Chelsea frustrated in residence stalemate with United
Chelsea missed a chance to regain their place found in the Premier League's top four because they largely dominated second-placed Manchester United but needed to be quite happy with a drab 0-0 draw at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
The house side carved out the best chances but United, who had a decent first-half penalty appeal turned down, defended solidly throughout to earn a spot.
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel remains to be unbeaten found in nine games since overtaking from sacked Frank Lampard but a second successive Premier League pull left him frustrated.
His side stay in fifth spot with 44 points from 26 games, one level behind West Ham United, while Manchester United are second with 50 things from 26 games, 12 points behind runaway leaders Manchester City.
The main conversing point revolved around a first-half VAR decision where Chelsea's Callum Hudson-Odoi was adjudged never to have taken care of the ball in his own penalty area.
After a go was saved by Edouard Mendy the ball bounced out and Hudson-Odoi and Mason Greenwood both equally challenged for this with the ball taking the slightest touches off both equally their arms.
Referee Stuart Attwell, who didn't provide a penalty initially, was instructed to consult a pitchside monitor by the VAR official, but having watched it, surrounded by rival players, he upheld his decision.
And in addition the rival managers had contrasting sights on the decision.
"Yeah, 100% (we ought to have had a penalty)," United supervisor Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said. "I contain no clue whatsoever why it wasn't given, specially when they prevent it and he walks across to view it. It's considered two points from us."
Tuchel begged to differ, saying that the incident shouldn't have required a good VAR monitor.
"How may this be a VAR intervention? The player in reddish colored plays the ball with the side and we are examining for a penalty?
"I've seen it on the iPad, I hardly understand why the referee has to check it but I'm glad it had been no penalty. That could make it a whole lot worse."
Chelsea began the much sharper area and Olivier Giroud was inches away from connecting with a diving header.
But clear probabilities were few in number with United's chief creator Bruno Fernandes struggling to affect the action.
Hakim Ziyech forced a good superb preserve from United keeper David De Gea while Mason Mount also threatened for the hosts while Timo Werner seemed favourite to convert a good Reece James ball over the area but United defender Victor Lindelof produced a last-ditch interception to deny the German.
Mendy made a meal of a few helps you to save in the other end even while Fred was closest to scoring for the site visitors when he curled just wide with around 20 minutes remaining.
It was hard to generate a case for either part deserving the three tips, however, in a casino game that never came to the boil.
"The first 50 % was scrappy. Poor video game really. But then we played some good stuff at times. Whenever we settled we designed a few probabilities but we didn't have enough," Solskjaer said.
