The draw was a massive fillip in the end for a Manchester United team who would have been 13 points off the pace on Monday morning without the injury time equaliser.
It also gives a hard working team confidence that they continue to move in the right direction and have a chance against their arch-rivals on Sunday in the next big test.
What is more encouraging is that, finally, Manchester United’s injury problems look to be largely clearing up.
Louis van Gaal offered great news on Radamel Falcao, injured before the Chelsea game, when he said that the lad looks OK. He told MUFC.com:
“Falcao took a kick in training on Thursday and couldn’t play because of that,” van Gaal told MUTV. “We’ll have to wait and see, but I don’t think the injury is too bad, today’s match came too soon for him.”
Other reports suggest that Paddy McNair, Jonny Evans and Antonio Valencia will all be ready to resume duties against City if called upon.
The big worry is that Wayne Rooney, seen hobbling around Old Trafford yesterday, may be a doubt for the game.
We think that Adnan Januzaj may have jumped the queue for the right-sided midfield role, ahead of Herrera and Valencia, after two decent performances in a week.
But we all know what Valencia offers genuine defensive cover even if his attacking prowess has been somewhat blunted over the last couple of years.
Murmurs on Twitter suggest all three will be fit.
Meanwhile the handy physioroom.com has them all marked for a return this weekend. Manchester United will go into the game with confidence after Sunday and a win may not be such an outlandish idea after all. Biut, truth be told, Manchester United may be happy to leave The Etihad with a point.
ezekiel
Oct 28, 2014 at 7:15 am
lm very happy for man utd mildfider we are play phisical.it is our time to carry leaggue.
Chike
Oct 28, 2014 at 8:32 am
so hpy for man utd performance against chelsea Bt expecting better one against d noisynoisy neighbours!
smithosaze
Oct 28, 2014 at 8:40 am
War @ etihad….united will have all 3 point
brian munthali
Oct 28, 2014 at 10:00 am
We are getting lifted this weeknd,come wat may.we are winning.united for life.
daniel smith
Oct 28, 2014 at 11:30 am
I hope our maneger will give fellaini more time to prove himself…he is agreat aplayer…
Bukokho sam
Oct 28, 2014 at 11:35 am
Together we can. Man u oyeee!
sly
Oct 28, 2014 at 11:54 am
It wouldn’t be easy but I think we can beat them.
edward
Oct 28, 2014 at 12:26 pm
good news really noisy ones prepare for attack
Obi
Oct 28, 2014 at 1:26 pm
Man u fans pls beg van gaal to start playing 2 defensive midfielders to help our shakey defence and contain epl speedy players. It worked when he introduced felliani against WBA and the match against Chelsea. Pls Van Gaal lets build from the defence not the attack, cos we r already blessed there.
Sam w kanyenda
Oct 28, 2014 at 2:37 pm
True,our team is improving,i hope we are gering there.
stephen okoth
Oct 28, 2014 at 3:50 pm
truely,big up for man u players and fans for joining hands and we now see the fruit,we pray for vangaal to continue adding more effort!!hope manchester united will shine also at etihad ,only being staunch and prayer all is possible,INSHALLAH!!!
Moses marco
Oct 28, 2014 at 4:50 pm
United players r now improving and am happy with the performance for the last two games without rooney, and i think van gaal should build united around januzaj and dimaria, not van-persie and rooney and top 4 is a must for united
JB
Oct 28, 2014 at 5:16 pm
gudfight utd.stand firm u’ll reclaim glory. manutd 4life.
BELLORON
Oct 28, 2014 at 5:22 pm
WELL DON UNITED
BELLORON
Oct 28, 2014 at 5:26 pm
Good
shady
Oct 28, 2014 at 6:21 pm
I wish Valencia will be a defender in the next match
oluwagbemiga John
Oct 28, 2014 at 7:05 pm
To be honest wit every one, ManUnited are improving per game. Thank God Chelsea didn’t go wit d maximum 3points. More still to come from the great Club Man United, keep it Up….
meruskalez
Oct 28, 2014 at 7:41 pm
Well don united let vangaal play. Blind,fellani and d maria alondside falcao especially it wil. Be helpful to us
Waki Atem
Oct 28, 2014 at 7:58 pm
United Improve congratulation to LVG.
trust
Oct 28, 2014 at 8:36 pm
de gea,rafel,smalling,rojo,shaw,blind,carrick,herrera,van persie,falcao,rooney.
4-3-3 and we get 3 points.
moses obwin
Oct 28, 2014 at 8:39 pm
Good improving soon
Onos
Oct 28, 2014 at 9:32 pm
Yes indeed we are moving forward and I pray we remain like that united we stand.
w.Fokoe
Oct 28, 2014 at 9:50 pm
United will win if Rooney and falcao play.
Patricia kaliati
Oct 29, 2014 at 2:18 am
With rooney back from suspension. It will be somehow easy especially in midfield
Razah
Oct 29, 2014 at 2:48 am
Goalkeeper: de gea Defenders: Rafa,smalling,rojo,shaw midfield: Herrera,blind in the holding role rooney won’t be fit looks like so play di maria in front of Herrera and blind and play van persie and falcao up top or play 4-3-3 rafa smalling rojo shaw midfield play herrera fellaini and blind but push fellaini up a bit and Herrera is a super box to box player blind is the mastermind behind the passing and dictating play he controls the game fellaini is a great presence he can support the front 3 and with Herrera and fellaini can support the back four Herrera and blind blind is the main holding player weras fellaini and Herrera can win play back get good tackles in as can blind but Herrera and fellaini are also attack minded so they can play the box to box role have extra cover for our back four and our front 3 di maria shud be firing in amo for falcao and rvp and tryna get in on goal dat I think is a correct balance once we get a top class defender and our team clicks we will be a force we are already starting to click if we had no injuries in our back line we wud find our tru centre bak pair I think smalling and rojo can establish themselves to be a good pair while jones is out it’s smalling and rojo time to shine they played decent against Chelsea but the marking from set pieces cost us the game rafa can’t be marking drogba he’s 6ft 2 rafa is 5ft 8
ALEMAYEHU AYATO TEREFE
Oct 29, 2014 at 4:51 am
I HAVE BEEN SATISFIED IN ALL ACTIONS EXCEPT UNITED’S FAILURITY TO TAKE ON CHANCES THEY GOT AGAINST CHELSEA,BUT THE DERBY IS AN OTHER BIG TEST FOR UNITED,HOWEVER THE MANAGER WILL STRENGTHEN THE WEAK SIDE,THE DEFENCE AND FAILURITY OF FINISHING…
Moses David Iorchihi
Oct 29, 2014 at 5:27 am
I wish you should endeavour to advise players to stop delaying the game whenever there’s a match.
Meanwhile, we are still likely of more defends and them,