Defences prevail as United and Chelsea draw

Manchester United FC and Chelsea FC could not be separated at Old Trafford as the two clubs played out their first scoreless draw since May 2007 in the Premier League.

José Mourinho's Blues could not maintain their 100% league start, nor go into Friday's UEFA Super Cup final with FC Bayern München on a winning note, but the point was nonetheless enough to take them top of the table, having played a game more than their rivals.

With manager David Moyes taking charge of United on home turf for the first time since replacing Sir Alex Ferguson, it was set to be a tactical battle – and that was reflected in the first period as the sides kept each other at arm's length. Robin van Persie drilled wide from a tight angle for United and Wayne Rooney side-footed into the arms of Petr Čech, while Oscar sent two efforts straight at David de Gea for Chelsea in a cautious first 45 minutes.

Rooney slipped in Danny Welbeck after the interval, but the England forward fired over the game's best chance from inside the area before Oscar just failed to connect with an Eden Hazard cross. Rooney forced Čech into a scrambling save from distance late on, but defences won out in the end as both sides maintained their undefeated league records.