Manchester United players almost failed to make it for the match yesterday after their coach driver lost his keys!

The driver then smashed a window to try and get into the bus but in turn triggered off an alarm which automatically disabled the bus' engine.

Engineers had to be brought in to the Red's city centre hotel to get the coach going and the players finally got to Old Trafford with the smashed window clearly visible.

"It was really embarrassing for the driver.

"Happily the problem was sorted out very quickly and the players got to the ground as normal."

A United spokesman said: "It was accidental, there was nothing sinister about it."

Chelsea too had to deal with an early morning fire scare at their hotel which saw most of the players standing in the cold outside before being given the all-clear to return to their rooms.