Scunthorpe 2-0

Independent:

Diego Costa and Ruben Loftus-Cheek see off dogged League One visitors
Chelsea 2 Scunthorpe 0
Jack Pitt-Brooke Stamford Bridge

The previous weekend Guus Hiddink rediscovered Chelsea’s attacking verve. Yesterday, he rediscovered their youth policy. The veteran manager, trying to rebuild from the debris of the second Jose Mourinho era, guided Chelsea into the fourth round of the FA Cup with a routine win over Scunthorpe United.

The first goal was scored by Diego Costa, looking as sharp now as he did last season. But the second, more significantly, was the first senior career goal for Ruben Loftus-Cheek. The 19-year-old midfielder (right) was meant to be one of Mourinho’s projects this season but was swiftly discarded when results went wrong. Yesterday, he was given 45 minutes, his longest spell in almost three months. He justified his introduction with the goal that sealed victory.

“We are determined to go on and get silverware at the end of the season,” said Hiddink, who won the FA Cup in 2009 with Chelsea and would love to do the same again, albeit with a very different squad. “We brought on youngsters in the second half, and that is good for them. Ruben came in and scored a beautiful goal, not just in its execution. That was good to see.”

Kenedy and Bertrand Traoré also came on later in the second half and, for the first time in months, the path into the first team for these young players became clear again. “If you have this academy, with investment in young players, you must give them some credit to develop,” Hiddink explained. “That is one of the objectives of the club.”

What Chelsea wanted to do from the start was continue with the same expansive, attractive football they had played at Crystal Palace the previous Sunday. That was better than any Chelsea performance in 2015 and, while this was not quite on that level, they are making gradual steps in the right direction again.

The key to this has been Hiddink trying, with his approachable, avuncular style, to coax some form out of Chelsea’s best attackers. Eden Hazard pulled a groin muscle at Palace and so was out yesterday, and will be for at least another week, but Costa, Oscar and Cesc Fabregas were all back together, trying to find a way through the scurrying yellow shirts.

Chelsea, led by those three, started well enough that they should have put the game to bed long before Loftus-Cheek’s intervention. Costa and Oscar were stretching Scunthorpe with their movement, creating the space in which Fabregas could play his natural game.

It took only 13 minutes for Chelsea to take the lead, with a goal which spoke of the confidence returning to their play. After passing the ball patiently in midfield, Branislav Ivanovic whipped in a cross from the right. Costa, sharper and stronger than the Scunthorpe defence, darted in between Scott Laird and Jordan Clarke and got the decisive flick to send the ball into the bottom corner. “It was a beautiful goal,” Hiddink said. “So focused, so concentrated.”

At that point Chelsea should have killed the game, as they raised their tempo to a level the League One side could not live with. Fabregas obliged Luke Daniels to palm a 20-yard shot over the bar before Pedro, running on to Gary Cahill’s perfect long ball, forced an even better save from a tight angle. When Oscar dummied a pass, ran in behind, took the return ball from Costa and curled his shot just wide of the far post it felt as if Chelsea were on the brink of a dominant performance.

But in reality that failure to score a second goal almost cost them. Scunthorpe grew in confidence and Chelsea spent the end of the first half, and the start of the second, trying to repel counter-attacks and balls into the box that might have made for an upset.

What Chelsea needed, then, was a burst of purpose, an injection of energy, to take the game away from Scunthorpe. That is precisely what they got from Loftus-Cheek, brought on at half-time for Oscar. With his first touch, a few seconds in, he took the ball in midfield, breaking through tackles, making up ground and laying the ball out to Pedro.

Loftus-Cheek could not stem all the Scunthorpe danger, and there was a penalty appeal which was not awarded. But just when the game was starting to open up, Loftus-Cheek emphatically closed it down. Willian ran down the left and fed the overlapping Cesar Azpilicueta, who drove a cross towards the near post, beyond Costa. Loftus-Cheek peeled away and met the ball with a powerful finish into the bottom corner.

Scunthorpe’s overall performance, given the imbalance in resources, was certainly one to be proud of. Once they had survived Chelsea’s early onslaught, they knew how to cause problems, largely thanks to Luke Williams’ selfless running. He forced Asmir Begovic’s first save and was stopped just before the break only by a perfectly timed Kurt Zouma tackle.

The closest the visitors came to a way back into the game was a very plausible penalty appeal just before the second goal. Kevin van Veen drove forward with the ball and, just inside the box, collided with Ramires. Van Veen went down, and while there was contact, referee Craig Pawson decided it was not a foul. Scunthorpe were furious and even after the final whistle, substituted captain Stephen Dawson was still in his ear, offering his own interpretation of events.

Mark Robins, the Scunthorpe manager, was just as forthright in his post-match press conference. “It was nailed on,” he said. “We are disappointed with that. You need the rub of the green – and we didn’t get it.”

With four minutes left, Clarke hammered a 20-yarder against the crossbar, via Begovic’s fingertips. A late goal would have done justice to Scunthorpe’s efforts. They had to make do with a sporting invitation into the Chelsea dressing room for a post-match celebration instead.

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Guardian:
Chelsea see off Scunthorpe United with Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s first goal
Chelsea 2 - 0 Scunthorpe
FA Cup Stamford Bridge

David Hytner at Stamford Bridge

Roman Abramovich was all smiles from his lofty perch at Stamford Bridge. The Chelsea owner has long wanted to see some sort of return from the club’s Academy in which he has invested heavily and here, at last, was something to cheer.

Chelsea were 1-0 up against a game Scunthorpe United team but they were not safe and the League One minnows had complained bitterly at the non-award of a penalty on 53 minutes for a trip by Ramires on Kevin van Veen.

Enter Ruben Loftus-Cheek. The 19-year-old midfielder, the only recent Stamford Bridge youth product in Guus Hiddink’s match-day squad, had come on as a half-time substitute. And in the 68th minute he made his mark to make sure Chelsea would be in the draw for the FA Cup fourth round.
His first goal in professional football was a poacher’s finish, guided home low with his left foot following César Azpilicueta’s cut-back, after decent Chelsea approach work, and how Abramovich enjoyed it. It remains a source of frustration inside the club’s Academy that the pathway to the first team appears as little more than a mirage and, as such, Loftus-Cheek carries great responsibility. He handled it here.

Scunthorpe, too, handled the occasion. After being overrun for the first quarter of the game, having shown Chelsea too much respect, they found a way into the tie on the back of their whole-hearted commitment. And if the referee, Craig Pawson, had seen Ramires’s challenge on Van Veen in another way, they might have fashioned a different ending.

Ramires had tracked the Scunthorpe attacker to the very edge of the Chelsea area and he clipped his standing foot. Down went Van Veen and he appeared to make the most of it, but there was contact. Pawson was unmoved. Scunthorpe were incensed. “It was a nailed-on penalty,” Mark Robins, the Scunthorpe manager, said.

Chelsea had been dumped out of this competition at this venue by League One opposition last season – Bradford City’s 4-2 win left its scars – but at full-time they could play the role of the magnanimous big brother. John Terry, the non-playing Chelsea captain, invited the Scunthorpe players into the home dressing room for the exchange of both shirts and compliments.

“We had a good celebration in our locker room,” Hiddink said. “They made us shiver during the game. It was their final, a big day for them and it was for us, too, because we wanted to go into the next round.”

Hiddink won the FA Cup during his previous caretaker spell at Chelsea in 2009 and the competition seems like the club’s best chance of silverware this time . They made a strong start here, with Diego Costa giving them the lead, but they did not have it all their own way despite Hiddink fielding a strong starting XI.

Robins had strung five across midfield and initially his team struggled to escape their half. But they stabilised after the first quarter of the game and even after Loftus-Cheek’s goal they refused to lie down.

Van Veen banged a free-kick just past the near post, Neal Bishop saw a shot blocked by Willian and, when Robins’ team had recycled the play, the right-back Jordan Clarke exploded a drive from the corner of the area that Asmir Begovic turned on to the woodwork. With the last kick of the tie Bishop stabbed a shot wide.

Costa’s eighth goal of the season – and his fourth in three games since José Mourinho’s sacking – came when he deftly volleyed home from Branislav Ivanovic’s cross. Luke Daniels, the Scunthorpe goalkeeper, saved from Cesc Fàbregas and Pedro before the midway point of the first half. Oscar also curled narrowly wide.

Scunthorpe showed plenty of fight, not least Bishop and the captain, Stephen Dawson. Bishop kicked Fàbregas from behind on the half-hour and when the Chelsea man turned round to remonstrate, the Scunthorpe midfielder pushed him in the chest. Bishop had another shoving match in the second half with Costa.

Scunthorpe enjoyed a fistful of what-if moments before the interval. Dawson had a ferocious shot repelled by Cahill’s head – “Gary is very British,” Hiddink said – while Luke Williams, the lone striker, quickened the pulses of the travelling supporters.

He worked Begovic from outside the area and, when he capitalised on a Cahill error to streak away into the area, Kurt Zouma came across to make a full-blooded slide challenge. Van Veen’s dangerous cross in the 45th minute also had just too much on it for Bishop.

Loftus-Cheek, such an imposing physical presence, played as the No10 in place of Oscar – who had a slight toe injury – and he was guilty of catching Bishop with a lunge shortly after he came on.
But it was another clumsy challenge that made for one of the loudest talking points.

With each replay Scunthorpe fans were more and more convinced that Pawson ought to have penalised Ramires. Bishop and Dawson continued to mix it in midfield but it was Loftus-Cheek who put the tie beyond them and their team.

Man of the match Diego Costa (Chelsea)

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Telegraph:

Chelsea 2 Scunthorpe United 0, match report: Diego Costa and Ruben Loftus-Cheek secure FA Cup victory

Jeremy Wilson

Jose Mourinho oversaw such a spectacular collapse at Chelsea this season that, beneath all the defeats, rants and controversies, perhaps the most depressing element of his second tenure at the club became almost buried. It was an apparent reluctance to follow through on the very obvious desire of the club finally to see some of their best homegrown talent being given regular first-team experience.

