney is United's present and their future, although his attacking threat amounted to one swivel and shot which rippled the side netting, another shot which fizzed wide and another curler which drew a comfortable save from Petr Cech. He was still United's most potent threat even if his afternoon mostly was spent shaking his head and punching the Stamford Bridge turf in frustration.

Drogba's contribution was not much better. Not in effectiveness. A couple of wild shots, a header off target, an obligatory series of melodramatic writhes on the turf, albeit one when he took a boot from Evans in his chest.

So where does it all leave the title race?

Well, between these two teams is the obvious conclusion. They might not have served up a classic at Stamford Bridge, but they did exude enough power and control to suggest they are the season's thoroughbreds. But it is Chelsea with the lead. And it is one that will take some closing.