Chelsea 1-1 Manchester United : 5 talking points

Chelsea were rewarded for their presistency as a stoppage time Diego Costa goal helped them snatch a well-deserved point against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.A first half saw Manchester United set the tone for a fanstastic encounter, winning corner after corner to exert pressure on the Chelsea back-line. However, the Blues put the pedal on the accelerator and began to test the United defence in the latter stages of the first-half. Oscar went closest for Chelsea, before appeals for a Daley Blind handball from a John Terry shot right at the end of the first half were quickly waved away by referee Michael Oliver.The second half saw French defender Kurt Zouma stretchered off due to a dreadful leg injury. What followed in the immediate aftermath looked to be decisive, as Jesse Lingard finished off a fine Manchester United team move to beat Thobaut Courtois and help his side gain all 3 points. Chelsea were totally dictating the game since, employing a high-press tactic to chrun out chance after chance to find that equaliser. They finally earned it in stoppage time, when Diego Costa beat the offside trap to slot home after failing to get the shot away the first time around. The result keeps Manchester United six points off fourth-placed rivals Manchester City with 13 league games remaining. Chelsea remain on 13th with 30 points - their top 4 hopes all but extinguished. We look at the 5 talking points that shaped up a memorable encounter at the home of the defending champions:

#1 Should Chelsea have had a penalty?

Deliberate handball?

An entertaining first-half was culminated with a controversial moment in stoppage time. John Terry reacted quickest to some average Manchester United defending to get a shot on target. The ball seemed to strike Daley Blind on the arm before going wide for just a corner. Chelsea’s vehement appeals for a penalty were confidently dismissed by referee Michael Oliver, but replays showed that Blind had definitely used his arms to safeguard himself from Terry’s shot. Whether it goes down as deliberate handball is upto the discretion of the officials, but Chelsea had every right to fight their case. A lead for the home side right at the end of half-time would have debiliated Manchester United’s confidence after an impressive performance. A decision for the pundits to debate upon.

#2 A first half of two halves

Both sides cancelled each other out in the first half

The first 25 minutes saw Manchester United come out of the blocks too quickly for Chelsea’s liking. With ten Manchester United corners in the first half, Chelsea had to soak in all the pressure from the Red Devils’ wingers. Anthony Martial tested Branislav Ivanovic sternly on the left, whereas Jesse Lingard and Matteo Darmian delivered quality crosses into the box. However, once Chelsea settled into the game, it was they who were creating the better goal-scoring opportunities. Oscar came very close, while John Terry had a shot deflected off what looked like Daley Blind’s arm. Willian was fantastic in leading Chelsea’s counter-attacks, making those terrifying approaches and making those whizzing crosses across the box. A fair half-time result, both teams cancelling each other out.

#3 Cameron Borthwick-Jackson kept on his toes by Willian

Cameron Borthwick-Jackson was given a tough outing by Willian

United’s midweek success over Stoke game saw Old Trafford applaud the young left-back Cameron Borthwick-Jackson for a brilliant performance – something with suggested he was a future Manchester United prospect. However, dealing with world-class midfielders like Willian can be a different challenge altogether. The Brazilian was superb on the right side of midfield, leading the way for some dangerous Chelsea counters, while exploiting Borthwick-Jackson’s inexperience to beat him in duels and deliver quality balls into the box. The 19-year old will definitely see this game as a learning curve and use it to iron out some flaws in his defensive areas.

#4 Chelsea\'s high-press eventually pays off following Zouma\'s injury

Lingard’s good finish nearly won it for Manchester United

A horrible leg injury to young centre-back Kurt Zouma saw him stretchered off for Gary Cahill. What followed was the Manchester United goal, just as Chelsea were getting accustomed to a changed back-four. A crisp team move cultimated with Wayne Rooney feeding Cameron Borthwick-Jackson’s cross into the path of Jesse Lingard, who produced a great finish to beat Thibaut Courtois. The injury to the Frenchman was definitely a mental jolt to Chelsea, who upto that point dealt with Manchester United’s pressure with relative comfort.

Zouma, in particular, had the job of marking a similar attributed Marouane Fellaini during set-pieces. His absence obviously wiped out Chelsea’s aerial threat, needing some inspiration from their forwards to take the initiative and grab the equaliser to save their blushes. The high-press tactic eventually worked – Diego Costa pouncing onto a threaded John Terry pass to earn Chelsea a fourth successive draw at Stamford Bridge.

#5 A tale of two outstanding goalkeepers

David de Gea saved brilliantly from Diego Costa in the 96th minute to keep the scores level

A good defensive line means nothing if they aren’t backed up by an equally impressive goalkeeper. Both teams were blessed with them, as Thibaut Courtois and David de Gea once again proved why they were billed as among the best stoppers in the business. Like the previous fixture at Old Trafford, Courtois and de Gea were instrumental in frustrating opposition forwards – making unreal saves to bail their defences out. While Thibaut Courtois saved brilliantly from Anthony Martial and Jesse Linagard, David de Gea kept out sweet strikes from Branislav Ivanovic and Cesc Fabregas. It was de Gea who had to be alert in the last stages of the game with a 96th minute save to deny Diego Costa from backing up his dramatic equaliser with a winner. A memorable game for both keepers.