One of the brightest young prospects is Ruben Loftus-Cheek and, having played only a handful of minutes since being substituted by Mourinho at half-time of the win against Aston Villa back in October, he delivered a performance here to suggest that he is now ready for a sustained opportunity. His first ever Chelsea goal not only sealed the club’s path into the FA Cup fourth round but, judging by the celebrations and ear-to-ear smile, was clearly also a source of huge personal delight to owner Roman Abramovich.

Loftus-Cheek is now 19 but joined the club at the age of eight and, following FA Youth Cup wins in 2012 and 2014, a Premier League Under-21 title in 2014 and last year’s Uefa Europa League triumphs, is part of an emerging group of Chelsea players who are regarded as the outstanding young crop in the country. His development has coincided entirely with an academy investment by Abramovich that is now estimated at well beyond £100 million and it is obvious that one of the priorities for the next manager will be to continue integrating these players into the first-team. The last home-grown Chelsea regular remains captain John Terry.

“That’s one of the objectives of the club,” said Guus Hiddink, the interim manager. “It’s normal if you have this academy with that investment in young players. I’m starting to know the young players better and see the possibilities they have but it’s difficult to know when to bring them on. You don’t want to give them too much responsibility for the result at this stage of their careers. It was a beautiful goal.”

Hiddink won the FA Cup in his one previous entry into the competition and, in only resting Terry and Thibaut Courtois from what might have been his strongest starting team, underlined Chelsea’s “determination” to end this most traumatic of seasons with a trophy. Their purposeful start here was rewarded in the 13th minute when Branislav Ivanovic’s cross bounced between Scott Laird and Jordan Clarke. The two Scunthorpe players hesitated monetarily, with Diego Costa stabbing out his foot to get the final touch ahead of Laird and put Chelsea into the lead. Chelsea then twice threatened to further extend their advantage, only to be denied by two excellent Luke Daniels saves.

First Cesc Fabregas had a shot from outside the area tipped over and then Pedro forced an outstanding save after running onto a simple long ball by Gary Cahill. It looked as if Chelsea might canter to victory but their League One opposition soon settled into a rhythm and posed plenty of first-half threat. Cahill bravely headed a fierce Stephen Dawson shot to safety and then Kurt Zouma made a vital tackle on Paddy Madden.

Scunthorpe might also have won a penalty early in the second-half when Ramires tripped Kevin van Veen, although there was some doubt over whether the first contact was inside the area. Replays suggested it was just inside. “Watching live it looked like it could’ve been a penalty but, seeing the replays, it was nailed on,” said Scunthorpe manager Mark Robins. “We’re disappointed - you need the rub of green and we didn’t get it.”

With Dawson and Costa then repeatedly clashing, there was never even the slightest hint of Scunthorpe being overawed by the fixture although Chelsea’s additional quality did again tell. A sweeping move that began with Fabregas releasing Willian was brilliantly finished when César Azpilicueta overlapped down the left and then crossed for Loftus-Cheek to convert clinically at the near-post past Daniels. With Eden Hazard out for at least another week and Nemanja Matic rested after becoming dizzy when he was hit on the head by a ball in a freak training ground incident on Saturday, Loftus-Cheek also has a good chance of being involved in the Premier League fixture against West Brom on Wednesday. “

Just to come on and play 45 minutes was amazing,” he said. Scunthorpe, though, were still not completely finished by the second goal and, after Van Veen had rippled the side-netting with a freekick, Jordan Clarke also had a thunderous late strike tipped onto the post by Begovic. It was too late to salvage something from the game but Scunthorpe’s performance certainly won Chelsea’s respect, with Terry later inviting their players into the home dressing-room to exchange shirts.

“Some of their staff thought this had similar flavour to Bradford last year,” said Robins, referring to Chelsea’s shock 4-2 defeat against Bradford. “I’m proud. It’s been tough times for people of Scunthorpe and the steel industry but to have a healthy thriving football club is something we’re going to get. The week has been brilliant for Scunthorpe as a town and club.”

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Mail:

Chelsea 2-0 Scunthorpe: Ruben Loftus-Cheek comes on to score his first Blues goal after Diego Costa opener in FA Cup victory

By MATT BARLOW FOR THE DAILY MAIL

It was the identity of the goalscorer that tempted Roman Abramovich on to his feet rather than the fact Chelsea had finally conquered Scunthorpe.

A goal against third-tier opposition in the FA Cup third round will not stand as eternal proof that the millions invested by Abramovich into a lavish academy system is about to pay dividends.
But it was a start. The Russian owner beamed with delight - and that is not something you see every day.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek came off the bench and his first senior goal settled nerves at Stamford Bridge and banished memories of last year's humiliation at the hands of Bradford.
The tie really should not have been in the balance after Diego Costa opened the scoring in the first half, but Chelsea had somehow allowed Scunthorpe back into it.

The League One visitors deserve credit. They fought hard, and returned to North Lincolnshire nursing complaints about a penalty call which went against them when only one down.
'It was nailed on,' said manager Mark Robins, after watching replays of a trip by Ramires on Kevin van Veen.

'We're disappointed with that. You need the rub of the green and we didn't get it.'
Scunthorpe's players were still disputing it with referee Craig Pawson at the final whistle, but it was not given and Loftus-Cheek stepped up to seize his moment.

The 19-year-old midfielder has long since been identified within the club as someone capable of bridging the gaping void between the academy and the first-team.
No-one has done it since John Terry, and the burden of expectation has not helped his development since Jose Mourinho promoted him to the first-team squad on a permanent basis last summer.
Loftus-Cheek was in and out, both praised and heavily criticised by Mourinho, not helped when he was late for the team bus on a post-season tour.

The chance of an unbroken run in the team, promised when Chelsea were at a low ebb in October, ended within 45 minutes, when he was hauled off at half-time against Aston Villa.
This was his first significant appearance since and it did not start well.
Eager to impress, having replaced Oscar, who came off at half-time with a sore toe, Loftus-Cheek's first impact on the game was a late tackle on Neal Bishop, who did not make nearly so much of it as others might.

The teenager escaped without a caution, and made a more pleasing contribution with his goal, a skilful finish with a hint of Frank Lampard about it, arriving late in the penalty area and sweeping a low cross from Cesar Azpilicueta past goalkeeper Luke Daniels.
Blues owner Roman Abramovich was at Stamford Bridge to watch his side's FA Cup win over League One Scunthorpe

It was his first goal, on his 11th appearance and, according to statistical wizards, converted with his first recorded shot on target.
'One for one, 100 per cent, I'll try to keep that going,' smiled Loftus-Cheek. 'I was just happy to come on and play 45 minutes and help the team.'

Hiddink is a soothing presence, the perfect balm after the abrasive manner of Mourinho. The Dutchman explained that it was 'normal' for the owner to expect to see his youngsters develop when he invests so much in the youth system.
'It is not said, but it is an automatic consequence of the academy,' said Hiddink. 'It is one of the objectives of the club.'

Chelsea's interim manager also sent on youngsters Kenedy and Bertrand Traore once his side had a two-goal cushion but he started out with a strong and experienced team, something which seemed to intimidate Scunthorpe in the opening phase.
Chelsea full-back Cesar Azpilicueta was forced to play wearing a mask after suffering a double fracture to his cheekbone

The visitors started poorly and went behind in the 13th minute, when Costa applied a glancing touch with his left foot to deflect a cross from Branislav Ivanovic inside the post.
It was a fourth in three games for Costa, who seemed at ease with his team-mates after the drama of his training ground bust-up with Oscar.

Chelsea ought to have killed the tie at this point, but Scunthorpe 'keeper Daniels was alert to make saves from Cesc Fabregas and Pedro.
Gradually, however, Scunthorpe grew in confidence, perhaps realising that the Barclays Premier League champions were vulnerable at the back without Terry, and threatened an equaliser either side of the interval.

Gary Cahill blocked a fierce half-volley from Stephen Dawson with his head and Asmir Begovic made a smart save, low to his left to deny Luke Williams. Kurt Zouma also produced an elaborate slide tackle to thwart Williams, who was lively.
Robins will have been disappointed not to see his team cause more problems from a succession of set-pieces.

Even after Loftus-Cheek made it 2-0, Scunthorpe refused to quit. Van Veen whipped a free-kick into the side-netting and Begovic tipped a screamer from Jordan Clarke on to the woodwork four minutes from time.

Bishop dragged the final chance wide in a stoppage-time scramble, before Terry extended a hand of friendship and invited the visitors into the home dressing room to have their keepsakes signed.
The rebuilding process continues for Chelsea. Having avoided more embarrassment they are in the fourth round of a competition they are out to win, and they are unbeaten in five games since Mourinho's exit.

Costa is back in the groove, and the owner was present to see Loftus-Cheek find the net and spark hope that his club may yet produce a star of its own.

MATCH FACTS

CHELSEA 4-2-3-1: Begovic 6; Ivanovic 6.5, Zouma 6.5, Cahill 6, Azpilicueta 6.5; Ramires 6, Fabregas 6; Willian 7, Oscar 6 (Loftus-Cheek 46 min, 6.5), Pedro 6 (Kenedy 71, 6); Costa 6.5 (Traore 85)
SUBS NOT USED: Courtois, Terry, Baba, Mikel
BOOKINGS: Ivanovic
MANAGER: Guus Hiddink 6.5

SCUNTHORPE 4-5-1: Daniels 6.5; Clarke 5, Mirfin 6, Wallace 6, Laird 5; Madden 5, Dawson 6 (King 79), Ness 5, Bishop 6, Van Veen 6 (Wootton 81); Williams 6.5 (Adelakun 79)
SUBS NOT USED: Anyon, Wiseman, McAllister, Canavan
BOOKINGS: Dawson
MANAGER: Mark Robins 6
MOtM: Willian
REF: Craig Pawson 5
ATT: 41,265
*Player ratings by Matt Barlow at Stamford Bridge

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Crystal Palace 3-0

Independent:

Crystal Palace 0 Chelsea 3: Nightmare over at last as Chelsea find mojo

Diego Costa, Oscar and Willian on target as Blues start 2016 with win

Jack Pitt-Brooke

How better to start 2016 than this? Chelsea opened their year with a performance better than almost anything they produced in 2015, beating a diminished Crystal Palace side with the style and verve which they had lost utterly in the past few months.

