United were little better, though, and the match was largely a poor advert for a supposedly resurgent Premiership as the two teams tipped as the most-likely title contenders met head on. Seven players were shown the yellow card, tackles flew in from all angles, and the game was crying out for width and inspiration until the late flurry from the visitors, inspired by substitute Gustavo Poyet.

But after Zola had struck seven minutes from time to equalise Andy Cole's 45th-minute effort, the Blues had chances to win the game and strengthen a record which has seen them lose just twice at Old Trafford in their past 23 League games there. Before kick-off, Old Trafford was feverish with excitement at the prospect of a Champions' Cup quarter-final against Inter Milan, with Ronaldo and Diego Simeone, the Argentinian who must still haunt David Beckham's worst nightmares, awaiting. But Europe must be put on hold for both sides until March as domestic concerns take centre stage.

The absence of their defensive foundation stones, Marcel Desailly and Frank Leboeuf, was a massive blow for Chelsea, plunging Michael Duberry and Bernard Lambourde into action against Cole and Dwight Yorke. But what the first-half really missed amid all the wasted passes and lack of inspiration as two cautious line-ups cancelled each other out was a winger, someone to take on an opponent and produce a dangerous cross from the by-line.

It was little surprise that only Jesper Blomqvist provided any real menace down the flanks, given that Nicky Butt, Dan Petrescu and Celestine Babayaro are hardly in the class of Ryan Giggs and David Beckham, both rested until the second half. Apart from Cole's goal, the rest of the opening 45 minutes was largely dismal, enlivened only by the constant whistling of referee Graham Barber.

The first real save came a full 38 minutes into the game, when Peter Schmeichel parried an effort from the effervescent Gianfranco Zola. Shortly afterwards, Graeme Le Saux, who had been at the centre of most of the controversy, feigning injury at least once and being tackled into the advertising hoardings in revenge, limped off to be replaced by Poyet.

But finally, the painful deadlock was broken just seconds before the interval. Blomqvist teased the Chelsea defence down the right and sent in a weak cross which was cleared as far as Butt.

His shot was blocked, but Cole immediately pounced on the loose ball to fire a shot in off the left-hand upright. Cole was straight back into the thick of the action after the break, setting up Yorke after a thoughtful through-ball from Paul Scholes, but the striker's weak shot was easily gathered by De Goey.

The shuddering challenges continued to fly in, and Lambourde was extremely fortunate to escape his second yellow card of the game for what seemed a last-ditch foul on Yorke as the former Villa striker threatened to break free. Yorke was promptly replaced by Beckham with 29 minutes left, and he produced the best cross of the game within two minutes only to see Scholes head it straight into the ground and up again into De Goey's hands.

Chelsea had their fair share of possession but were too often guilty of trying to break down United straight through the middle, when it has been in the air that the Reds have largely seemed vulnerable this season. When Poyet did manage to pick out Roberto Di Matteo in an inch of space in the penalty area, the Italian simply fell over his own feet as Schmeichel plucked the ball from beneath him.

Chelsea were almost made to pay when Ferrer conceded possession to Cole, and the striker fed Blomqvist advancing into the area, but his shot went woefully wide, and he was immediately replaced by Giggs. Di Matteo did have another chance to secure a point, rounding Schmeichel to reach the by-line after Poyet had bulldozed his way through, but Brown was there to hack clear his pull-back.

The young defender was unable to stop Zola two minutes later, however, as the Italian turned sharply onto Poyet's flick and held off Brown's challenge before flicking the ball nonchalantly over the advancing Schmeichel. In a thrilling final few minutes, Chelsea finished the stronger, with Petrescu wasting one chance after Tor Andre Flo caused more chaos in the United area, and Babayaro clipping the post with a 20-yard effort.

There was still time for Brown to flick a header narrowly wide but with honours even, the focus now turns to the rematch in just two weeks at Stamford Bridge. Both sides will not find it hard to improve but after fighting back to snatch a deserved draw, the Chelsea fans will not be worrying about that on the way back to London.

Manchester United: Schmeichel, G Neville, Brown, Irwin, Stam, Keane, Butt, Scholes, Blomqvist, Cole, Yorke. Subs: Beckham for Yorke, Giggs for Blomqvist. Scorers: Cole (45)

Chelsea: De Goey, Lambourde, Duberry, Le Saux, Petrescu, Ferrer Wise, Di Matteo, Babayaro, Zola, Flo. Subs: Poyet for Le Saux Scorers: Zola (83)

Referee: G Barber

Attendance: 55,159