United fail to build on early dominance

FA PREMIER LEAGUE: Chelsea 1 Manchester Utd 1:THIS FIXTURE is an exercise in time travel. We may only be in late September, but both teams displayed the desperate ambition of men playing as if the title hung in the balance with just a few seconds left of the last fixture. Judging by the unyielding determination, these sides may be locked together once again in May.

If it puts a terrible strain on United and Chelsea their suffering will be a spectacle to engross the rest of us. Here, the Stamford Bridge side held on to an intangible honour of profound importance.

The unbeaten record at home in the Premier League now stands at 85 fixtures. While life had its travails for each team, Chelsea, in particular, were confronted by adversity. Deco, who sets the side's tempo, picked up an adductor muscle injury in the warm-up and Ricardo Carvalho lasted a paltry 12 minutes before a knee problem ended his afternoon. The club seemed to be stripped of its right to sympathy on the day it became part of Roman Abramovich's portfolio, but money did not buy the searing pride that this squad possesses.

There were excellent prospects for United, especially once they were ahead. Chelsea, of necessity, had a semi-fit Michael Ballack on the pitch for 75 minutes and Didier Drogba, who is to yet recover peak condition, in action from very early in the second half. The visitors appeared ready to take full advantage.

They may not have been at full strength but the selection of Jonny Evans at centre-half for the suspended Nemanja Vidic did not enfeeble them. Their plan, predictable as it had been, troubled Chelsea deeply before the interval when Luiz Felipe Scolari's adventurous full-backs were pinned down by wide midfielders.

All of that could have been anticipated, and the side could not hit a rhythm when it went through the centre. For a spell, Chelsea were ill at ease. Alex Ferguson had the footballers to prey on that and Jose Bosingwa's lack of trenchancy was exposed at the opener. The Portugal international, who loves to race down the wing, was overwhelmed in the 18th minute.

Patrice Evra flicked the ball inside to Dimitar Berbatov before having an excellent pass placed in front of him by Wayne Rooney. Bosingwa was too meek to halt the Frenchman. Evra put the ball in front of Berbatov and although his attempt was poor Petr Cech did not hold the shot and Park Ji-sung tucked away the loose ball.

By then there had nevertheless been signs that United were not watertight either, but Joe Cole missed the target when through on goal following a Nicolas Anelka flick. Ferguson's side were short of composure, with three of their seven bookings imposed for dissent. A €32,000 fine is automatic once a team reaches half a dozen cautions, but the real punishment for poor temperament is much more painful than that.

United, initially dominant, could not consolidate. There were distractions, such as the knee injury that forced the goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar to make way for Tomasz Kuszczak, but United should have been more ruthless. In the second half, with Cristiano Ronaldo introduced, the conservative plan appeared to be to hit on the break. If that strategy was meant to prey on Chelsea's nerves it was a lamentable failure. Any anxiety that Scolari's players were experiencing was self-inflicted. After 66 minutes, for instance, Joe Cole blasted at the chest of Kuszczak when the angle made it rash to shoot rather than pass.

The principal danger for Chelsea was of despair taking hold. Most sides would have surrendered to gloom after the sort of opportunity that was squandered in the 73rd minute, when Joe Cole droved in the perfect low ball and Anelka let it fly through his legs. As it turned out, United's organisation failed before Chelsea's morale could collapse.

Rooney gave away a foul in the 79th minute. Mikel John Obi, shorn of the poise he has been showing against inferior opponents, had sufficient morale left to hit a fine free-kick. Kuszczak stayed on his line and no one marked the substitute Salomon Kalou, who headed into the corner of the net.

A little earlier Rooney had been unable to squeeze a finish into the small gap at the post following a cut-back from Ronaldo. By such fine margins United failed to storm the Stamford Bridge citadel. They would not have deserved the conquest. The prize they did bear away with them was the result that keeps them within six points of Chelsea.

There was a disconcerting end to this game that might have done harm to United. With added time drawing to a close, Rio Ferdinand seemed to foul Drogba and, with a caution to his name already, might have been sent off. Debate over the rights and wrongs of that were forestalled when it emerged that the referee, Mike Riley, had blown the final whistle. There was a confusing scene but it still made perfect sense that these sides should divide the spoils.

• Guardian Service