This was the first win of the second Guus Hiddink era, the first step back towards normality for these players after the trauma of their autumn. The three points are desperately important, moving them ahead of Bournemouth and Norwich City and further away from the relegation zone. But what mattered more, out there in the torrential rain at Selhurst Park, were the first signs of expansive, attacking play and natural fluency that Chelsea have shown  all season.

Jose Mourinho wanted to build a dynasty at Stamford Bridge, but the main legacy he left when he was sacked last month was a good group of players whose confidence had been destroyed. All the optimism that carried them to last year’s title had been toxified. No wonder they had stopped scoring.

One of Hiddink’s main tasks on his return to Chelsea is to conjure up that confidence and enthusiasm again, to reinvigorate the atmosphere, to remind these talented players how good they are and what they can do. Hiddink spoke positively last week about the “technical skill” Chelsea’s players have and how he has been working on their attacking positioning to make them more dangerous.

This performance was a vindication of all that work, and of the decision to replace Mourinho with Hiddink just before Christmas. This was the best Chelsea have played since they thumped Swansea City away from home 50 weeks ago, the apex of the second Mourinho era.

Chelsea’s great form in the first half of last season was built on the selfless running of Diego Costa and the intelligent prompting of Cesc Fabregas in midfield. The form of those two – along with Eden Hazard, Nemanja Matic and many more – collapsed this season but here they looked sharper than they have since this time last year.

This was not an easy game to play, given the wet pitch, loud crowd and tireless opponents. The players spent the opening stages coming to terms with the conditions. César Azpicilueta slipped and was kicked in the face by Fraizer Campbell. Joel Ward’s face collided painfully with Scott Dann’s knee.

Hazard limped off with a groin strain after 15 minutes, costing him the chance to rediscover his form and maybe even his goalscoring touch. While Hazard received treatment, the rest of Chelsea’s forwards revelled in the chance to play football like they used to.

Fabregas has been the most obvious under-performer, but here, with forwards willing to make runs in front of him, he was a new player. He made the move for the first goal, playing a clever forward pass to Costa, who was running into the inside-right channel. Damien Delaney slid and failed to intercept the ball and Costa drove towards the near post. Shaping at first to shoot, Costa cut the ball back to Oscar, darting into the box, who tapped the ball in. This was the type of simple, incisive goal, based on clever play and trusting runs, that had drifted out of Chelsea’s repertoire in 2015.

Once in front, Chelsea never looked as if they would not win. They should have scored again just before the break, when Oscar’s diagonal ball picked out Azpilicueta’s clever run in behind, only for Wayne Hennessey to be equal to the low shot.

Too many times this season Chelsea have taken an early lead before panicking, sitting back, and losing badly. This time they stayed on the front foot, dominated the second half and made sure of the win with two emphatic goals.

The second came on the hour. Willian started a brisk passing move which went through Costa and Oscar before returning to the Brazilian, whose powerful, 20-yard finish was in the roof of the net before anyone realised what had happened.

Willian made the third six minutes later, bursting from midfield into the inside-right channel, outside the stationary James McArthur. His low cross was palmed away by Hennessey but Costa, instincts re-sharpened, finished at the far post.

That was the end of the contest and the final minutes were dominated by Chelsea’s fans revelling in the absurdity of their situation, singing first that they were going to stay up, then that they were going to win the league. When they sang Mourinho’s name it was not with much enthusiasm.

For Crystal Palace, the main excitement came with 10 minutes left, when Chung-Yong Lee was replaced by Jonny Williams, back from loan at Nottingham Forest and making his first Palace appearance since September 2014. Based on this afternoon, they may well need him.

Palace were without Yohan Cabaye, Yannick Bolasie and Connor Wickham – their brains, their most dangerous attacking player and their only real centre-forward. They were understandably diminished, with Wilfried Zaha and Campbell stationed up front.

Zaha and Campbell had half-chances, but struggled to cause Chelsea real problems. Zaha shot wide from 20 yards after seven minutes, Campbell failed to connect at the far post with a Jason Puncheon cross. Zaha tried to play Campbell in just before Chelsea’s second goal, only for Thibaut Courtois to cut it out.

This was a very different afternoon from the one four months ago when Palace went to Stamford Bridge and won 2-1. Cabaye, Bolasie and Wickham all starred that day but without them Palace look ordinary. Cabaye will return from suspension this weekend and if the other two shake off their injuries then there is no reason why Palace cannot continue to look up and into the European positions.

Chelsea were an even more changed team from that day in August. Yesterday, under Hiddink, they controlled the midfield, attacked with confidence, scored goals and defended as a team. They are still eight points behind  Palace, but their nightmare is over.


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Guardian:

Chelsea swagger past Crystal Palace with Willian goal a gem for Hiddink

C Palace 0 - 3 Chelsea

David Hytner at Crystal Palace

Chelsea supporters would love to think that the second half of 2015 was simply a bad dream. Sadly for them, it was grotesquely real but the new year got under way in cathartic fashion for them and there was even evidence of their old champion swagger and steel.

It was as if a switch had been flicked on the misery of the preceding months, as the caretaker manager, Guus Hiddink, enjoyed the first victory of his second spell at the club and Willian, the game’s outstanding individual, produced the outstanding moment. His stinging drive from outside the area for Chelsea’s second goal was still rising when it ripped into the roof of the net.

Chelsea had started the day three points above the relegation zone and with only four teams beneath them, and a case could be made for next Sunday’s FA Cup tie at home to League One Scunthorpe United being the bigger game. The table looked a little better for them after this and, although much of the meaning has been stripped from their Premier League season, the team did feel much more like their old selves.

Diego Costa and Cesc Fàbregas returned from suspension and illness respectively and both were influential, with the former setting up the opening goal for Oscar and scoring the third himself. Fàbregas pulled the strings in midfield, supported by the excellent Mikel John Obi, and it was revealing to hear a post-match comment from Alan Pardew, the Crystal Palace manager.

“Looking at the Chelsea players now and speaking to one or two of them coming off the pitch, they all feel they haven’t played well [over the first-half of the season],” Pardew said. “I said to Fàbregas: ‘You were brilliant today.’ And he said: ‘Well, it’s taken a while’.”

Palace were chasing the league double over their London neighbours, having won at Stamford Bridge in August – the first real surprise result of the José Mourinho implosion – but they were breached here by Chelsea’s slick football and they had no answers of their own.

Palace ran aground after the 29th-minute concession to Oscar while Chelsea went from strength to strength, with the early loss of Eden Hazard to a groin problem reduced to little more than a footnote.

Hazard had tried to carry on only to plonk himself down on the turf, moments after losing out tamely to Joel Ward by the corner flag, and indicate that his game was over. He was a snapshot in loneliness as he trudged off towards the tunnel and he will undergo a scan on Monday.

Chelsea’s breakthrough goal was marked by high-end quality, which sparkled amid the gloomy weather and sparked happiness inside the travelling enclosure. “We are staying up,” the Chelsea fans chanted.

Fàbregas, back at the expense of Nemanja Matic rather than Mikel, was the initial creator, sliding a ball through for Costa, after the striker had spun off his marker to run in behind. Costa cut a lovely, disguised cross back for Oscar and the midfielder tapped home from close range.

Hazard’s replacement, Pedro, was industrious on the left and Chelsea made inroads up that side. They might have had the second in the 37th minute when Fàbregas, again, cut Palace apart with a ball forward, this time for César Azpilicueta. The left-back’s first touch on his chest was true and, one-on-one with Wayne Hennessey from a tight angle, he was denied by a block from the goalkeeper. Kurt Zouma also missed with a free header from Willian’s free-kick shortly after the interval.

The tackles flew in. Damien Delaney and Scott Dann were both booked for kicking Costa but he kept his cool, exacting revenge with his football. Palace had drawn blanks in their previous two outings and the continued absence of the injured Yannick Bolasie was compounded by the loss of Yohan Cabaye to a ban after five yellow cards. Both creators were missed as Palace groped for a cutting edge against a Chelsea defence that was well protected by Mikel. He kept everything cool and simple.

Fraizer Campbell had gone close with Palace’s only first-half chance in the 26th minute, following Jason Puncheon’s dangerous cross, and they flickered in the 59th minute through Wilfried Zaha. Teed up by Campbell after Chelsea had appealed in vain for a foul on Costa, Zaha’s shot was scuffed somewhat and Thibaut Courtois stretched to save.

Moments later, the game was over. Willian started the move, working the ball to Fàbregas, who found Oscar and, when the ball broke following Dann’s tackle, Willian strode on to it and let fly. Hennessey felt it scorch past him. Chelsea got the third shortly afterwards when Willian teased James McArthur before shooting. Hennessey pushed it out but only as far as Costa and he bundled his effort home off Ward.

Man of the match Willian (Chelsea)


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Telegraph:

Crystal Palace 0 Chelsea 3

Chelsea sweep aside early season storm with convincing victory

Goals from Oscar, Willian and Diego Costa saw Chelsea stroll home against an injury-stricken Palace

Jason Burt

Chelsea are back. Or at least it felt like that at a sodden Selhurst Park where, amid the torrential rain, they swept aside the storms of this season with a convincing victory over Crystal Palace.
There goals from Oscar, Willian and Diego Costa and powerful, rejuvenated performance all over with Cesc Fabregas outstanding, as were the goal-scorers, and John Obi Mikel impressive having been restored to the midfield by caretaker manager Guus Hiddink after being ignored by so long for Jose Mourinho.
The only negative for Chelsea was an injury to Eden Hazard as their campaign finally, belatedly got underway. The rest of the Premier League will have a glance over the shoulder.

Whether this is the start of a charge obviously remains to be seen but it felt like a very different Chelsea from the rest of this season as a year to the day since he took over as manager Alan Pardew saw his Palace side overwhelmed.
2015 was a wonderful year for Palace while it divided diametrically in two for Chelsea who are so far removed now from being the champions they were crowned only last May.
The injury to Hazard came early on as he tried to continue after pulling up sharply following a shot.

