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Chelsea equalized
in stoppage time for the second successive home league game
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Diego Costa scored a late
equalizer to preserve Chelsea's unbeaten record under interim boss Guus Hiddink
and deny Manchester United a win.
BBC
Sport report continues:
United
dominated early on, Thibaut Courtois producing a fine one-handed save to keep
out Anthony Martial.
David
de Gea saved well from Nemanja Matic's header before Jesse Lingard's fine turn
and shot put United ahead.
Costa
rescued a point in the 91st minute after rounding De Gea following Cesc
Fabregas' pass.
United
were moments away from moving to within four points of the top four when Costa
scored his seventh goal in eight games.
Chelsea,
who lost defender Kurt Zouma to a serious injury, remain 13th in the table.
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Both
goalkeepers produced some fine saves but David de Gea shades it. When United
were leading he produced two wonderful stops to keep out Branislav Ivanovic and
Cesc Fabregas before finally being beaten by Diego Costa.
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A
United performance to offer encouragement
This
will feel like a defeat for United after a bright start and a wonderful goal to
give them the lead in what was an entertaining draw between two teams
struggling for form.
Apart
from the late equalizer, Louis van Gaal's side produced a display full of
positives after recent criticism about the team's style and reports linking
former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho with the United job.
They
started well and offered more zip and energy than their cumbersome hosts.
Courtois'
flying save to keep out Martial's curling attempt was excellent, while United
forced 10 corners before the end of the first half.
The
visitors looked set for a rare win over Chelsea when Lingard displayed terrific
balance and agility to break the deadlock with a sublime spin and shot inside
the area.
However,
United backed off after scoring and invited pressure, Costa pouncing from close
range after a terrific Fabregas pass.
Instead
of closing the gap on fourth place to four points, they now find themselves six
points adrift.
Chelsea leave it late
again
De
Gea was at his magnificent best to keep out a thunderous attempt by Branislav
Ivanovic and then Fabregas as Chelsea surged forward in the final quarter in
search of an equaliser.
When
Costa blazed over the bar after a free-kick it looked all up for the hosts.
Yet
for the second league home game in a row, they rescued a point in stoppage
time.
Hiddink's
sixth draw in eight league games in charge leaves the defending champions seven
points above the relegation zone with 13 games remaining.
Will Terry stay?
This
was Chelsea's first game back at Stamford Bridge since captain John Terry
announced he was set to leave at the end of the season.
There
was no mention of Terry leaving in the captain's programme notes and Blues fans
will still be hoping he may yet extend his stay.
They
chanted his name throughout as Terry produced an assured performance at the
heart of the defence, while he was denied a penalty when his goal-bound shot at
the end of the first half struck the arm of Daley Blind.
Terry's
importance to the team was underlined by Zouma's nasty-looking injury, the
France international landing awkwardly on his right knee after volleying the
ball away.
Man of the match - David
de Gea (Manchester United)
What the managers said
Chelsea manager Guus
Hiddink:
"I
am happy with the reaction of the team. Manchester United did a good job in the
first half and in the beginning of the second, they are not an easy team to
beat.
"But
we deserved a point. We dropped too far back after the first 20 minutes when
they dominated us but later on we closed a little more.
"They
made a beautiful goal - without good marking from our side - but after I think
the team reacted very well."
Manchester United manager
Louis van Gaal:
"I
feel we didn't reward ourselves with a victory because we were the better team.
Until the last quarter we played very well and could have scored more goals.
But you have to control the game better and we did not do that.
"It
isn't a lack of concentration it is not being composed when you are defending.
When we have the ball we have to keep the ball.
"You need to give the
right pass at the right moment and we did not do that [before Chelsea scored].
Chelsea are a very good team and you play like we played and don't reward
yourself, it is frustrating."
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Results for
Louis van Gaal's Manchester United have improved in recent weeks
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Louis van Gaal 'Doesn't
Believe' Reports Linking Mourinho With Manchester United
Press
Association reports that Louis van Gaal has dismissed claims Manchester United
are already in talks with Jose Mourinho about replacing him as manager.
The
BBC and the Manchester Evening News on Friday reported that discussions have
taken place between the two parties.
Mourinho,
who left Chelsea in December, told the Mail on Sunday he is not enjoying being
out of work and that a return is on the horizon.
But
Van Gaal, who has a year remaining on his contract after this season, does not
believe the Portuguese is being lined up as the next United boss.
"There
has been such nonsense created about me," Van Gaal was quoted as saying in
several national newspapers.
"I
don't believe there is already a relationship between Jose Mourinho and
Manchester United because I have seen what has happened here over the last two
months.
"It
has been very difficult for me, for my wife, for my kids, for my grandchildren
and for my friends to cope with that. But it is the football world these days.
"I
never had doubts but it is still remarkable that after the four defeats in a
row we have started to win.
"I
hope it has given the fans the stimulus to now believe in the manager."
The
64-year-old has overseen a United revival in recent weeks - with three wins and
two draws from their last six league games - and the club could move to within
four points of neighbours Manchester City with victory at Chelsea on Sunday
afternoon.
"The
aim here is still the same - to qualify for the Champions League and to finish
one step higher than last year, so third place," Van Gaal added.
"Leicester
have opened a big gap from us but it is still possible.
"We
are in a very good mood. Winning puts you in a good mood. It is very important
to be there in April, five points or less from the top.
"There
is light at the end of the tunnel. Phil Jones is coming back, Marcos Rojo is
coming back, Antonio Valencia is coming back.
"We have managed to
survive and we are only five points behind the top four. That isn't bad."
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