• United come from 0-30 to draw 3-3 at Stamford Bridge
• ‘We fought hard and that point could win us the league’

Wayne Rooney claimed Manchester United’s stunning late comeback here could have yielded the unlikely point that wins them the Premier League title after the visitors recovered from three goals down to deflate Chelsea.

United, already behind to Jonny Evans’s own-goal, shipped twice in the opening five minutes of the second half only to recover courtesy of a brace of Rooney penalties – the second controversially awarded against Branislav Ivanovic – and a Javier Hernández header. The draw leaves them two points behind Manchester City at the top, though the boos that rang out on the final whistle reflected local frustration at the champions’ staggering fightback.

“We fought well and that point could win us the league,” said Rooney. “A lot of teams would find it easy to put their heads down and accept defeat but we carried on, worked hard and, thankfully, got something out of the game. We knew if we got one goal back there was enough time to gain something out of the game, so we dug in.

“Of course you can also see it as two points lost – we understand that – but after being 3-0 down all the City players sitting there at home won’t have enjoyed watching us [recover], the way we fought back and the spirit of the team. They know it will be a long fight to the end of the season and we’ll be there right to the end.”

Rio Ferdinand, whose every touch had been booed by the home support, claimed the abuse directed at him served to inspire. The centre-half was also the subject of chants relating to John Terry’s ongoing court case for allegedly racially abusing Ferdinand’s brother, Anton, at Queens Park Rangers in October. “I got booed by the cfc fans today,” the United defender tweeted. “Well done guys thanks for inspiring me & the lads! That’s like fuel to me! £TeamSpirit”. The Chelsea manager, André Villas-Boas, suggested the booing was “a normal situation in the Premiership” but added he would condemn any “discriminatory, aggressive behaviour”.

There was satisfaction from Sir Alex Ferguson at the comeback, for all that the United manager could not disguise irritation that his charges could not prevail here against a Chelsea team severely weakened by injury, suspension and international commitments. “It’s not easy to come back like that from three goals down,” said Ferguson. “We are a far better team than what you saw today but it’s still a massive effort from our players.

“You have to admire the courage and the character of our team because those are the qualities that will definitely give us a fantastic chance in this league. At 3-0 down you say to yourself: ‘Damage limitation, let’s go home and start again.’ But no. They never gave in, kept going and deserved everything they got.”

Chelsea had never previously failed to win after enjoying a three-goal advantage in the Premier League and Villas-Boas pointed accusingly at Howard Webb for the award of Rooney’s second penalty as key to surrendering the victory. Ivanovic did not appear to make contact with Danny Welbeck with his initial challenge, only for the England forward to hook his leg around the Serb and tumble to the turf.

Villas-Boas remains aggrieved at two goals awarded by Phil Dowd to United in their 3-1 defeat at Old Trafford in September. “In both games against United we’ve had top, top refs, so you expect it to be perfect in terms of refereeing,” said the Portuguese. “But in these two [matches] they have had a direct influence on the result. The second today was very dubious. Too soft … Welbeck’s legs collide with Ivanovic.

“I’m not sure if Howard was compensating for anything from the first half but it was the wrong decision. For them to get from 3-1 to 3-2 was immense. There’s big disappointment, generally, with the way it all happened. In top games you expect top refs and, at the moment, it hasn’t been happening for us. It didn’t happen at Old Trafford with two offside goals and there was a dubious decision today that, in the end, shifted the running of the game.”

The Chelsea manager suggested the incident for which Webb might have been “compensating” was a foul by the home debutant, Gary Cahill, on Welbeck when the forward appeared to be wriggling through on goal. Ferguson believed the linesman Darren Cann should have waved for a foul, which might have seen the centre-back dismissed, and was just as aggrieved at the non-award of a spot‑kick for José Bosingwa’s perceived foul on Ashley Young.

“They should’ve had a man sent off,” said Ferguson. “Danny Welbeck’s clear through, brought down, but nothing, no decision. That linesman, by the way, has given two penalty kicks against us at Old Trafford – from 40 yards away last year against Liverpool and this year against Arsenal – and he can’t see that? I don’t blame Howard Webb. He needed help in that situation and didn’t get it. That assistant referee, who’s all too happy to flag at Old Trafford for penalty kicks, didn’t give them.”

Premier League 2011-12Wayne RooneyAndré Villas-BoasSir Alex FergusonChelseaManchester UnitedPremier LeagueDominic Fifield
guardian.co.uk

• Ferdinand and Terry could face each other on Sunday
• ‘It doesn’t detract from anything to shake John Terry’s hand’

Sir Alex Ferguson intends to speak with Rio Ferdinand ahead of Manchester United’s Premier League encounter with Chelsea on Sunday to try and calm concerns about the pre-match handshake.

As John Terry is doubtful for the Stamford Bridge encounter with a knee injury, the issue over whether Ferdinand should shake his England team-mate’s hand may not arise.

However, a tweet sent by Rio after it was confirmed that Terry would not face a court case into his alleged racial abuse of Ferdinand’s brother, Anton, until after Euro 2012, seemed to indicate the 33-year-old was not too impressed by the situation. “I feel insulted,” Ferdinand wrote. “Woke up with a bad taste in my mouth, it’s a goddamn joke!”

And with the elder Ferdinand believed to be in two minds about whether to shake hands with Terry after the Premier League confirmed they had no plans to scrap the traditional pre-match greeting, Ferguson wants to reassure the 33-year-old.

“John Terry might not play but I would have a word with Rio about the situation,” Ferguson said. “Rio has been fighting racism for many years and the lad must rise above it. It doesn’t detract from anything to shake John Terry’s hand. He [Rio] has done nothing to be ashamed of.”

It is the first of two such cases United are faced with on successive weekends given that Luis Suárez is set to be in the Liverpool squad to face the Red Devils at Old Trafford on Saturday 11 February. It would be the Uruguayan’s first meeting with Patrice Evra since he was banned for eight matches for making racist comments towards the Frenchman.

“Patrice Evra has already shown the courage to fight it by complaining about it,” Ferguson said. “It is nothing to be ashamed of. There is not a problem shaking hands.

“The handshake started with Sky. There is nothing wrong with it,” he said. “It is only a handshake. There have been plenty of examples of players shaking hands whilst saying you won’t be shaking my hand at the end. Football is football. It is a competitive game.”

Rio FerdinandJohn TerrySir Alex FergusonChelseaManchester United
guardian.co.uk