Hazard appeared to have damaged his groin and was replaced by Pedro.
Just over quarter of an hour had passed. Fifteen minutes of which the heavy rain had dominated more than either team although Palace had, initially, adapted more quickly by electing to get the ball forward with Wilfried Zaha – on his 200th appearance for the club – pushed through the middle.

He came closest in that period after taking the ball away from Oscar and running across the face of goal before sending a low shot back across Thibaut Courtois and narrowly wide.
It was clear that without Yannick Bolasie, Connor Wickham and the suspended Yohan Cabaye that Zaha would have to take more responsibility for Palace while Chelsea were able to bring back Costa, who had served his ban with Fabregas also returning having recovered from illness.
Palace threatened again. This time Jason Puncheon’s first-time cross bounced narrowly in front of Mile Jedinak but reached Fraizer who, at the far post, was unable to keep his shot down as the ball kicked up off the sodden turf.

The breakthrough came and it belonged to Chelsea with Mikel, clearly a Hiddink favourite having been restored to the team, gaining possession from Puncheon’s heavy touch and feeding Fabregas who slid the ball through for Costa to run onto. Damien Delaney, at full-stretch, needed to cut it out but failed to do so and Costa sprinted into the area before cutting the ball back, smartly, for Oscar to sweep into the net.
Palace were thrown. The goal changed the dynamic of the contest. Chelsea pushed on with a superb flighted ball by Oscar picking out the run of Cesar Azpilicueta who was suddenly clear on goal. From the angle he shot and Wayne Hennessey did well to beat the ball out.
Certainly this felt like a different, revitalised Chelsea with Fabregas and Costa prominent and a competitive, rather than destructive, edge to their play and Kurt Zouma should have increased the advantage when he ran onto Willian’s free-kick only to head wide. He should have scored.

Just as Chelsea began to dominate even more it was Costa who lost the ball with Campbell striding forward and slipping a pass to Zaha. With the chance to shoot his effort lacked conviction, lacked power and Courtois easily held on.
It proved pivotal. Chelsea came forward again and again Fabregas and Oscar were involved with the latter letting the ball run to the onrushing Willian who crashed a fierce first-time, right-footed shot from outside the area which arrowed past Hennessey.

Belief was coursing through Chelsea now and the third goal came with another powerful involvement from Willian who ran at the Palace defence and shot low and across Hennessey who could only push the ball out to Costa. He bundled it over the goal-line, off Joel Ward who desperately tried to block.
Palace were beaten and it was Chelsea with Scott Dann blocking Oscar’s goal-bound shot before Costa volleyed wide. In the wet, Chelsea were finally waving not drowning.


============

Mail:

Crystal Palace 0-3 Chelsea:

Oscar, Willian and Diego Costa hand Guus Hiddink his first win back with the Blues, but Eden Hazard hobbles off injured inside 20 minutes at Selhurst Park
Oscar slotted Chelsea ahead from close range in the 29th minute, after Eden Hazard had been substituted injured
Willian doubled the lead with a thunderous strike on the hour mark, which is his eighth goal of the season
Diego Costa capped a good display with a goal on 67, tapping in after a Wayne Hennessey error

By MATT BARLOW FOR THE DAILY MAIL

New Year, old Chelsea. And one of those vintage performances once associated with Jose Mourinho.
They yielded not an inch at the back, they were willing to engage and fight on a cold and wet day for the right to impose their quality going forward, they were dangerous on the break and they were clinical with the chances they created.
Eden Hazard limped off injured, but that was the only blemish on a positive day for the fallen champions.

Crystal Palace never seemed like taking anything from this game once they went behind to the opener from Oscar before half-time.
Willian and Diego Costa extended the lead after the break and spoiled any thoughts of an anniversary party for Alan Pardew, a year to the day after his triumphant arrival at Selhurst Park.

With the win, Chelsea climbed to 23 points. The idea of defending the Barclays Premier League title is long-gone. The top four, too, no much more than a distant dream.
Bookmakers scrambled to slash the odds, but they are still 10 points adrift of Manchester United in fifth.
Even so, Guus Hiddink is doing what he was asked to do: stabilise the dressing room, massage a few egos and energise those players who had grown tired of Mourinho.
It is four games without defeat since he was dismissed and the Exiled One will have watched this performance with a knowing smile.

The creative axis of Costa and Cesc Fabregas was quite clearly back in business. The pair combined well for the first goal. Fabregas got himself on the ball and played with invention. Costa has found his way to goal, once again, with three in two games under Hiddink.

Work-rate was high. Oscar proved more influential than he has been for some time, and Willian's brilliant form has not faded.
The transformation least predicted, however, must be the resurgence of John Obi Mikel, preferred to Nemanja Matic in central midfield by Hiddink, and the interim manager declared him the 'ideal' player to bring balance to his team.

Mikel responded with a display of power authority, especially during the first-half when a fierce battle for midfield control was being waged in the midst of a Biblical deluge.
Rain had poured down for hours before kick-off and a slippery opening phase was awash with mistakes, chance collisions and extended sliding tackles until everyone got the measure of the conditions.

Flowing football was somewhat harder to find at this point. Wilfried Zaha's 200th appearance for Palace was frustrated by the proximity of Branislav Ivanovic, who won the duel in muscular style and somehow avoided a yellow card.
Cesar Azpilicueta and Joel Ward needed treatment early on, and Hazard was forced off with what appeared to be a groin problem.

As Chelsea show signs of recovery, Hazard's season goes from bad to worse. Without a goal in 30 Chelsea appearances, the Footballer of the Year has lost form and confidence and now his body is ailing.

He went off with a hip problem, half-an-hour into Mourinho's final game in charge at Leicester, and at Selhurst he lasted only 16 minutes before heading back to the dressing room, flanked by two of the club's medical staff.
Chelsea hit their best rhythm without Hazard, and it was Oscar who fired them ahead following the sort of move they regularly delivered last season
.
Fabregas unzipped the Palace back-four with a pass to Costa. Damien Delaney tried to intercept it but slid by at speed, leaving Costa with a clear run at goal.
He threatened to shoot from a tight angle, only to cut the ball back, taking Wayne Hennessey and Scott Dann out of the equation and supplying a simple tap-in for Oscar, who timed his run well and celebrated his fifth of the season.

Hennessey thwarted Azpilicueta with a fine save as Palace fought to stay in the game. Kurt Zouma went close, early in the second-half, with a header from a Willian free-kick.
Pardew's team, without several of its best attacking players, found it difficult to create clear chances and have not scored in three games since Boxing Day. They worked into some promising situations and yet lacked quality on the final pass.
Zaha flashed one effort wide in the opening minutes, but Thibaut Courtois was not extended until he denied the same player with nearly an hour gone. Within seconds of the save, Chelsea extended the lead.

It was an unhappy and soaking wet afternoon for Pardew and his Palace squad as they faced Chelsea in the Premier League
Willian launched the move, with a pass to Costa, who moved it on to Oscar. When Oscar was challenged, the ball rolled free towards Willian who slammed it without hesitation into the top corner.
Costa grabbed the third, forcing it in from close-range via Ward after Hennessey had saved from Willian.
There might have had more, but Chelsea eased off and coasted home. The job was done and the future suddenly appears brighter with four games unbeaten in the second post-Mourinho era and Scunthorpe up next in the FA Cup.

MATCH FACTS, PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE AND MATCH ZONE
Crystal Palace (4-2-3-1): Hennessey 6; Ward 6, Dann 5, Delaney 5, Souare 5; Jedinak 5 (Ledley 66 min, 5), McArthur 6; Puncheon 5, Lee 5 (Williams 80), Zaha 6; Campbell 5 (Chamakh 66, 5).
Subs not used: McCarthy, Kelly, Mutch, Sako.
Bookings:Delaney, Jedinak, Dann.
Manager: Alan Pardew 5.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Courtois 6.5; Ivanovic 6.5, Zouma 6, Terry 6, Azpilicueta 6; Fabregas 7, Mikel 8; Willian 7.5, Oscar 7.5 (Matic), Hazard 5 (Pedro 16, 6.5); Costa 7.
Subs not used: Begovic, Baba, Loftus-Cheek, Ramires, Traore.
Goals: Oscar, 29, Willian, 60, Costa, 66.
Manager: Guus Hiddink 7
Referee: Kevin Friend


=====================


Mirror:

Crystal Palace 0-3 Chelsea: 5 things we learned as Diego Costa clipped the wings of high-flying Eagles

BY ADRIAN KAJUMBA

Goals from Costa, Oscar and Willian saw Guus Hiddink's men start the new year in fine style at a wet and windy Selhurst Park

Chelsea cruised to victory at Crystal Palace to notch their first win since Guus Hiddink's return.

Goals from Oscar, Willian and Diego Costa fired Chelsea to their first away league win since August.

Oscar tapped in the first from Costa's cross in the 29th minute. Willian than found the top corner with a stunning rising drive from outside the box to make it 2-0 on the hour.

Six minutes later Costa tapped in number three from close range after Wayne Hennessey failed to deal with Willian's cross.

An injury to Eden Hazard took some of the gloss off a satisfying away day for the Blues though He limped off with a groin injury after just 16 minutes.


Here are five things we learned:

Jon Obi Mikel is trusted again
Jon Obi Mikel is back in favour following Guus Hiddink's return to Chelsea.

Rather than drop Mikel to accommodate the returning Cesc Fabregas against Crystal Palace, it was Nemanja Matic who made way. Hiddink clearly trusts Mikel, one of three surviving players from his first interim reign, and likes the solidity, simplicity hand discipline he brings to Chelsea's midfield.

And by giving him a second start at Selhurst Park, Mikel has now made as many league starts in two weeks under Hiddink as he did in half a season under Jose Mourinho.

He repaid Hiddink with a masterclass in midfield to earn the acclaim of the travelling fans.

Eden Hazard out again
After his sensational campaign last year, this season could hardly be more opposite for reigning double player of the year Eden Hazard. He is still waiting for his first goal of the season, still missing even any spark in his performances and now injuries are hampering him.

