Home Premier League Chelsea Manchester United held at Chelsea

Manchester United held at Chelsea

0
0

Another cagey affair took place in West London between two Premier League clubs who have been very disappointing this season, Chelsea and Manchester United.

Coming into this game, United knew a win was absolutely essential to maintain any top four challenge. For Chelsea, any hopes of retaining their title had gone a long time ago.

United manager Louis van Gaal, fresh from another week of denying rumours about his future, named an unchanged side from the one that beat Stoke City last time out.

Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink also refrained from making any changes to the starting eleven, meaning Eden Hazard and Pedro again were on the bench. This enabled Willian to make his 100th start for the Blues.

In attendance for the game were United Director Sir Alex Ferguson, England boss Roy Hodgson, and tennis legend Boris Becker, a Chelsea fan.

It was the visitors who hit the ground running early on, forcing a couple of corners, which ultimately came to nothing.

Thibault Courtois then denied Anthony Martial as United bossed the opening twenty minutes.

It took 27 minutes for Chelsea to win their first corner, by which time United had NINE!

Five minutes later, Diego Costa fired a shot just wide, as Chelsea finally got a hold on the game. Oscar then blazed a chance well wide.

Oscar then just failed to reach a Willian cross, before Wayne Rooney did likewise from a lovely ball from Matteo Darmian.

Chelsea were denied a penalty claim right on half time as a John Terry shot hit Daley Blind on the arm, The referee, however, said no.

Chances came and went for both sides as the second half started, as both sides looked to avoid a repeat of the goalless encounter in these sides’ last meeting, in December.

Rooney and Martial were then denied by Courtois, as was Jesse Lingard.

Hazard came on for Oscar as Hiddink looked to shuffle his pack. Straight after, Kurt Zouma landed awkwardly from a header, his screams of pain clearly audible to the watching TV audience. He was stretchered off, replaced by Gary Cahill.

Lingard put United ahead on 61 minutes, turning and shooting home from a cross by Cameron Borthwick-Jackson.

Blind was booked for a nudge just outside the area on Costa, but the home side could not take advantage.

David De Gea then produced a fine one-handed stop to deny Branislav Ivanovic. The Spanish stopper then denied compatriot Cesc Fabregas.

United could not hold on for the win, as in the first of six minutes of time added on for Zouma’s injury, Costa slotted home after a ball through was inadvertently knocked past De Gea by Borthwick-Jackson.

 

By Steve Osborne                  @BlizzardSteve75

 

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here