It was Wayne Rooney, more than anyone else, who rocked Chelsea, as Manchester United stormed back to snatch a point

After an ordinary first half, the game exploded after the catalyst of Chelsea’s third, fortuitous goal. Juan Mata’s great volley, created by his fellow Spaniard Fernando Torres, had lifted Chelsea’s spirits but their team, devoid of core players – Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard, John Terry and Didier Drogba – fumbled their way forwards after Sir Alex Ferguson’s changes worked to perfection.

His alterations were aided by André Villas-Boas’s decision to substitute Daniel Sturridge, the one player who could create a pressure point for the home team, teasing Patrice Evra to the first goal and then drawing the Manchester United left-back into committing a yellow-card offence. Without his trickery in wide areas, Torres was even more bereft of support. In truth, Torres’s approach play was better than in recent games but in delaying a golden opportunity to score when Chelsea were 3-2 up he displayed a lack of confidence. Chelsea never got into advanced areas down the left because the left-footed Florent Malouda was too narrow, particularly in the first half. Mata, also a left-footer, played his scheming role more centrally, and the right-footed José Bosingwa was trapped when advancing into the middle third.

Torres did not receive one cross from the left to attack from an advanced position and his goal famine goes on.

It was Wayne Rooney, more than anyone else, who rocked Chelsea as United stormed back. Picking up balls from all areas he needed to be man-marked. His energy is incredible and his desire to be accurate in all he does is admirable. His finding of space is so intelligent and his forward runs, with or without the ball, exemplary.

Michael Essien, understandably lacking energy, might have attempted to sit on him had Ramires been available to play alongside Raul Meireles. They needed someone with enough energy and discipline to nail Rooney.

Paul Scholes, in the centre, was clinical and Ryan Giggs, calm and classy on the left, held sway. The Blues lacked the confidence to keep the ball and gain passages of possession to take the sting out of the game. They got submerged into the ebb and flow, but they desperately needed to hold the game as United threw caution to the wind. Ferguson had a field day. Even David de

• Coyle denies formal interest from Manchester United
• Cahill to sit out FA Cup tie with Macclesfield Town

Gary Cahill could be a Chelsea player by Sunday, according to the Bolton Wanderers manager, Owen Coyle, with Chelsea confirming that talks are ongoing regarding the defender’s personal terms.

A fee has been agreed and Cahill will not play in Bolton’s FA Cup tie at Macclesfield Town, though Coyle denied this is because of the defender’s imminent move. Coyle said: “It’s nothing to do with the continuing speculation regarding Chelsea. He’s one of a number of players that probably needs to rest.

“And moving on, my opinion is I think there’s a chance the deal can be concluded by the end of the week. That’s where we’re at, but I’m not a party to any continued dialogue between Chelsea and Gary’s representative.”

Coyle denied there had been bids for Cahill from any other clubs, despite reported interest from Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United. “When there’s continued conjecture and everything that goes with it people are always going to throw up names,” he said.

“There hasn’t been any dialogue between ourselves and Manchester United or anything like that. We as a football club agreed a deal with Chelsea Football Club and for me that’s binding.”

Roberto Di Matteo, the Chelsea assistant manager, said: “A fee has been agreed and there are ongoing negotiations for personal terms. He would add very good qualities to our squad.” But Di Matteo claimed this would not be a busy transfer window for Chelsea. He said: “I wouldn’t expect too much to happen in this market. We are happy with the quality we have.”

Asked if he was confident that Didier Drogba, who has been linked with a move to China, would still be a Chelsea player at the close of the window Di Matteo said: “Very confident.”

He was equally unequivocal regarding Frank Lampard, whom Sir Alex Ferguson on Friday denied would be joining Manchester United this month. “I can’t see him leaving this club,” Di Matteo said. “He has been here for 10 years and he’s part of the successful history of this club.”

Di Matteo offered a spiky response to Ferguson ruling Chelsea, who are 11 points behind leaders Manchester City, out of the title race. “Well what did he say about his own team?” he said. “I respect what Sir Alex says but mathematically we can still win it and that is our view and we will fight.”

For Sunday’s FA Cup tie against Portsmouth at Stamford Bridge John Terry will undergo a fitness test on a knee on Saturday but Drogba and Salomon Kalou will be unavailable. The forwards fly to the Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday to play for Ivory Coast after Chelsea failed in a request for them to feature against Portsmouth.

Transfer windowChelseaOwen CoyleBolton WanderersJamie Jacksonguardian.co.uk