He only recently returned from a hip injury but is now facing another spell on the sidelines after being forced off with what looked like a groin injury.


Ref justice for Palace
Sometimes officials don't help themselves, like referee Kevin Friend at Selhurst Park.

He showed Damien Delaney an early yellow, when a talking to might have sufficed, for a 12th minute foul, leaving the Palace defender on a tight-rope in tricky conditions for the rest of the game.

Then, having seemingly set out his stall, he chose not to hand out anymore first-half yellows despite a number of potentially punishable challenges from Chelsea players, much to the obvious frustration of Alan Pardew.

Friend then compounded things by finally handing out a second booking after the break to Palace captain Mile Jedinak.

Fans rarely need any added encouragement to grumble about the refs their team get but Friend's inconsistency gave Palace supporters just that.

Chelsea under Hiddink are positive
It's early days but there were more positive signs that Hiddink could salvage Chelsea's season.

With Jon Obi Mikel back in the side they looked more solid and had greater control of the game, Diego Costa is looking more like his old self under Hiddink and scored his third goal in two games for the Dutchman. A morale-boosting win away from home is not to be sniffed at either.

They hadn't triumphed on the road in the league since August when they won 3-2 at West Brom.

Chelsea fans still have a sense of humour
Chelsea fans have retained their sense of humour during this traumatic season watching their side's incredible decline from champions.

They responded to Chelsea's opener with chants of “we are staying up” before declaring “we're gonna win the league” after Willian lashed in their sensational second after the break.

And when Diego Costa forced home their third the “that's why we're champions” refrain came out.


=================


Express:

Crystal Palace 0 - Chelsea 3: Oscar, Diego Costa & Willian seal comfortable win for Blues

IF YOU need an example of how Chelsea have been transformed since Jose Mourinho was sacked, look no further than John Obi Mikel.

By TONY BANKS

Chelsea brushed aside Crystal Palace with ease and looked back to their best

Sidelined by the Special One, the Nigeria international looked to be on his way to Galatasaray, Besiktas or even the Middle East this month as a 10-year Stamford Bridge career seemed to be petering out.

But in comes Guus Hiddink, and back comes Mikel. He is one of only three survivors from the Dutchman’s first spell in charge in 2009, and he clearly remembers how reliable the big midfielder can be.

In his second start in three games under Hiddink – as many as he managed in half a season under Mourinho – Mikel ran the show at a sodden Selhurst Park yesterday as Chelsea cruised to only their second away league win of the campaign.

Oscar, Willian and Diego Costa rattled in the goals which flattened Palace, but it was Mikel’s calm authority in midfield, alongside another who has rediscovered his vim in Cesc Fabregas, which gave them the platform for this victory.

It was a year to the day since Alan Pardew took over at Palace, and his record as a manager against Chelsea at both Selhurst and St James’ Parks had been a good one with five wins from eight games. But yesterday his team ran into the Chelsea of old.

Hiddink has only lost one League game out of 16 in two spells in charge of Chelsea. Here, despite losing Eden Hazard to a groin injury after only 14 minutes, his team weathered Palace’s early storm and struck on the break with a deadly intent previously missing this season. It was almost like watching an archetypal Mourinho performance.

Chelsea are now a more comfortable six points above the bottom three, and four games unbeaten. The rainclouds still hover, but there are glimmers of sunlight.

Pardew’s side did start with the eagerness of a team that were unbeaten in six games as Wilfried Zaha shot wide and then Fraizer Campbell missed a chance. But too many crosses from good positions went high and wide too often.

Then on the half-hour Chelsea struck. Fabregas’s cute pass was fatally missed by Damien Delaney. Costa was onto it in a flash and laid the ball back for Oscar to convert from close range.

Palace keeper Wayne Hennessey had to make a good save from Cesar Azpilicueta as confidence surged through Chelsea veins, and Kurt Zouma should have scored when he headed over from point blank range.

But even when Palace were handed an opportunity to get back into the match, they wasted it. Costa lost possession and Zaha sped away but placed his shot too close to Thibaut Courtois.

The punishment was swift and brutal. Oscar lost the ball but it ran loose to the excellent Willian, who smashed it into the top corner from 20 yards.

Six minutes later Willian got away on the right again, leaving his defender trailing with another electric burst of pace, and fired in a low shot. Hennessey dived but could only spoon the ball up, and Costa pounced to force it in off the desperate Joel Ward. The damage was complete.

By the closing stages the Chelsea fans were chanting Mikel’s name, cheering every pass from a player most had forgotten had even existed a few short months ago. Galatasaray don’t know what they are missing.


PALACE (4-2-3-1): Hennessey 6; Ward 6, Dann 6, Delaney 6, Souare 6; Jedinak 5 (Ledley 68, 6), McArthur 6; Zaha 7, Puncheon 6, Lee 6 (Williams 80); Campbell 5 (Chamakh 68, 6). Booked: Delaney, Jedinak, Dann. NEXT UP: Southampton (a) FAC, Sat.

CHELSEA (4-2-3-1): Courtois 7; Ivanovic 7, Zouma 7, Terry 7, Azpilicueta 7; Mikel 7, Fabregas 7; Willian 8, Oscar 7 (Matic 86), Hazard 5 (Pedro 16, 7); Costa 7. Goals: Oscar 29, Willian 60, Costa 66. NEXT UP: Scunthorpe (h) FAC, Sun.

Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire).


=================


Star:

Crystal Palace 0 Chelsea 3: Blues start 2016 with impressive win against Eagles

FINALLY a ray of sunshine for Chelsea.

By David Woods

The mood of the struggling champions for most of the season so far has matched the awful weather at Selhurst Park yesterday.

But suddenly life might not seem quite so gloomy at Chelsea after goals from Oscar, Willian and Diego Costa earned a first league victory on their travels since the 3-2 win at West Brom on August 23.

Prior to yesterday, only bottom two Aston Villa and Sunderland had a worse away record in the Premier League than Chelsea’s meagre haul of six points.

Granted Palace - so clearly missing suspended playmaker Yohan Cabaye - were surprisingly poor.

But they never looked like a team who started the game nine places and 11 points ahead of their opponents.

This was a different Chelsea though - calm, committed, composed and yes, even clinical for once. In fact they looked something like the team who ran away with the title last season under old boss Jose Mourinho.

Current boss Guus Hiddink has done something to restore their enthusiasm.

Costa and Cesc Fabregas look much more like their old selves.

Branislav Ivanovic was also nothing like the weakest link he has been for most of the season at right-back while John Obi Mikel was superb in his midfield holding role.

Ivanovic was targeted and tormented at Stamford Bridge at the end of August, when the Eagles won 2-1.


That defeat was the game when the doomed Mourinho first admitted he didn’t know what was wrong with his team.

But yesterday even the injury loss of Eden Hazard - whose season still seems in the doldrums - in the 15th minute did not handicap Chelsea. In fact, they looked better balanced with Pedro on the left.

Palace could actually have scored first. But Jason Puncheon’s great in-swinging ball was just a little too far ahead of Scott Dann and Frazier Campbell couldn’t produce anything when it zipped onto his right boot.

Chelsea scored just seconds later, in the 28th minute. Fabregas’ ball evaded Damien Delaney and sent Costa through into the box.

The striker was unselfish and, from a tight angle, he dummied and teed up Oscar to side foot home from eight yards.

“We are staying up,” sang Chelsea’s fans.

Oscar picked out an intelligent diagonal run from Cesar Azpilicueta and, after controlling with his chest, the Spaniard tested Wayne Hennessey with a powerful half-volley.

Mikel blocked a storming run from Wilfried Zaha early in the second half with travelling fans then cheering his every touch.

A typically excellent Willian free-kick in the 53rd minute found Kurt Zouma, but the centre back somehow managed to head over from five yards.


Zaha then had a great chance to level in the 60th minute. Found by strike partner Campbell he delayed his shot then scuffed it straight to Blues goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

And just like with the first Chelsea goal, the Blues immediately capitalised after their let-off.

Dann lunged in on Oscar but the ball broke to Willian the free-kick king lashed into the top corner from 20 yards.

The brilliant Brazilian was then the creator in the 65th minute, slipping past James McArther on the right flank and sending in a low cross which Hennessey could only push towards Costa, whose prod went in off Joel Ward.

After that it was like the Chelsea of old under Mourinho, when they would see out victories without too much fuss.

They are now unbeaten in four, with a win and two draws under Hiddink, and up two places to 14th.

Palace boss Alan Pardew claimed before the game that the top four was not out of reach for them.

He might have been premature but his job now will be to lift his men after this limp display.


CRYSTAL PALACE (4-4-2): Hennessey 6; Ward 5, Dann 5, Delaney 5, Souare 6; PUNCHEON 7, McArthur 6, Jedinak 5 (Ledley 66, 5), Lee 6 (Williams 79); Campbell 6 (Chamakh 66, 6), Zaha 6. Subs: McCarthy, Mutch, Sako, Kelly.

CHELSEA (4-2-3-1): Courtois 7; Ivanovic 7, Zouma 7, Terry 8, Azpilicueta 7; Fabregas 8, MIKEL 8; Willian 8, Oscar 8 (Matic 88), Hazard 6 (Pedro 15, 7); Costa 8. Subs: Begovic, Rahman, Ramires, Traore, Loftus-Cheek.

Man Utd 0-0

Independent:

Louis van Gaal sees improved performance at Old Trafford - but not enough to win

Manchester United 0 Chelsea 0

Mark Ogden

So Louis van Gaal limps on, but it sums up the current state of Manchester United that a goalless draw at Old Trafford against a team hovering three points above the relegation zone is regarded as a sign of progress.

At least the four-game losing streak came to an end against a Chelsea team on course to deliver the worst defence of a title in the Premier League era, but every silver lining has a cloud and this stalemate extended United’s winless run to eight games in all competitions.

Eight games without a victory and the sixth time this season that United have failed to score in front of their own supporters – these really are bleak times for Van Gaal and his team and it is remarkable that the club’s executive vice-chairman, Ed Woodward, chose to pose for selfies with supporters in the directors’ box at the end of the game.

