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Second-string Man United hold Chelsea

Manchester United's goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak, center, tries to get to the ball under the challenge of Chelsea's John Terry, right, during their Premiership match at Stamford Bridge, London, on Wednesday. PHOTO: AFP

Manchester United emerged with a 0-0 draw from a bad-tempered clash against Chelsea on Wednesday that could have ended with both sides down to 10 men.

Sir Alex Ferguson's side had delivered a knockout blow in the title race by taking Chelsea's Premiership crown, but these bitter rivals were intent on giving no ground ahead of their meeting in the FA Cup final on May 19.

Several of the key participants in the battle for the league were rested at Stamford Bridge, but their replacements ensured there was no shortage of needle as the teams who had been sparring for supremacy fthis season went head to head.

Chelsea's John Obi Mikel and United's Chris Eagles were fortunate not to be sent off for ugly tackles as seven players were booked and Ferguson and Jose Mourinho both incurred referee Graham Poll's wrath for furiously protesting his decisions.

Ferguson made eight changes to the side that won at Manchester City on Saturday, with Chinese striker Dong Fangzhuo handed his competitive debut in place of Wayne Rooney.

The former Dalian Shide player, who joined United for ?500,000 (US$1 million) in January 2004 before being loaned to Belgium's Royal Antwerp, had played for Ferguson's men in friendlies, but had never featured in a senior game.

In making so many changes, Ferguson had deprived Chelsea of the chance to gain a small measure of revenge by beating a full-strength United team just four days after surrendering their title.

And, with Mourinho leaving out Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba, a match that had for so long been billed as a title decider bore more than a passing resemblance to a reserve fixture.

As Mourinho had promised, Chelsea's players lined up to give United a guard of honor, replicating the respect shown to the London club at Old Trafford two years ago.

John Terry and company were grim-faced as they applauded the visitors onto the pitch and United's traveling fans rubbed salt into their wounds with persistent chants of "champions."

But Chelsea still started brightly and Shaun Wright-Phillips should have given them the lead in the fifth minute. The winger's surge through the middle gave him a sight of goal, but Tomasz Kuszczak blocked his scuffed shot.

Wright-Phillips was closer to beating the United keeper inadvertently moments later with a cross that dipped just past the far post.

Chelsea were snapping into tackles as though the title was still on the line and Mikel was booked for a rash tackle on Eagles.

Ferguson was furious and sprang from his seat to berate Mikel and then Poll for his failure to send off the midfield enforcer.

Inevitably United lacked a cutting edge without Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo. Gabriel Heinze had a half-chance when he beat Carlo Cudicini to a loose ball in the six-yard box, but the Argentine defender stabbed his effort wide.

As a dress rehearsal for the FA Cup final, this was a phoney war. Chances were at a premium and Scott Sinclair wasted one of the few when he failed to turn in Claude Makelele's shot.

Mourinho replaced Mikel at half-time, presumably to save him from a dismissal, but United's Wes Brown picked up where he left off with a scything challenge on Sinclair.

After going through the motions in the first half, United briefly found some momentum and Dong nearly beat Cudicini with a looping shot that just cleared the bar.

Then Eagles was unlucky not to win a penalty after being tripped by Michael Essien. Eagles reacted to that perceived injustice with a nasty two-footed lunge on Wright-Phillips that Poll could have punished with more than a booking.

Wright-Phillips tested Kuszczak with a stinging drive as Chelsea tried to raise their tempo. Salomon Kalou brought the Poland international into action again with a low strike from the edge of the area.

The undercurrent of malice that ran through the clash came to the fore again when Makelele blocked Rooney's run. Mourinho sprang to the touchline to make a point to Poll before being told to calm down by the official.
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