Chelsea continue to visit Old Trafford like an annual bout of 'flu. Last night Gianfranco Zola's late goal not only denied Manchester United the victory which would have taken them back to the top of the Premiership but reconfirmed the championship potential of Gianluca Vialli's aspiring multi-nationals.

For much of the second half it appeared likely that a marvellous piece of opportunism by Andy Cole, which had given United the lead in stoppage time at the end of the first half would be enough to bring about Chelsea's second League defeat of the season, and only their second at Old Trafford in 10 games.

Yet Zola's equaliser followed a period during which Chelsea's passing punished their opponents' growing tendency to defend deep and square, and in the penultimate minute, Celestine Babyaro came close to scoring a spectacular winner. Had his 30-yard shot gone in instead of clipping the outside of a post it would surely have been a case cool, measured craft defeating pace and passion.

United's habit of losing leads in the Champions' League has spread to their domestic performances. Alex Ferguson's team have drawn three successive Premiership fixtures after scoring first, and each match found them more grateful for the final whistle than their opponents.

Remembering the way Chelsea's passing had initially seemed to overrun his team last season, Ferguson left Ryan Giggs and David Beckham on the bench and packed his midfield with minders. The combination of Roy Keane, Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes interrupted Chelsea's lines of communication, leaving Zola and Tore Andre Flo isolated.

Beckham replaced Dwight Yorke for the last half-hour and Giggs came on for the final 12 minutes as United sought a second goal. What in fact happened was that Chelsea enjoyed more space and possession, creating precisely the situation Ferguson wanted to avoid.

Inevitably, recent skirmishes involving these teams soured proceedings and four of Chelsea's five cautions arrived in the space of 14 minutes towards the end of the first half, as the referee Graham Barber, struggled to calm things down. Dennis Wise, tripping Scholes in a brief appearance between suspensions, was among them.

As the team left the field at half time, Vialli wagged a reproving finger at Barber. Perhaps Barber, who in the second half added only the names of two United players, Wes Brown and Gary Neville, to his list, felt Chelsea were hard done by. Otherwise Bernard Lambourde would surely have received a second yellow card, plus a red, for blatantly bringing down Yorke.

Chelsea had travelled north in bullish mood, albeit without the suspended Frank Leboeuf. Their defence was also missing Marcel Desailly, who had a knee injury, which did not enhance their chances of coping with Yorke and Cole, although Lambourde and Duberry stuck to the task doggedly enough.

Yet United should have gone ahead after six minutes when Jesper Blomqvist's cross from the by-line was nodded back by Yorke and the ball arrived at the feet of Cole, standing practically on the Chelsea goal-line. But the ball simply hit him and bounced away.

Otherwise, Cole had and excellent game, holding the United line and bringing those around him into the attack. At the end of the first half Scholes set up Blomqvist for another chance which found Butt shooting, with Cole leaping to get out of the way. Butt's shot still hit Cole, who somehow managed to land, turn and produce a stunning drive which beat De Goey inside the left-hand post.

In the second half United spurned several chances, Scholes and Blomqvist both missing with only De Goey to beat. Then Chelsea's passing at last asserted itself and with eight minutes remaining Zola exchanged passes with Poyet, who had replaced a limping Graeme Le Saux late in the first half, before scoring the simplest of goals.

Manchester Utd: Schmeichel, G. Neville, Irwin, Stam, Butt, Cole, Blomqvist (Giggs 80), Keane, Scholes (Sheringham 84), Brown, Yorke (Beckham 60). Subs Not Used: Johnsen, P. Neville. Booked: Brown, G. Neville. Goals: Cole 45.

Chelsea: De Goey, Petrescu, Babayaro, Wise, Duberry, Le Saux (Poyet 44), Di Matteo, Ferrer, Flo, Lambourde, Zola. Subs Not Used: Goldbaek, Hitchcock, Nicholls, Morris. Booked: Lambourde, Wise, Petrescu, Ferrer, Di Matteo. Goals: Zola 83. Attendance: 55,159.

Referee: G Barber (Pyrford).