Having surrendered 2-0 at Stoke City on Boxing Day, United were more adventurous and cohesive against Chelsea and they should have won, hitting the woodwork twice and seeing referee Martin Atkinson reject two strong second-half penalty appeals.

But there were also narrow escapes, with goalkeeper David De Gea twice producing world-class saves to keep United on equal terms before Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic spurned a glorious late chance to win the game.

Still, the draw is likely to prove enough to keep Van Gaal on life support until the visit of Swansea City at the weekend, but even Woodward will struggle to keep faith with the Dutchman if the managerless Welsh club extend United’s search for a win.

Swansea provided the opposition for Van Gaal’s first game in charge of United, in August 2014, and they may well be his last if they return to Wales with three points as they did 16 months ago.

Having started this game level on points with Watford and behind Crystal Palace, it was clear that United were in need of a change of fortune against a Chelsea team still feeling the aftershocks of Jose Mourinho’s dismissal. But United’s ill luck reared its head within two minutes of the kick-off when Juan Mata was denied a well-worked opener by the Chelsea crossbar.

The Spaniard, who has flattered to deceive at Old Trafford since arriving from Stamford Bridge in January 2014, was unlucky to see his first-time shot from Wayne Rooney’s pass rattle against the bar, but those are the margins that are hurting United right now.

In response, and continuing the frenetic start, John Terry was denied only by a stunning De Gea save on five minutes when the Chelsea captain’s header from Willian’s corner was acrobatically tipped over the bar by the United goalkeeper.

The end-to-end action went on, with United dominating possession, and Morgan Schneiderlin sent a curling right-foot shot wide from 20 yards before the impressive Anthony Martial weaved between two Chelsea defenders and struck the inside of the post on 16 minutes.

Chelsea were unable to secure a foothold in the game, with United winning the midfield battle, but the home side lacked quality in the final third and the near misses continued.

Martial went close again and Mata’s poor delivery from the right flank frustrated Rooney on two occasions before the United captain, restored to the starting line-up and playing as though he had a point to prove, forced Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois into action with a powerful right-foot strike from 30 yards.

But half-time arrived and United had, once again, failed to make a first-half breakthrough.

Not since September have United scored in the first half at Old Trafford and the anxiety that blunt edge creates invariably leads to a more cautious, nervy approach after the interval. That pattern continued, with the likes of Woodward, Sir Alex Ferguson, David Gill and Sir Bobby Charlton watching on, looking increasingly morose in the posh seats.

Chelsea contributed to  the creeping tension in the second half, however.

With Guus Hiddink back in interim charge following Mourinho’s departure 11 days ago, the ship has been steadied, but Chelsea are in a mess nonetheless.

Last season’s swagger and confidence have evaporated and the likes of Eden Hazard and Diego Costa – suspended for this game – have been playing as though their minds are elsewhere.

It was Manchester United versus Chelsea, the two most successful clubs of the Premier League era, but not since this fixture was about Graeme Hogg versus John Bumstead in the 1980s has it felt so irrelevant and mediocre.

Both teams went into the second half attempting to win, but clearly more concerned about the damage of defeat, and an early flurry, marked by a double De Gea save from Pedro and Cesar Azpilicueta and a point-blank Courtois save from Ander Herrera, was followed by greater caution.

Matic’s miss on 62 minutes, after being set free by Pedro on a counter-attack, was a sign of the nerves afflicting both sets of players, but it was a shocker, with the Serb clear on goal before blazing high over the bar from 18 yards.

United huffed and puffed, with only Martial offering any kind of zest until he was shunted from left to right in order to accommodate substitute Memphis Depay midway through the second half.

But having been denied penalties when Willian handled and Azpilicueta fouled Mata, United were unable to provide a finishing touch to their possession and build-up play.

When Rooney fired a volley high and wide from Cameron Borthwick-Jackson’s cross on 86 minutes – moments before Rooney was booked for a reckless foul on Oscar – it was a sign that United’s luck was not going to turn.

Van Gaal may believe, or even hope, that his fortune may be changing, having seen his team arrest their slump, but it would be foolish to think the Dutchman has weathered the storm.

One United supporter had turned up at Old Trafford with a banner which read – LVG: Leave, Vanish, Go – so the frustrations in the stands cannot be overlooked.

Another failure to win on Saturday and that supporter may get his wish.


============


Guardian:

Manchester United’s fighting spirit fails to break Chelsea resistance

Man Utd 0 - 0 Chelsea

Daniel Taylor at Old Trafford


At least, among all the indignities Louis van Gaal has had to confront recently, Manchester United’s sequence of defeats has been ended one short of it becoming their worst run in a single season since December 1936. Their winless stretch has, however, been extended to eight matches and their new reputation as 0-0 specialists cannot sit easily for a club with their love of adventure. This was their fifth in the last eight games at Old Trafford although, on a more positive note, the performance was reasonable enough for Van Gaal to be spared the crowd’s wrath.

Whether it will be enough to keep him in a job remains to be seen but there were signs that the spirit of this team is not entirely broken and that, in turn, would make it a surprise if he is not in charge for Saturday’s game at home to Swansea. Their imperfections are numerous but United did at least show in spells they can remove the tactical straightjacket and start to play the old way, with width and penetration, and the crowd seemed to appreciate what they were watching.

The opening 45 minutes was their best for some time and it was their willingness to take a few risks, something their supporters will always tolerate, that explained, in part, why they lost their structure during the later exchanges.

A better side than Chelsea might have taken advantage in a slightly dishevelled second half and the match has to be put in the context that the team Guus Hiddink has just inherited are drifting through the most implausible title defence in memory, fifth from bottom in the league but too haughty to think of themselves in genuine relegation danger, while so far adrift they have nothing left to chase.

All the same it was an improvement from Van Gaal’s team. They have failed to score in 11 of their 26 league fixtures since April and there are all sorts of galling statistics attached to Van Gaal reign, featuring a lower win ratio than David Moyes’ time in charge. The bottom line, however, is that this did not seem a performance that would end in the manager being fired or choosing to sever ties himself.

“There is no reason to sack me,” Van Gaal said afterwards, sounding newly emboldened.

The Dutchman had talked of his team not “daring to play” when they lost at Stoke City on Boxing Day but there was nothing timid about the shot Juan Mata cracked against Thibaut Courtois’s crossbar in the opening exchanges and the same again, on 17 minutes, when Anthony Martial’s low drive struck a post, flashed across the goalmouth and spun out of play. United were indebted to David de Gea at times but nobody could accuse them of plodding, sideways football. That felt like a start given the allegation that has circled them of repetitive dreariness.

Equally it could conceivably have become another ordeal for the team that is now five points off the top four. Chelsea will reflect on the occasions when David de Gea’s goalkeeping saved his team and, more than anything, the counter-attacking move that finished with Nemanja Matic galloping clear for the game’s outstanding chance.

Matic might wake in a cold sweat when he thinks about what happened next. De Gea is a formidable goalkeeper to beat but the Chelsea player made a terrible hash of his shot, putting the ball into the crowd when he had the time and space to pick his spot.

Playing on the break, Chelsea’s attack looked light in the absence of the suspended Diego Costa, if only because it meant they did not have a natural striker for the role. Eden Hazard’s tendency was to roam to wide positions and in the first half, lacking anyone to hold up the ball, they were pinned back for long spells. Ashley Young and Matteo Darmian had the licence to advance from United’s full-back positions. Martial’s directness and quick feet made him a difficult opponent and United generally look a more rounded team when Marouane Fellaini is not in the starting line-up.

The temptation to aim the ball high was removed and United began the game with the kind of quick tempo that has become a rarity under Van Gaal.

The mood might have been entirely different if De Gea had not turned John Terry’s header over the crossbar from an early corner but Chelsea did not have the impetus that is usually expected of them on these occasions. The champions did improve after the interval and, shortly before the Matic miss, there was a wonderful double save from De Gea to keep out Pedro’s shot and then turn away the follow-up effort from César Azpilicueta.

Courtois’s reflexes to keep out Anders Herrera at the other end showed there is still competition to be recognised as the best goalkeeper in the league and Van Gaal was left to rue Wayne Rooney’s late miss and a couple of reasonable penalty claims. It was a scrappy finish, with both teams demonstrating why they are struggling, and Rooney leaving the imprints of his studs on Oscar’s leg.

Ultimately, though, Chelsea will be happier, having gone three matches unbeaten in the league for the first time this season. Van Gaal will have heard the boos at the end but there was sympathetic applause elsewhere in the ground and little sense that the tall man making his way along the touchline would not be back next weekend.


=================


Telegraph:

Manchester United 0 Chelsea 0

Improved United draw yet another blank
Louis Van Gaal's side show attacking intent but manager's future remains in doubt

Jason Burt

What a difference 48 hours make. Two days after hinting that he could quit as Manchester United ­manager, two days after he appeared a broken man at the Britannia Stadium, two days after it seemed he had lost belief in himself, Louis van Gaal came out fighting. His team, also, came out fighting. At last.
“There is no reason to sack me,” Van Gaal declared afterwards while also claiming, somewhat implausibly, that he had been misquoted when he spoke of the possibility of resigning in the wake of that 2-0 defeat away by Stoke City on Boxing Day when he seemed so crushed.
“You’ve seen that the players are fighting for me,” Van Gaal said. “I am fully confident in the board and my players. There is no reason to resign.”

No reason to resign; no reason to be sacked, then. That confidence has been communicated to Van Gaal in the past days, and the previous week, by United’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward, who is fighting his man’s corner amid the mounting pressure and suggestions that the manager might even walk away having lost a little belief.

But the killer phrase from Van Gaal, who after his bullishness also admitted he was “concerned” he might be sacked, was that he would “always stay” when he believed the “players are fighting for me”. It was a suggestion that this was a pivotal performance; a line in the sand.
Up until this match it appears Van Gaal feared that was no longer the case.
Despite his disdain, his convoluted explanation, his upbraiding of his inquisitors, he has shown a peculiar vulnerability of late.

