23/09/2000  Manchester United 3 Chelsea 3
 
While there was no victory to cap it all, the Italian did manage to inspire 
his side to a point against Manchester United after trailing 3-1 just before 
half-time.

And all this only a few days after walking into a club in apparent disarray 
with just six points from their opening six games.

For his next trick, maybe he will even lower the ticket prices at Stamford 
Bridge.

First things first, however, and Chelsea certainly owed a debt of gratitude to 
Raimond van der Gouw's basic handling error as the United keeper virtually 
gifted the Blues their second goal on the stroke of half-time.

But the experienced Ranieri ensured Chelsea made the most the most of that 
chink of light with a substitution that led to Tore Andre Flo then hitting his 
second goal of the game to ensure a point.

For Ranieri took off winger Jon Harley at half-time, replacing him with the 
physical threat of Mario Melchiot in a midfield trio, and United never managed 
to dominate the centre of the pitch thereafter.

Calling it a tactical masterstroke may be rather an overstatement given that 
United did visibly tire in the wake of their midweek Champions League tie in the 
Ukraine, although it did take Teddy Sheringham out of the game.

Even Sir Alex Ferguson, who believed that conceding the second goal at that 
crucial time had "changed the game", observed that "Chelsea went to three 
midfielders, controlled the match and deserved a point".

The Italian renaissance which Ranieri is attempting to complete at Stamford 
Bridge was meanwhile also personified in two reborn figures at Old Trafford - 
two-goal hero Flo and man-of-the-match Graeme Le Saux.

Despite the absence of Dennis Wise through illness, Ranieri did manage to 
field something of his promised 'British backbone' in the shape of stand-in 
skipper Le Saux, Jody Morris and Harley.

And for all of their well-documented recent problems and reported 
dressing-room in-fighting, the Blues emerged with a determined spirit to go 
ahead after just eight minutes.

Flo, who was operating on the right flank, stretched to keep in a cross by Le 
Saux and somehow managed to divert it back to Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink on the 
edge of the penalty area.

The Dutchman chested the ball down and then let fly with a thunderous volley 
that flew past the static figure of van der Gouw to score the first goal to be 
conceded by United in the Premiership at Old Trafford this season.

However, a backbone of any nationality was exactly what Chelsea then needed 
as, just like last season when they led 2-1 at Old Trafford but lost 3-2, they 
managed to press the self-destruct button.

The quality of Paul Scholes's equaliser just five minutes later was beyond 
dispute as the midfielder pounced on a flick by Teddy Sheringham to power home a 
low drive from 20 yards out.

But although Chelsea did keep in touch for a spell while David Beckham was off 
the pitch to receive stitches to a head wound, it did not last.

For after Keane, back after a three-match suspension for his red card against 
Chelsea in the Charity Shield, had been rather predictably booked, United 
quickly went 2-1 and then 3-1 ahead as the Blues' defence crumbled.

Irwin's cross was first allowed to cross the Blues' penalty area past the 
flailing figures of fit-again Frank Leboeuf, Cudicini and Christian Panucci - 
and straight into Sheringham's path.

The striker again underlined his claims for an England recall with his fifth 
goal of the season as he side-footed home from close-range.

And less than three minutes later, Sheringham was involved in the build-up as 
Chelsea's defence was caught flat-footed again, this time by his deft 
through-ball to Cole.

His clipped shot hit the post but the ball fell to Beckham, who converted the 
rebound.

Given Chelsea's run of five Premiership games without a win that should have 
been it but van der Gouw allowed them back into the match when Flo headed Le 
Saux's cross straight through the keeper's hands.

That gave Chelsea the momentum they needed and, with Melchiot proving a 
powerful midfield presence, they gradually hauled themselves back into 
contention.

Chelsea were indebted to Le Saux's superb sliding clearance from Cole's 
goalbound shot in front of the line and the full-back will have done much to 
impress Kevin Keegan ahead of the World Cup qualifier against Germany.

However, Le Saux then beat Beckham on the byline at the other end and crossed 
towards Gianfranco Zola, who laid the ball off to the unmarked figure of Flo for 
him to curl a well-taken finish into the net.

Ferguson replaced Sheringham with Nicky Butt in the closing stages to attempt 
to regain control of midfield but apart from Ryan Giggs missing one clear-cut 
chance, Chelsea were able to hang on for a deserved point.

Ranieri had completed his first mission. Many more challenges lie ahead but it 
is telling to note that there were no chants for Vialli which eminated from the 
Chelsea fans this time.