Even for a side with Manchester United’s powers of recovery, this was a remarkable demonstration of the competitive spirit and togetherness that makes them such formidable champions. Sir Alex Ferguson’s team were three behind after 50 minutes and facing the prospect of a chastening defeat before another feat of escapology from a side that have made these kind of comebacks their speciality over the years.

It was a remarkable game in which dubious refereeing and questionable defending both played a part, and each side could reflect that they had enough chances to win. The lingering memory, however, will be of United’s response to finding themselves staring at the possibility of defeat.

The game had seemed to lurch away from them at the start of the second half when Juan Mata lashed in a brilliant volley and David Luiz’s header took a decisive flick off Rio Ferdinand’s shoulder. Jonny Evan’s own goal, deflecting Daniel Sturridge’s cross past David de Gea, had given Chelsea a first-half advantage and, at 3-0, André Villas-Boas could probably have been forgiven for thinking his side had built an unassailable lead.

Instead, what followed was a display of remarkable character from Ferguson’s team. They replied with two goals in the space of ten minutes, both penalties from Wayne Rooney, to leave themselves with 22 minutes of normal time to salvage an equaliser. It came from the head of the substitute, Javier Hernández, in the 83rd minute and, from that point, United might actually feel disappointed they could not go on to complete the job.

Chelsea, too, had their chances, denied a late winner by two brilliant saves from De Gea on a day when Villas-Boas also felt the referee, Howard Webb, had been generous with both penalties. He had a point, although an incensed Ferguson could also argue that Gary Cahill could have been sent off for an early challenge on Danny Welbeck.

Premier League 2011-12ChelseaManchester UnitedPremier LeagueDaniel Taylor
guardian.co.uk

• Chelsea have already conceded 16 league goals at home
• ‘Squad not good enough to win league,’ says manager

André Villas-Boas looked sure to make an impression in England, but the current sequence of surprises have left Chelsea reeling far more than their rivals. With this defeat by Aston Villa his side have now conceded 16 goals at home in the Premier League. In that regard the only clubs with a worse record in the top flight are Blackburn Rovers and Bolton Wanderers, who stand 19th and 20th respectively. “Our squad is not good enough to win the league,” said the manager. “Not this year, not with this distance of points.”

Manchester City were 11 clear of them before the trip to Sunderland. “You can say we might have lost it in December,” said Villas-Boas. Statistics keep glowering at him. Three defeats at Stamford Bridge to date is already the worst return there in the league since the 2003-04 campaign in its entirety. The present side still has nine more home fixtures to brave.

In the circumstances Villas-Boas should be relieved that Chelsea can pull rank in one crucial respect. Unlike the Manchester teams, his side will be in the knockout phase of the Champions League, where they face Napoli.

If the weekend display were to be repeated, that tie would not look like a privilege. On Saturday the centre-backs John Terry and David Luiz were vulnerable, but they did not enjoy much cover. When Villas-Boas took off Oriol Romeu and sent on Frank Lampard, the intention was to add to the firepower, but, in practice, Villa simply enjoyed more scope. On another day, the Chelsea manager might have been complimented for his enterprising outlook but on this occasion his side was error-prone already before it took further risks.

Chelsea sabotaged themselves, with Lampard presenting the ball to the outstanding Stephen Ireland, who set up the substitute Darren Bent for Villa’s clincher in the 86th minute. “Stevie has set a magnificent benchmark in this game,” said the manager, Alex McLeish, with a compliment that doubles as a warning that consistency is now demanded of the midfielder.

McLeish’s team had gone ahead after 83 minutes when Ciaran Clark sent Stilian Petrov through the broad and deserted highway of Chelsea’s central defence. Ireland had brought Villa level at 1-1 in the 28th minute by linking with Charles N’Zogbia before scoring at the second attempt after the initial effort had rebounded to him off Terry’s arm.

It had briefly seemed that Chelsea could wrap themselves up in their own concerns when Didier Drogba opened the scoring with a penalty in the 23rd minute after Richard Dunne had brought him down. The scorer himself acted as if the occasion belonged wholly to him. There was a bow to the fans in the Shed and Drogba may have understood that his 150th goal for the club had made another mark in its history since he is now level with Roy Bentley and Peter Osgood.

The all-time record at Chelsea is Bobby Tambling’s tally of 202. Drogba, 34 in March, is most unlikely to get to that total even if a new contract is agreed, but he will be missed while on duty with Ivory Coast at the Africa Cup of Nations. That, in turn, will make people brood once more about Fernando Torres. The Spaniard came on in this match and immediately lashed a terrific shot against the bar when the score was 1-1.

No wonder people have a habit of mumbling about fate where the striker’s time at Chelsea is concerned. There seems to be no fundamental reason why he should not score regularly, but the breakthrough is always a fraction out of reach.

Villas-Boas also stepped away from controversy. Does he want to keep Lampard, who turns 34 on 20 June? “For sure, because he is one of the best players in the world.” Continuity is not quite enough at the moment since Chelsea have gone three weeks without a victory following a defeat of Manchester City that raised such hopes. The manager still sounded dubious about seeking any eyecatching signings in this transfer window. “It gets very frenetic,” Villas-Boas said, “and we’ll have to see if we need it or not. It must be a sensible decision regarding what we need to win in the future as well.” Even so, there was no denying the limitations. “We don’t have that winning consistency to take us past the December fixtures fighting for the title,” the manager noted.

A trace of bathos was detected when Villas-Boas went on to say he believed Chelsea could “come through” the next game, at Wolves, and have the “right frame of mind” for the FA Cup tie with Portsmouth at home. He now esteems that knockout trophy and, of course, the Champions League, but these have been chastening days.

Conversely, McLeish had an uplifting afternoon at Stamford Bridge and was bullish when insisting that Bent would not be sold this month. The manager and his club deserved to savour a weekend that saw them in command.

ChelseaAston VillaPremier LeaguePremier League 2011-12Kevin McCarraguardian.co.uk