Whether this goalless draw – goalless although full of opportunities and gilded by two wonderful goalkeeping performances – against a Chelsea side who are themselves fighting to rediscover their own identity is good enough remains to be seen.
United do not want to sack Van Gaal mid-season but the they will be forced to if this run continues. They are five points off the top four and the gap is growing.

Despite the shoots of recovery it is another game without a victory, a winless streak now extended to eight matches in all competitions, and another goalless draw at Old Trafford – a stadium used to goals, attacking play, thrills and spills.
It is just one goal in the past four home matches; six goalless draws at this stadium – five in the plast eight matches. They have failed to score in 11 Premier League games since April and nine in all this campaign.

But, beyond those damning statistics, this was a vastly improved performance from United and their manager.
The shackles came off perhaps because there was nothing left to do. The straitjacket was loosened. The sideways play replaced by a desire to finally “attack, attack, attack” and, for once, the home supporters did not feel moved to chant that in frustration.

Afterwards there was even applause for Van Gaal – not necessarily to back him but because, as former players such as Rio Ferdinand and Peter Schmeichel later pointed out, he had finally ceded to allow the players to play the way they and the supporters wanted them to.
Did Van Gaal decide to do it or was he told? Did he simply give in to what was demanded of him or realise himself that his philosophy had to change? Again only time will tell.

There was an air that something had to give prior to kick-off with United’s plight masking that of the visitors, who arrived so close to the relegation zone it still seems unreal and without the suspended Diego Costa and the ill Cesc Fabregas and with caretaker manager Guus Hiddink still trying to piece together fractured confidence after a horrific first half of the season that had led to Jose Mourinho’s dismissal.

Were United good or Chelsea simply bad? Long before the final whistle it evened itself out and a draw was – probably – a fair result but in that opening half-hour it was a throw-back, a little, to the United of old with Wayne Rooney reinvigorated and leading the attack as they threw players forward at pace.

By the end, however, Rooney could have been sent off for an ugly challenge on Oscar and had wasted two glorious opportunities to score. There was not much here for the rest of the Premier League to fear.

Van Gaal also, understandably, questioned why United were not awarded two penalties – both in the second half – when the ball reared up and struck Willian on the arm and then when Juan Mata was challenged by Cesar Azpilicueta as he threatened to skirt around the Chelsea defender. Both appeals were waved away by referee Martin Atkinson.

But there was so much more intent for United to cling on to and so much more resolve from Chelsea, also, who will point to the performances of central defenders John Terry and Kurt Zouma and the relentless work of Eden Hazard, who doubled his effort to cover two roles: that of No 10 and also, in Costa’s absence and with Loïc Remy injured, as his team’s central striker.

Within two minutes United could have scored when Rooney played the ball from Ashley Young’s throw-to Mata, who arrowed a first-time left-foot shot from the corner of the area against the crossbar.

Anthony Martial, also one invigorated and unleashed, worked his way in from the left and struck a low shot that also beat Thibaut Courtois but hit the inside of the post and squirted across the goal.
By then David de Gea had made the first of three outstanding saves as he, tipped over Terry’s header from a corner before, at the other end, Courtois alertly pushed out a fierce Rooney shot.

There was a lull and then both sides went again. Hazard slalomed forward before slipping the ball through to Pedro, who bent his shot. De Gea parried with the rebound falling to Azpilicueta only for the goalkeeper to recover brilliantly and beat it away.

It was then Courtois excelling as Martial ran free down the left and crossed for Ander Herrera to turn the ball goalwards from close range. It seemed a goal – only for it to be anticipated by Courtois, who dived to his left to block.

The chances continued with Chelsea breaking quickly and Nemanja Matic making a great run that was picked out by Pedro with a cross-field pass that sent the midfielder clear. He had time, he had space – and he also had a team-mate with Hazard on his shoulder – but he chose to shoot and blazed high over the bar.

Then Rooney spurned his two chances – missing Mata’s lofted ball forward when through on goal and then blazing a volley over at the far post. It remained goalless but it certainly was not soulless and there will be relief in that.


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Mail:

Manchester United 0-0 Chelsea:

Nemanja Matic and Ander Herrera squander golden opportunities during goalless Old Trafford affair

By MARTIN SAMUEL

It may not be appreciated by the disillusioned masses, but there are at least two very good reasons to keep an eye on Manchester United and Chelsea this season. The goalkeepers.
David de Gea and Thibaut Courtois were quite exceptional. Faultless, one might say, and not just because they didn’t have much to do. This was really quite a good game, despite those twin zeros. Manchester United were livelier than they have been for some time and Chelsea carved out some extremely good chances, although not many of them, due to the absence of a specialist goalscorer.

Even so, the reason the match stayed goalless, beyond some wasteful finishing, was De Gea and Courtois. Both made outstanding saves and, when Courtois could not, the woodwork came to Chelsea’s rescue. It was a useful point for the visitors, more so than Manchester United, but it is not a result that should affect Louis van Gaal’s job prospects dramatically. This is United’s longest run without a win since 1990 and their sixth 0-0 draw at Old Trafford this season, and that is not a good look on any manager.

Yet Ed Woodward, the Manchester United chief executive, does not want to sack Van Gaal – not least because it would reflect poorly on him – and this game did not give him great reason to act.
Swansea and Sheffield United at home, and Newcastle away, are up next, all winnable matches, and Woodward will be hoping Van Gaal’s luck changes naturally. The league table continues to make unpleasant viewing though; United are in sixth place, nine points off leaders Arsenal, and could be 11 points shy if Leicester beat Manchester City. Not that a Manchester City win would be hugely preferable – that would leave United trailing their annoying neighbours by eight points.

Of course, Chelsea would swap places in a heartbeat. They are 15 points off the Champions League spots and three points off relegation. When Chelsea’s fans mocked Manchester United’s Champions League exit with a chant of ‘Thursday night, Channel 5’ – an insult that would have hurt BT just as much, having had the rights to Europa League football since the start of the season – they were crushed instantly with a riposte of ‘Going down, going down’. It rather summed up the reduced status of this fixture. When the list came out it would have been seen as a potential title decider, after all.
Delightfully, though, it was not the damp squib many expected. The scoreline may have been predictable but the football was not. It didn’t look like sixth versus 16th – the position of both teams at kick-off – and United in particular were vastly improved. Not dull, not dour, not cagey – for the first hour at least they went at it hammer and tongs, on the front foot like the good old days.

Considering the torpor that had preceded this, even in home games, it was hard to tell whether United’s players had sniffed the wind and decided to ignore Van Gaal’s conservative instincts, or whether a retro blast of high tempo attacking football was the manager’s last attempt to keep his job. Either way, it worked. United went in at half-time goalless, but not to the familiar derision. This was their best 0-0 of the season – an ambitious 0-0, at least until late in the game when the rigours of holiday football seemed to take their toll.

United started early, the game just three minutes old when Rooney fed the ball back to Juan Mata, whose shot was smacked against the bar. It seemed to set the standard – seven minutes later, Rooney laid the ball to Morgan Schneiderlin, from an Ander Herrera cross, and the Frenchman’s shot flew narrowly wide. Anthony Martial, deployed on the left, came close after 18 minutes, cutting inside and striking a shot that defeated Courtois but not the near post – and Rooney had an ambitious effort from a full 30 yards out athletically tipped over by Courtois approaching the half hour.

His best was yet to come, however. In the 56th minute, Herrera was in an excellent position to convert a Martial cross from close range. The Belgian scrambled across and somehow met the ball, saving and clearing at the same time. Late on, substitute Cameron Borthwick-Jackson found Rooney at the far post, but his shot was wild. It was a pity. He had played well until that point, linking excellently and working hard, as usual. That does not mean Manchester United would not benefit from a 25-goal striker, though. Rooney is a different player to five years ago.

Chelsea were short of a striker, too, although their problems are temporary. Diego Costa – who scored two goals in a game for the first time since January, then picked up the yellow card that triggered a suspension to ensure he, and his club, could not capitalise on it – was absent and Loic Remy stayed on the bench, meaning forward duties were shared between Eden Hazard, Oscar and Pedro.

Hazard was the most central figure and took the requisite kicking. They were queuing up for him – Chris Smalling, then Herrera, then Daley Blind. Referee Martin Atkinson could definitely have afforded more protection. Rooney was fortunate too, in the second half, when a quite dreadful challenge on Oscar only drew a yellow card. He was high, late and seemed to ignore the ball for the man. It could easily have been a straight red card.

And, earlier, a penalty to United, too. Willian, in lots of space, miscontrolled the ball and brought it to order only with what appeared the deliberate use of his left arm. Atkinson was already anticipating the clearance and was looking upfield. Where the linesman was looking, God knows.
Yet, while Chelsea rode their luck, they also produced several quite excellent chances that could have won the game with better finishing and less efficient goalkeeping.

In the fifth minute, John Terry met a corner from the right and forced a brilliant save from De Gea and, at the start of the second half he was needed again. Hazard set Pedro clear and he jinked into the penalty area only for De Gea to block his shot. Cesar Azpilicueta was first to the rebound and De Gea saved again. He didn’t have a whole lot to do, but what he did was impressive. Fortunately, on the one occasion he could have been in trouble, Chelsea blew the chance. Nemanja Matic broke through alone after a sweet pass from Pedro but, a full stride ahead of the pursuing pack, he snatched at his finish and ballooned it over the bar. It’s fair to say he’s a better screen than a shot.

MANCHESTER UNITED (4-2-3-1): De Gea 8.5; Young 7, Smalling 6, Blind 5.5 (Jones 81), Darmian 6 (Borthwick-Jackson 70, 6.5); Schneiderlin 7, Schweinsteiger 6.5; Mata 6 (Depay 77, 5), Herrera 7, Martial 7.5; Rooney 6
Booked: Smalling, Schneiderlin, Schweinsteiger, Rooney
Subs not used: Romero, Carrick, Fellaini, Pereira

CHELSEA (4-2-3-1): Courtois 8; Ivanovic 5, Zouma 6.5, Terry 6.5, Azpilicueta 6; Mikel 6, Matic 5; Willian 5.5 (Ramires 70, 6), Oscar 6 (Loftus-Cheek 93), Pedro 6.5; Hazard 7.5
Booked: Mikel, Hazard
Subs not used: Begovic, Baba, Traore, Djilobodji, Kenedy

Referee: Martin Atkinson 7
Attendance: 75,275
Ratings by Chris Wheeler


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Mirror:

Manchester United 0-0 Chelsea: 5 things we learned as Louis van Gaal's men's winless run continued

BY DAVID MCDONNELL

United couldn't make the territorial and possession advantage count and had to settle for a point against a dogged Blues side at Old Trafford

Louis van Gaal remained on the brink as Manchester United extended their winless run to eight against Chelsea.

