A wonderful strike from Cristiano Ronaldo salvaged a 1-1 draw for Manchester United against a dominant Chelsea at Old Trafford - but the result means United can only now equal their worst-ever points total in the Premier League era
That decline was plain to see during a first half which featured protests against the Glazers' ownership and a United team badly exposed on their own patch by visitors who should have made more of the chances afforded to them
Kai Havertz wasted three good first-half openings but flicked on a cross from the excellent Reece James for Marcos Alonso to volley in a deserved opener on the hour mark
Two minutes later, though, Ronaldo responded
 A wonderful lofted pass from Nemanja Matic played in the forward, who produced a fine touch and hit to smash in his first goal against Chelsea
 He's now scored eight of United's last nine Premier League goals - a strong rebuke to his critics
The goal ignited the home fans and suddenly there was fight from the players in red - but the visitors continued to pile forwards and only the woodwork denied James what would have been a fine winner late on
Chelsea's club-record winning streak away from home ends at eight but they only need seven points from their remaining five games to seal a top-four spot
Those Champions League places are a long way off for United, though, who trail Arsenal by five points having played two games more - and United will now be unable to surpass the meagre 64 points they achieved in 2013/14
There had been a strangely subdued atmosphere prior to kick-off and when the game got underway there were still swathes of empty seats in the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand, with United supporters once again protesting against the Glazers' ownership
Those fans eventually arrived in the 17th minute - representing the number of years the Americans have been in control - by which point they'd missed a James rocket and tamer Timo Werner effort test David de Gea during Chelsea's strong start, and Ronaldo shin a scissor kick well off target in reply
Chelsea continued to put on the pressure, with Havertz shooting into the side-netting from a tight angle before passing up two great chances when he shot at De Gea from N'Golo Kante's through ball and then headed meekly at the goalkeeper from a fantastic James cross
 Blues boss Tuchel couldn't hide his frustration on the touchline
The Chelsea forward let United off again early in the second half, failing to roll in Kante from a lightning counter-attack which left the home side badly exposed, before Mason Mount's hard low cross flew just beyond the reach of Werner
The visitors finally got their deserved opener on the hour, with United inviting James to cross from the right and Havertz diverting the ball on for Alonso to hammer home
 But that advantage was almost instantly scrubbed out
From nowhere Ronaldo hauled his side level, exquisitely controlling a super lobbed pass from Matic before lashing past Edouard Mendy
The goal sparked the home fans and players into life - but still Chelsea kept on coming and James smacked the post from Mount's clever backheel
United did finish on the front foot and, for the second time this season they've taken a point off a highly-fancied Chelsea side
 But the bigger picture underlined the work they have to do to rebuild in the summer
It is the hardest part of the game - I know people are quick to criticise what he does not do in terms of his pressing, but he was never great at that anyway
He is the greatest at the hardest part of the game, which is putting the ball in the back of the net
 That was his only chance tonight really, you see the chances Chelsea were creating, so imagine if he had been in the Chelsea team, he would probably get 50 goals
He is in a poor Man Utd team who are not creating many chances for him, but he is producing, it was his touch and movement tonight and as soon as he gets it, you just turn away as you know it is a goal, that is how good he is
What he has done at United, considering the season he has had
 and I know there are other bits he could have done better - his leadership certainly could have been better when they've been up against it
But in terms of goals, and that is why he came back for
 He is not like he was a few years ago when he was beating people, he is really dependent on people getting the ball in the right areas, and United have not been great at that this year
But he has still produced the goods and I just think that if you have a player in your group who can score that amount of goals, they have to be involved
Now Ronaldo will want to play week win, week out, that will be the problem when the new manager comes in who will be looking for another striker
 But Ronaldo will not be hanging around unless he is playing week in, week out
He will not mind being rested for the odd League Cup game, or a European game when they've already got through
but I think he wants to play week in, week out and that will be the problem for the manager as he will look at him and think, sorry, but I have to rotate you in certain games
 to  "It should have been more
 There's only one team who deserves to win and that's us but we didn't take it
 It's our responsibility to win a game like this when we dominate in all areas of the match
 We were not clinical enough, lacked a bit of determination in the box to win this game
"We worked so hard to get the lead and created so many chances and suddenly the opponent gets one free shot and scores
"We found the space on the right and took advantage
 I think Reece played a very good match, Mason a little unlucky in his decisions and could have been more precise in the first half to score and assist
 But we were very good in our patterns
""We were fortunate in the first half, needed some great saves from David and last ditch tackles
 In the second half we we better, showed a good reaction to that goal with an amazing assist by Nemanja and great finish by Ronaldo
 In the last 20 minutes it was an open game
 They could have scored when James hit the post but we also had our moments
"Overall we had to admit we were fortunate to get that point but the reaction in the second half was good
"They played with their almost best starting XI and we had a few players missing
 We have our problems in defending and getting hold of the ball, winning the ball
 We are just not compact, aggressive enough in some of those moments and this shows up against the top teams like Chelsea, Liverpool or Man City
"Manchester United host Brentford on Monday Night Football, live on Sky Sports Premier League from 7pm; kick-off 8pm
 Chelsea are away at Everton on Super Sunday, live on Sky Sports Premier League from 1pm; kick-off 2pm
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