PICTURES

WEBMASTER'S COMMENT

"Both managers didn't want this result. An already heavy fixture list for Alex Ferguson this is a headache on top of his Treble Winning hopes."

MATCH REPORT

By David Anderson, PA Sport

This was the result that no one wanted. According to Chelsea coach Gianluca Vialli and Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson there is no such thing as a priority list in management, but with both these clubs disputing the League title, United chasing the Champions League and Chelsea still defending the Cup Winners' Cup, the FA Cup may now represent more of a pleasing distraction than a primary objective.

With both teams returning to the European stage next week, they must replay the sixth-round tie at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night, so forcing a second postponement of United's crucial meeting with Liverpool at Anfield and also the cancellation of Chelsea's visit to Middlesbrough.

There was initially much to applaud in what was almost a cut and paste pastiche of your traditional English Cup tie. The replay was, of course, on offer to the visitors, but their conviction in the purity of their football was such that they chased victory right up until the moment Roberto Di Matteo was dismissed on the stroke of half-time. That conviction barely seemed dented by the absence of a quartet of suspended players - Vialli, Frank Leboeuf, Celestine, Babayaro and Dennis Wise.

Sadly, at the end of a week which has done so little to support the theory that English football has finally begun to shed at least some of its petty prejudices, the good folk of Manchester and London unwittingly forged an alliance to underline that homophobia is in no way affected by the northsouth divide.

Graeme Le Saux was taunted, mercilessly so, about his sexual orientation, David Beckham was baited for having the temerity to father a child and Chelsea's assistant manager Graham Rix was reminded that he may shortly have to acquire a transistor radio to follow his club's fortunes.

Those more interested in the football will, no doubt, have been rather confused by the inability of two such cavalier teams to fashion anything more memorable than a succession of half-chances.

It was only towards half-time, when Chelsea's discipline at the back seemed to desert them, that United shaped as to push home what was a growing advantage.

But, with Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole residing on the substitutes' bench and an injured Ryan Giggs sitting in the main stand, United's attack was awash with blunt blades. Certainly they had opportunities to embarrass the Chelsea rearguard, notably in and around the 39th minute when it did seem likely that the arguments would be ended.

Rather improbably the first of a brace of excellent chances fell to Gary Neville who arrived unannounced inside the six-yard box to meet a fine Beckham cross from the right. The defender's flicked header drifted beyond goalkeeper Ed de Goey but struck the foot of a post.

Less than 60 seconds later, Paul Scholes missed an arguably easier opening when he reached a Jesper Blomqvist cross first only to screw his volley well wide of the target. Scholes's next contribution was to be rather more meaningful. In stoppage time at the end of the half he crumpled under a crude and heavy challenge from Di Matteo. With the Italian already having been cautioned for a lunge at Beckham, referee Paul Durkin reached for his breast pocket to show first a yellow, and then a red card.

A man short, Chelsea promptly found the prospect of a replay strangely attractive. United camped themselves inside the Chelsea half in the second period but still they could not negotiate safe passage to victory. Scholes's profligacy continued, which made Ferguson's decision to delay the introduction of Yorke, Cole and Sheringham until the bitter end all the more surprising. Chelsea dug in splendidly, but, typically, Mr Durkin seemed grimly determined that the last word, the loudest voice, would be his. Three minutes before the merciful release of full time he adjudged Scholes guilty of a second bookable offence - and thus dismissal - after he had clumsily upended Bjarne Goldbaek.

POST MATCH REACTIONS

Alex Ferguson blasted referee Paul Durkin for sending off Paul Scholes during Manchester United's goalless FA Cup quarter final clash with Chelsea at Old Trafford. Scholes, already booked for a foul on Dan Petrescu, got his marching orders four minutes from time for a foul on Bjarne Goldbaek.

Roberto Di Matteo, booked earlier for a foul on David Beckham, was dismissed just before half-time for a late tackle on Scholes. And an angry Ferguson accused Durkin of redressing the balance by sending off Scholes.

Ferguson said Durkin had "put himself under pressure" with the Di Matteo sending off and the United boss felt that Scholes had suffered as a result. The thing that angers me is that's he's (Durkin) gone to balance it out," said Ferguson.

"It (Scholes' tackle on Goldbaek) was an innocuous challenge. It was not even a booking. He's done that to redress the balance and that's wrong."

Ferguson felt United had carved out enough openings to book a semi-final spot - "we've had enough chances to bury them" - but remains confident for Wednesday's replay at Stamford Bridge. We've got a good record down there and a good record in the cup against them," he warned.

TEAMS

Manchester United: Schmeichel, G Neville, Berg, Brown, Irwin, Beckham, P Neville, Blomqvist, Scholes, Keane, Solskjaer.
Subs: Yorke for P Neville, Cole for Blomqvist, Sheringham for Solskjaer.
Sent Off: Scholes (85)

Chelsea: De Goey, Desailly, Petrescu, Lambourde, Ferrer, Le Saux, Di Matteo, Morris, Zola, Flo.
Subs: Newton for Petrescu, Forssell for Flo, Myers for Zola
Sent Off: Di Matteo (45)

Referee: P Durkin