Chelsea fought back to earn a draw at Old Trafford and if this result says anything, it says that this season's Premiership title race will go right down to the wire.

There was nothing to chose between these two heavyweights of English football - Manchester United taking the honours in the first half and the

If there is an advantage to be gleamed from the situation, it is that Chelsea possess the stronger of the two squads.

While the Londoners were able to bring on Arjen Robben and Joe Cole after the break, United's bench lacked a real matchwinner.

Yet for the first 45 minutes, the Premiership leaders showed why they still enjoy a three-point advantage over the champions.


With Cristiano Ronaldo rampaging down the right and Ryan Giggs, Wayne Rooney and Louis Saha switching around with the ferocity of bees round a honey-pot, United were in control.

Rooney's second-minute header from a Giggs cross set the stall for the way the first half developed.

Chelsea centre-backs John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho were kept on their toes by the quick moving Saha and Rooney, with the attacking inclinations of full-backs Geremi and Ashley Cole firmly under wraps.

Chelsea's close season signings Michael Ballack and Andriy Shevchenko were largely anonymous, although Michael Ballack's 18th minute hand-ball 30 yards from goal almost cost his side dear.

Ronaldo stepped up to blast the resulting free-kick goalwards with Chelsea goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini doing well to tip the shot over the bar.

United broke the deadlock just before the half hour from a glorious move.

Giggs, midway inside his own half, found Rooney on the Chelsea corner of the centre circle and his swift, simple pass found Saha just outside the Chelsea box.

The Frenchman, whose fluffed sitter and missed penalty will be best remembered from United's European Champions League defeat at Celtic in midweek, controlled the ball superbly and curled his left-foot shot around Carvalho and just inside Cudicini's near post from the edge of the D.

Chelsea's two first-half chances centred on 20-yard shots by Geremi and Frank Lampard which United goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar saved comfortably at his near post.

Chelsea brought on Robben for Geremi at the start of the second half, but United still had the better of the early exchanges.

Michael Carrick's glorious reverse pass set up Rooney on the left side of the Chelsea box and both Saha and Ronaldo were inches away from scoring from his dangerous low cross.

Despite failing to control Gabriel Heinze's left-wing cross, Ronaldo still managed to get the ball from the far post to Saha six yards from goal. But Terry bravely blocked his efforts.

But Chelsea were now beginning to rest control from United.

In the 63rd minute Lampard tested Van der Sar with a powerful 25-yard shot and, six minutes later, Chelsea were level.

The goal stemmed from a slip-shod free-kick by Giggs for United in the Chelsea half.

The Londoners eventually won a corner and Lampard's deep delivery to the far post saw Carvalho leap above Heinze to head home from eight yards with the ball going in off Saha's head and the underside of the bar.

Chelsea almost snatched a winner 11 minutes from time when substitute Joe Cole found Didier Drogba free in the United penalty area.

Drogba beat Van der Sar to the ball, but poked his shot wide.

Sir Alex Ferguson said after seeing his side maintain their lead at the top of the table: "We proved we can compete and that when we reach the high levels of performance we are the best team in the country at the moment.

"The test for us now is to step forward from this, because winning championships is about beating other teams. If we want to win the title, consistency is the name of the game.

"It is disappointing to draw because we were in a winning position and allowed them to get an equaliser.

"It was a big opportunity for us, but they got the break they needed.

"But Chelsea should take credit from the game. They never stopped fighting, although we did not allow them to break up our rhythm."

Jose Mourinho hailed his side's efforts, adding: "The good thing for me was the mental point of view. We came here and go home with the same distance.

"No way would a six-point gap kill the Premiership with five months to go, but six and three is a difference.

"I think the result was deserved, because in the first half they were the best team and they scored - and in the second half Chelsea were the best team.

"When the second team in the Premiership draws at the home of the first team, then the second team is happier.

"At half-time I told the players that only three of them were performing to the best of their ability.

"I told them that I did not mind if we went home beaten, provided we had played our best and they responded well in the second half."

4thegame.com

United`s win over Middlesbrough puts them 6 points clear of their nearest competition, Chelsea, who didn`t play today.

After the derby next week when the Reds take on their Manchester City rivals United could be 9 points clear of Chelsea, who will have 2 games in hand. :biggrin: