CHELSEA will be hoping there really is nothing to be read into pre-season fixtures after slipping to a fourth defeat in a row on the eve of the big kick off.

Community Shield defeats are not a major setback in the greater scheme of things, but Carlo Ancelotti may be privately dismayed at the lack of momentum going into Saturday's opening gambit in defence of their title.

Chelsea did not rouse themselves from a subdued performance until the closing stages, when Salomon Kalou pegged United back after goals from Antonio Valencia and Javie Hernandez had put them in the box seat.

But Dimitar Berbatov sealed Chelsea's fate with a lob over the keeper in injury time to secure a deserved win for United.

The Blues could have no complaints about finding themselves a goal down at the break because United fashioned five very decent chances.

Almost inevitably a superb pass from Wayne Rooney created the breakthrough. The United striker may have gone missing in the World Cup, but he is seldom such a let down on the domestic stage.

Roooney collected a typical angled floater from Paul Scholes wide on the right and bisected John Terry and Ashley Cole with a perfect cross that Valencia had no trouble tucking past Henrique Hilario.

United should have been in front before that 41 st minute strike. Valencia, Scholes, Rooney and Park Ji Sung all wasted presentable openings, while the Blues were largely restricted to counter-attacks – and pedestrian ones at that.

Chelsea were much improved after the break, showing more urgency to get forward in numbers and testing keeper Edwin van der Sar on occasions, albeit from distance.

The arrival of Didier Drogba also briefly promised, but United had a sub of their own determined to make an impact in Hernandez.

The Mexican converted a Valencia cross on 76 minutes in unorthodox style, miskicking the ball onto his own head and into the net from a few yards.

Daniel Strurridge should have revived the contest with eight minutes to go when Michael Essien found him with a beautifully weighted pass. He was denied by an outstretched boot from van der Sar and thwarted by the keeper moments later with a fierce drive. This time, at least, Kalou was on hand to fire home the rebound.