Commentary By: Omar Jatta                                                                                    Manchester United 0 vs 0 Chelsea

Minute by minute live udates from the epic Premier League encounter between two fragile teams Manchester United and Chelsea, with United’s manager Louis Van Gaal under intense pressure following his team’s failure to win any of their last six games, loosing four in succession. Chelsea’s awful start to their title defence saw them already lose nine games this season, leading to the club parting company with Jose Mourinho. The Blues have not got off to a great start under new interim manager Guus Hiddink, having drawn their first game under the Dutchman against Watford on boxing day.

5mins: Tentative start at Old Trafford between two fragile former Champions…. United the better of the two in the opening exchanges…

10 mins: Manchester United all over Chelsea…. Morgan Schneiderlin came really close with a thunderbolt outside Chelsea box but the shot went wide.

14:00 Oscar plays a terrible first-time pass in a dangerous area, and Herrera pounces on the loose ball only to be foiled by an inch-perfect Matic slide-tackle.

15:58 mins: Ooophhh!!! Martial – rattled the Chelsea goal post… Courtois already between but the bounce back into play. Lucky Chelsea.

21.48 Penalty shout from United, with Chelsea under increase pressure. Referee dismiss the claim but was right Martial went down too easy under Zoumas challenge.

24:00 Nice balance to Manchester United’s team today, Rooney holding up the ball well, with Martial and Herriera making good runs

26:06 Freekick, a cynical foul on Hazard from Ashley Young, should have bee booked.

27:15 Yellow card for Mikel for bringing down Martial who danced past him. Chelsea shoul;d’ve had a freekick prior to that for Smalling’s challenge on Zouma.

29:00 Rooneyyy!!! the resulting freekick brilliantly saved by Courtois.

29:25 Chelsea on counter now Hazard and Willian combining well but great tackle from Ashley Young.

30:00 Yellow card for Morgan Schnerderlin.

 34.00 Free kick for Chelsea – Willian’s looping cross flew pass lots of bodies in the United box but over the line

38:00 The game’s simmered down a bit following the explosive start from United… Yellow card for Smalling for a reckless foul on Hazard.

39.30 Willian’s freekick found Zouma but blazed it wide.

42:00 Rooney noded header found Schweinsteiger but blazed his shot high from 18 yards.

44.00 Getting frustrated with yet another foul on him, this time from Daley Blind. United fans disagree with boos echoing at Old Trafford.

45.50 tame freekick from William straight at De Gea who caught it well.

46.06 Ivanovic misjudged De Gea’s high ball, with Herriera through, Pedro brought him down for a freekick to United.

45+1 Mata steps forward but couldn’t find teammates.

45+2 mins Half time scores nil -nil.

47:00 Second halfunderway.

47. 20 Freekick for Chelsea – foul by Schweinsteiger on Ivanovic.

48:00 Oh wonderful double save from David De Gea,  denying Pedro then Azplicueta. What a save on both occasions.

52:00 Martial once again sells Ivanovic a dummy, but tumbles over the Serb’s outstretched leg – no foul, though! Chelsea are on full alert again as Wayne Rooney runs at John Terry – but the latter gets a toe on the ball to stop that one.

56:00 Martial again got the better of Ivanovic …. Ooophhh Herriera!!! What a save from Courtois from close range…. incredible. ..

60:00 Chelsea are still there for the taking. The visitors remain set up for the counter-attack, but don’t have the firepower up front to make them count as yet and are struggling big time to contain the United attackers.

62:35 Unbelievable miss from Nemanja Matic through clear on United’sat his mercy, miraculous blazed his shot high into the stands with no player close to him…. what a chance wasted…

68:00 Chelsea Substitution – Willian out for compatriot Ramieres for his 250th Chelsea appearances.

70:15 Fantastic tackle from Kurt Zouma on Martial, who was played through on the left.

72.00 Hazard booked for a tackle on Ashley Young but it was no where near a booking offence, referee Martin Atkinson probably got that wrong.

76:05 United Substitution – Memphis Depay in for Juan Mata… What an opportunity for the young Dutchman to make amends for his woeful mistake that led to Stoke City’s opening goal on boxing day.

78:00 Twelve minutes to go the disillusioned crowd edging United to push further on the pitch… Chelsea less troubled at the moment.

81:00 United substitution – Phil Jones in for Daley Blind who seem to have a tight hamstring.

85:00 The game has definitely taken it’s toll on both set of players.

86:12 Woooo!!! What a chance for Rooney who met a fantastic crossed from the young United fullback Borthwick-Jackson  but couldn’t control his volley from 6 yards out…

90+1 Terrible tackle from Rooney on Oscar, could have and may be should have been a red card.

90+2 Final Chelsea Substitution – Oscar out for youngster: Loftus Cheek.

90+3  PEEP!!! PEEP!!! PEEP!! It’s Full time at Old Trafford. The game finished in a goalless draw, for the 19th time United’s failed to score a goal under Louis Van Gaal. It was a much improved performance from the Red Devils.