Manchester United 1-1 Chelsea MATCH ZONE: The Curse of Carrington strikes

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Radamel Falcao had treatment on his thigh on Sunday but missed out
Phil Jones and Ashley Young were also absent through injury
Old Trafford was almost full by kick-off despite transport problems
Didier Drogba has scored four goals in 22 games against United

By Ian Ladyman for the Daily Mail Follow @@Ian_Ladyman_DM

Published: 13:13 EST, 26 October 2014 | Updated: 20:18 EST, 26 October 2014

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CURSE OF CARRINGTON

More worrying news from United’s training ground. Not only did Radamel Falcao pick up an injury there on Friday, Phil Jones and Ashley Young succumbed to the curse on Saturday. Falcao had a session of treatment on his thigh on Sunday morning but was subsequently declared unfit.

Radamel Falcao trains on Friday but later suffered an injury which forced him out of Sunday's match

Phil Jones (left) was among those training at Carrington on Friday ahead of the match against Chelsea

DO YOUR JOB

There will be much talk about the logic of Rafael da Silva marking the much taller Didier Drogba for Chelsea’s goal and rightly so. Robin van Persie would have cleared Drogba’s header, though, had been standing tight to the front post as he was supposed to be. Instead, the United striker got sucked towards the ball and that was all Drogba needed to give Chelsea the lead. Luckily for Van Persie, he was able to redeem itself.

Didier Drogba rises high in the box to score Chelsea's opening goal against United at Old Trafford

Sportsmail's Big Match Stats: Manchester United vs Chelsea

FERGIE TIME

The United match programme was pushing sales of Sir Alex Ferguson’s reissued autobiography with what appeared to be little more than a free advert for the great man’s book. We await any reference by United to the recent autobiography published by former Old Trafford captain Roy Keane.

Sir Alex Ferguson (centre) watches the Premier League match between United and Crystal Palace last month

BEST MEMORIES

Still with the match programme, how about this for a piece of nostalgia from the George Best era? Writing a postcard to his parents from a United tour of Zurich in 1964, 17-year-old George tells them: 'The weather is brilliant, the food is not too good and the girls are fabulous.'

Former Manchester United player George Best poses for the camera during his time at the club

THIS CITY IS OURS

Manchester City fans like to taunt their neighbours by pointing to the number of United fans who actually live in London. Despite chaos on the west coast line from the capital on Sunday, though, Old Trafford was still pretty much full by kick-off.

The scene at London Euston earlier on Sunday morning as supporters try to travel to Manchester

DEADLY DIDIER

Drogba’s record against United is actually quite modest. Just four goals in 22 games. However he does score important goals against them , having previously won Chelsea an FA Cup Final and scoring a goal here in April 2010 that effectively won Chelsea the title.

Drogba celebrates after putting Chelsea ahead against United in Sunday's Premier League clash

LINEKER HAS HIS SAY

United showed impressive resilience to claim a late point, and their never-say-die attitude clearly made an impression on Gary Lineker, who tweeted after the match: ‘I don’t think Manchester United are a million miles away and will qualify for next season’s Champions League.’

The point keeps Louis van Gaal’s side in eighth position in the Premier League table. This time last season, United were also eighth, but with one more point (14).