Wayne Rooney wasted the best chance of the game while Juan Mata and Anthony Martial saw shots cannon off the woodwork in an improved performance from the surrender at Stoke of 48 hours ago.

But United couldn't make the territorial and possession advantage count and had to settle for a point against a dogged Blues side.



Here's what we learned at Old Trafford:

United's lack of goals have proven Van Gaal's undoing

A seventh goalless draw this season, United's fifth in their last eight games at home in all competitions, summed up the dirge served up under Louis van Gaal.

United may have played with more purpose and energy in the first-half, but they still lacked the necessary killer touch where it mattered, to provide them with the hard currency of a goal.

United have scored just 10 goals in their last 14 games in all competitions, a paltry return for Van Gaal's £280million spend in his 18 months in charge.


Van Gaal's substitutions remain baffling

In a game he simply had to win, Van Gaal's changes proved curious to say the least.

Changing Matteo Darmian for Cameron Borthwick-Jackson was understandable, given this was the latter's first game since suffering a hamstring injury in the Champions League exit to Wolfsburg three weeks ago.

But bringing on Phil Jones for Daley Blind, a straight defensive swap, when United needed to plunder a goal, was odd.

Van Gaal's tactics and approach have raised eyebrows at times, and this was another occasion where his negative mindset, of protecting a game rather than going for it, came to the fore.


De Gea proves he's irreplaceable

With rumours of Real Madrid having revived their interest in De Gea, United's goalkeeper provided a timely reminder of his enduring value with a remarkable fingertip save to keep out a John Terry header after four minutes.

He produced further heroics with a second-half double save fom Pedro and Cesas Azpilicueta.

Despite signing a new deal, when his move to Real collapsed on deadline day, De Gea is certain to be the subject of a fresh bid from Mardrid next summer.

Given the current turmoil at United, he is one player they cannot afford to lose.

Martial continues to shine

He may have failed to maintain the explosive start to his United career that saw him score four goals in as many games, but Martial, a £36million summer signing from Monaco, has continued to look a danger, even when Louis van Gaal's side have been struggling.

Here he gave Branislav Ivanovic a torrid time, cutting in from the left and hitting the near post with a low effort.

Throughout the game he caused Chelsea problems with his pace, quick feet and direct running, a shaft of light amid the recent gloom at United.


Matic blew a glorious chance to win game

As a holding midfielder, Matic is not renowned for his finishing skills, but even he will shudder when he sees a replay of his miss, just after the hour, that could have won Chelsea the game.

When Ander Herrera missed a header, Chelsea burst forward on the counter-attack, Pedro finding Matic, who had only De Gea to beat.

The United keeper came out and spread himself well, but Matic's scooped effort high and wide was truly woeful and received its rightful dose of derision from the home support.

In a game where Chelsea had few chances, Matic had to show better composure, and it proved a costly miss.


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Express:

Man United 0 - Chelsea 0: Louis van Gaal on the brink after eighth game without a win

LOUIS VAN GAAL saw his side go eight games without win as they were held by Chelsea at Old Trafford.

By BRUCE ARCHER

Louis van Gaal's side went eight games without a win after drawing tonight

United did, however, end a run of four defeats in a row - but whether that's enough to save the Dutchman's job remains to be seen.

Van Gaal hinted he could quit following the Boxing Day defeat to Stoke and had been given these two games to save his job.

One defeat and one draw. No goals.

The performance, however, was an improvement on the placid and dull football seen by United in recent weeks but the face of Jose Mourinho on scarves ahead of kick off has done little to dampen the belief that Van Gaal's time is nearly up.

United are now one game from matching the 1973 record of nine games without a win and will try and equal that when they face Swansea on January 2.

Juan Mata rattled the crossbar after just two minutes against his old club before David de Gea was forced into a brilliant save from John Terry's bullet header in a lively start.

Anthony Martial then hit the post before being denied a penalty when he went down under pressure from Kurt Zouma.

United started with a better tempo than in recent weeks and got joy out of the wings with Juan Mata and full-back Ashley Young linking up well.

The midfield axis of the returning Bastian Schweinsteiger and Morgan Schneiderlin seemed to give United a better platform and, with Chelsea missing both Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas, the visitors has no early answer after Terry's header.

Wayne Rooney also returned after being dropped to the bench for the Stoke defeat.

But United couldn't maintain the pace and by the half hour mark the two sides were close to their recent levels with a number of niggly fouls being punished with yellow cards.

Chris Smalling, Morgan Schneiderlin and John Obi-Mikel all went into the book - with Pedro and Ander Herrera lucky not to join them - before the sides walked in goalless at the break.

De Gea made a fantastic double save at the start of the second half to Eden Hazard with his right hand then to Cesar Azpilicueta with his left - with Chelsea's best efforts since Terry's early header before United regained control.

It was Thibaut Courtois' turn to demonstrate his talents next when he saved Herrera's close-ranger effort after Martial's low delivery into the box.

United had a second penalty shout when the ball hit Willian's hand in the area but it was waved away by Martin Atkinson.

Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic then showed why he's only scored once so far this season when he skied over when one-on-one with De Gea from Hazard's perfectly-measured through ball.

Rooney missed a great chance with five minutes to go as he failed to get the right connection on Cameron Borthwick Jackson's fizzed cross in from the left.

The England captain was involved in a moment of controvesy when he went studs up on Oscar late on.

Despite the early promise neither side could break the deadlock. Chelsea move up to 14th with draw while United stay sixth and are now five points off the top four.


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Star:

Man Utd 0 Chelsea 0: Pressure still on Van Gaal as Rooney fluffs lines in stalemate

LOUIS VAN GAAL was left clinging to his job after Nemanja Matic blew a golden chance to send the Manchester United boss packing once and for all.

By Jeremy Cross,

How this clash finished goalless will remain a bigger mystery than United’s shocking demise under Van Gaal that has now seen them go eight games without a win.

A much improved display by the home side saw them denied by some fabulous goalkeeping from Thibaut Courtois.

But despite a performance that suggests Van Gaal might be spared for the moment, Chelsea and Matic still wasted the best opening of the game in the final quarter that would have surely sunk United and seen the Dutchman heading for the dole queue.

Yet Courtois’ brilliance was matched by opposite number David De Gea, who equalled his rival save-for-save - with his biggest one of all appearing to be Van Gaal’s immediate future.

The Dutchman came into this defining game looking like a broken man who had had all his famous arrogance and confidence drained from him.

Events of recent weeks had brought him to his knees and left him admitting he could even quit one of the most prestigious jobs in world football.

No win in seven games and four straight league defeats had taken their toll and the last time the latter happened was in 1961, when John F Kennedy was in the Oval Office and the Berlin Wall was only being built, let alone knocked down.

United are also out of the Champions League and setting records for all the wrong reasons to leave the doubting Dutchman staring into a very dark hole.

Van Gaal has become a figure of fun, with even the scarf sellers outside Old Trafford joining in by selling souvenirs with Jose Mourinho’s face on them.

Mourinho was nowhere to be seen, with even the Special One resisting the temptation to have the cheek to show up as an interested spectator in the directors’ box to watch his former team and perhaps his future one.

But his shadow still loomed large over this famous stadium as it hosted what most people expected be Louis’s last stand.

His perilous position threatened to detract from the fact this fixture was once the pinnacle of the Premier League season - but now resembled a slugfest between two punch drunk boxers way past their best.

The Blues arrived in Manchester just two points above the relegation zone season following one of the worst title defences on record.

They had already sacked their manager, of course, which meant Guus Hiddink now resumed battle with his old rival and had the chance to finally finish him off.

Van Gaal made four changes and some notables ones too, recalling Wayne Rooney to his starting XI along with Bastian Schweinsteiger, who had completed his three-match ban.

Memphis was dropped to the bench following his clanger at Stoke on Boxing Day and Morgan Schneiderlin was recalled in what looked like a defensive United line-up.

With Diego Costa suspended following his mindless booking 48 hour previous, Hiddink had no choice but to deploy Eden Hazard in the lone striker role in the hope it would somehow spark him into life.

With neither side fielding a genuine No.9 in their ranks this clash was in serious danger of being double Dutch to most people.

But the first half started at breakneck speed with chances coming at both ends and United counting themselves unlucky not to strike first blood.

Juan Mata saw a blistering drive hit the bar within three minutes and Schneiderlin flashed a shot wide before Anthony Martial’s effort clipped the post and ran across the goalline inches away from Rooney.

The Blues could have gone ahead themselves, with the impressive Hazard pouncing on Daley Blind’s slip only to see Ashley Young’s desperate intervention avert the danger.

From the resulting corner De Gea produced a world class save to tip over John Terry’s close range effort.

But United were much the better team, with Van Gaal’s men showing much more urgency and drive with our without the ball.

Ashley Young and Martial were providing threat on the flanks while the likes of Mata and Rooney were also troubling the Blues defence in more central positions.

Courtois produced a flying save to keep out Rooney’s long range effort as United continued to dominate, but De Gea had to be equally impressive at the opposite end with a fine double save to deny Pedro and then Cesar Azpilicueta minutes after the break.

This game was on a knife edge and the goalkeeping masterclass continued when Martial crossed for Ander Herrera, but somehow Courtois kept the Spaniard’s effort out from point blank range.

Minutes later Matteo Darmian’s mistake allowed Pedro to send Matic charging clean through on goal, but with just De Gea to beat and Van Gaal holding his breath all the midfielder could do was blaze his shot high into the stand.