Chelsea brought down the curtain on 2015 by taking a point away from goalless draw with Manchester United at Old Trafford.
United dominated much of the game and hit the woodwork twice but couldn’t find a way through as the Blues held on for a share of the spoils.
It was a laboured performance and shows Guus Hiddink still has plenty of work to do to turn things around at Stamford Bridge.
However, that’s three games without a defeat for the first time this season for Chelsea now and here’s a look at what we can take away from the United stalemate...
Firepower needed in January
Eden Hazard is a fine player but he’s not an out-and-out striker.
Hiddink had little choice but to field the Belgian up front at Old Trafford given Diego Costa’s costly suspension and Loic Remy and Radamel Falcao’s injury problems.
Jackson Martinez is the latest name to be mentioned as a possible January target while Jamie Vardy of Leicester City and Shakhtar Donetsk’s Alex Teixeira also on the radar.
Patrick Bamford has also signalled his intention to activate a break clause in his loan deal with Crystal Palace and could return to add to the striking ranks this winter.
Passion is missing
Manchester United hadn’t won in seven games prior to this clash but they were made to look like champions by the Blues.
Chelsea were second to every ball and their lack of a focal point in the final third made it difficult to orchestrate attacks.
They were second to every ball in the first 45 minutes and looked devoid of confidence, a shadow of rampaging recent win over Sunderland as Hiddink watched from the stands.
That form has not been replicated since the Dutchman took his place in the dugout and he needs to breathe some life into this squad as quickly as possible.
Thibaut Courtois is world class
Two of the best goalkeepers in world football were on show at Old Trafford as Thibaut Courtois and David De Gea proved why they are top talents.
Courtois, missing for the majority of Chelsea’s shambolic start to the season due to injury, has settled right back into life between the sticks and shone again today.
His point-blank save to deny Ander Herrera as the hour-mark approached prevented what looked like a certain goal and kept Chelsea in the game.
At the other end, De Gea was in similarly unbeatable form. He used his reflexes to save from John Terry in the first half and made a majestic double stop to frustrate Pedro.
Still no trust in youth
Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Bertrand Traore, and Kenedy were all on the bench at Old Trafford but only one was trusted to enter the fray by Hiddink - and that was only a 20-second run-out for Loftus-Cheek in stoppage time.
Traore, in particular, could have added some much-needed potency to the Chelsea attack in the final 20 minutes but instead it was Ramires who was told to take his tracksuit top off.
Hiddink said at his unveiling that he would be open to the possibility of fielding more young talents, something Jose Mourinho was criticised for, but we’ve yet to see it so far.
United, on the other hand, brought on 18-year-old full-back Cameron Borthwick-Jackson without a second thought in the closing stages.
If Bamford does return to Chelsea, it’s hard to see him getting a game despite a shortage of numbers in the ranks.
