PICTURES

WEBMASTER'S COMMENT

"Manchester United ended 1999 with a deserved point away to Chelsea. Zola should have put his chance away but his shot went inches past the post."

MATCH REPORT

By Mark Bradley, PA Sport

Chelsea captain Frank Leboeuf's simmering public feud with David Beckham almost ended in ignominy for the Frenchman amid the Blues' blood and thunder clash with Manchester United at Stamford Bridge. Leboeuf had already been booked for a trip on Andy Cole when he appeared to tug back Beckham as the England midfielder threatened to break clear down the middle.

The United fans bayed for a red card as the match entered a crucial stage in the final 20 minutes but referee Mike Riley contented himself with a stern warning for the World Cup winner. The Frenchman called Beckham a "little baby" and described him as arrogant after the initial clash between the players in the FA Cup third round tie between the sides in January when the midfielder taunted him by pulling out his ears and laughing at him.

But Leboeuf survived on the pitch to thwart United's late push, admitting afterwards that he had probably deserved to be sent off. Both sides had clear chances to win the game, with Chelsea easily dominating the first-half and United fighting back in the second, only to see Gianfranco Zola come within inches of securing a late victory.

So after two potentially decisive matches between the two title contenders within the space of two weeks, little has been resolved. At least both sides will have been relieved not to have lost ground in the championship race, with Chelsea's title credentials still very much alive as the New Year approaches.

Expectations have rarely been this high at Stamford Bridge since the club last won the title way back in 1955. And manager Gianluca Vialli's decision to keep faith with young home-grown talent Jody Morris and Michael Duberry ahead of fit-again Marcel Desailly was certainly vindicated in the opening 45 minutes.

Chelsea took just 35 seconds to create their first opening, with Zola firing over the bar, and United's much-criticised back four were pulled from all angles in the ensuing 45 minutes. The pace and movement of Tore Andre Flo and Zola was forever forcing the recalled Jaap Stam and Ronny Johnsen to turn on their heels as they were pulled out of position. But despite having 12 efforts on goal in that opening period, two of them on target, Chelsea failed to make their domination count.

Flo stuck the ball just wide after 21 minutes when a rebound sped out to him after Peter Schmeichel had blocked a shot from Zola when the Italian had exposed Stam with a mesmerising turn on the edge of the penalty area. Then the Norwegian escaped the offside trap to leave Stam standing but was unable to direct his shot on target as he stretched to beat the onrushing United keeper.

Stam was found wanting once again when Flo gained half a yard on him and half-volleyed Graeme Le Saux's cross wide. Next it was Roy Keane's turn to leave his defence exposed as he sent a suicidal square pass straight to Zola, who was beaten by Schmeichel's brave dive at his feet to smother the ball.

United were largely penned back although they did have their chances as Andy Cole rounded Ed De Goey only for Duberry to recover to clear almost off the line and Paul Scholes headed straight at the keeper from a free-kick. They survived until the break and after Flo had skewed a shot wide on the turn and Duberry had headed over, United gradually took control of the game in the second period as Stam and Johnsen closed ranks at the back.

Roy Keane's presence in midfield also grew to such an extent that Vialli threw on Desailly to replace the industrious Morris with 17 minutes left. Sheringham meanwhile joined the fray for United in place of Scholes and had De Goey scampering to his near post as a half-volley flew just a yard wide.

It was frenetic stuff but the course of the game could have been changed dramatically when Leboeuf clashed with Beckham. United's frustration at referee Riley's decision almost turned to despair a couple of minutes later when Dan Petrescu's slide-rule pass cut the United defence to shreds and picked out Zola in space.

The Italian tried to place his shot under Schmeichel but the Dane just managed to deflect the ball inches wide of the post with his diving body and United breathed a huge sigh of relief. De Goey was just as relieved in the final minutes when he fumbled a long-range effort from Ryan Giggs but gathered the ball at the second attempt.

And so it was honours even for the second time this season after the 1-1 draw at Old Trafford. This title race is surely destined to go down to the wire.

TEAMS

Chelsea: De Goey, Ferrer, LeBoeuf, Duberry, Le Saux, Petrescu, Morris, Di Matteo, Babayaro, Zola, Flo.
Subs: Desailly for Morris, Goldbaek for Le Saux.

Manchester United: Schmeichel, G Neville, Johnsen, Irwin, Stam, Keane, Butt, Giggs, Beckham, Scholes, Cole.
Subs: Sheringham for Scholes

Referee: M Riley