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Man United stage miracle comeback at the Bridge

Juan Mata scored a beauty for Chelsea but it wasn't enough as Manchester United hit back at Stamford Bridge © PA Photos

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Manchester United produced a quite incredible comeback from three goals down to draw 3-3 at Chelsea on Sunday, a result that leaves Newcastle within a point of the top four after they beat Aston Villa earlier in the day.

United arrived at Stamford Bridge attempting to close the gap once more to neighbouring rivals and league leaders Manchester City, but they were ambushed by a three-goal Chelsea salvo in a 14-minute period either side of half-time. A Jonny Evans own goal was compounded by a Juan Mata cracker and a David Luiz header, at which point the Red Devils looked completely buried.

However, two soft penalty awards from referee Howard Webb allowed Wayne Rooney to reduce the deficit to 3-2 with 20 minutes still to play, and then substitute Javier Hernandez rescued a point with a header six minutes from time.

Chelsea had thrown January signing Gary Cahill in at the deep end on his Blues debut, deputising for John Terry at the heart of the defence, and he was handed the job of silencing Rooney - back for United. The visitors made six changes in total, with Ashley Young also returning from injury while the much maligned David De Gea started in goal.

The first half was a curious contest: Chelsea had the majority of the ball but United looked the greater attacking threat. Danny Welbeck felt sure he should have had a penalty after a foul by Cahill, but referee Webb clearly felt the Chelsea man had got a hint of the ball as he waved United's protests away. Welbeck's case could not have been helped by Young, who had gone down easily moments earlier.

Cahill's addition to the defence meant Branislav Ivanovic was forced to fill in at right-back for the Blues, and he made a vital interception to stop a certain goal midway through the half. Rooney rolled the ball invitingly across the six-yard box where Welbeck waited for an easy tap-in, but Ivanovic slid in to deny the United man.

It proved a crucial moment as Chelsea went ahead nine minutes before half-time, Daniel Sturridge tricking his way past Patrice Evra to hit the byline, where his cutback ricocheted into the United net off Evans. It was hardly a lead Chelsea deserved but they threatened to double it when Sturridge stung the palms of De Gea moments later.

Sir Alex Ferguson sent his team out early for the second half, clearly intent on making an instant recovery, but within five minutes they found themselves 3-0 down.

Mata was first to strike, 26 seconds into the second period, sending a glorious volley beyond De Gea from Fernando Torres' deep cross. Then, with United still reeling, Mata delivered a free-kick that was headed goalwards by Luiz - finding the top corner after a significant deflection off Rio Ferdinand.

United are never out of it though, and they grabbed themselves a lifeline in the 57th minute, Evra buying a penalty from Sturridge, stepping across the forward's path to allow Rooney to cut the deficit from 12 yards. And another soft award 10 minutes later, this time when Welbeck left his foot in on an Ivanovic challenge, allowed Rooney to drag his side within one goal at 3-2.

Torres, who missed an open goal at Old Trafford earlier in the season, then wasted a glorious chance to kill the game off for Chelsea when he inexplicably decided not to shoot when one-on-one with De Gea, and the home side paid the price when Hernandez nodded home dramatically in the dying minutes.

Papiss Demba Cisse scored on his Newcastle debut © PA Photos

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Still Chelsea could have won it, when Mata sent a free-kick bending towards the top corner, but De Gea produced a quite outstanding full-stretch save to earn United a point.

Papiss Demba Cisse immediately established himself as a crowd favourite at Newcastle, scoring the winner on his debut as the Magpies beat Aston Villa 2-1 at St James' Park. Cisse came off the bench as a first-half substitute to fire his side up to fifth in the Premier League after Robbie Keane cancelled out Demba Ba's opener.

Former team-mates Ba and Keane, relegated with West Ham last season, both found the net as the teams went into the break on level terms, but Cisse became the first Newcastle player to score on his Premier League debut since Xisco in September 2008, with a booming winner in the 71st minute.

The £10 million January signing was named on the substitutes' bench, but Newcastle fans did not have to wait long to see their man as the striker replaced the injured Leon Best after just 14 minutes. And he nearly scored with his first touch of the ball, but his glancing header from Ryan Taylor's cross was saved by former Newcastle keeper Shay Given.

But it was his Senegalese team-mate Ba who opened the scoring, marking his return to the side with a goal on the half-hour mark. Ba, who has been in prolific form for Newcastle this season, failed to find the net during the African Nations Cup, but he rediscovered his goalscoring form, firing low to Given's right after Ryan Taylor's initial shot was blocked.

Newcastle looked to be heading into the break with the advantage, but Keane popped up in the fifth minute of stoppage time to draw Villa level. Stiliyan Petrov's ball found Keane on the edge of the box, and the LA Galaxy striker fed Charles N'Zogbia on the left, who returned the favour for Keane to slot home from close range.

Cisse squandered a second-half chance to re-establish Newcastle's lead; his header from Danny Guthrie's ball from the left sailing over the bar, but he soon made amends, controlling a Jonas Gutierrez cross before lashing a half-volley past Given into the top corner.

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