Manchester United claimed a hard fought 0-0 draw with Chelsea in their Carling Cup semi-final first leg at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues shaded the play throughout the 90 minutes, but United's superb work-rate in defence ensured that Sir Alex Ferguson's proud record of never losing a domestic semi-final remained in tact.

The visitors were boosted by the return of injury victim Louis Saha to their line-up while England international striker Wayne Rooney was also back following suspension.

The match burst into life on the 10 minute mark, but after Joe Cole got in behind the visitors' defence from a poor Mikael Silvestre header he was unable to make contact with his volley.

Saha felt he had won a penalty seconds later when he went down in the box under pressure from Paolo Ferreira and Tiago, however, referee Neale Barry waved play on.

The game was end to end at this stage and Damien Duff was inches from beating Tim Howard with a stinging left-footed volley after cutting in from the right, but his effort was just wide.

United were again looking for a penalty after 13 minutes when Cristiano Ronaldo went down in the box under pressure from John Terry but once more nothing was given.

The chances continued to come thick and fast, but from Rooney's pin-point left wing corner Saha was unable to direct his effort goal-wards after a great jump to win the ball.

The returning Frenchman could have got his name on the scoresheet after 25 minutes but opted against attempting to win the ball ahead of Carlo Cudicini following Darren Fletcher's flick on.

The home side came close to breaking the deadlock twice after half an hour, but on both occasions missed the chance to put The Red Devils on the back foot.

Firstly Frank Lampard's header drifted just wide of Howard's far post from Ferreira's right wing cross while Eidur Gudjohnsen's goal was disallowed for offside from Duff's volley.

United came close to taking a lead into half time, however, Cudicini pulled off a superb save to deny Rooney's header from Fletcher's right wing cross.

The Blues came out all guns blazing after the interval and almost got an early goal with Didier Drogba now on the pitch for Gudjohnsen.

Howard scuffed his clearance on 47 minutes and Cole latched on the keeper's kick but was unable to direct his volley on target with the American scrambling.

Just moments later Lampard skipped past Phil Neville into the box before turning John O'Shea, but after shooting past Howard, Gabriel Heinze was on hand to clear off the line.

After Drogba was hacked down by Heinze, the Ivory Coast international tried a first-time effort from the right wing free-kick, but the effort was collected by Howard.

A surging Lampard then collected Drogba's flick on, however, his stinging volley flashed just wide of the visitors' goal with Howard looking to cover his far post.

Both managers decided it was time for a change of personnel with the likes of Paul Scholes coming on for Eric Djemba-Djemba, while Jiri Jarosik replaced Joe Cole.

Jarosik was within a whisker of opening his Chelsea account with eight minutes remaining, however, Neville hooked his goal-bound effort over the crossbar.

Tempers flared in the closing stages after Drogba and Ronaldo were booked over a debatable throw-in with players from both sides looking to get involved in a fracas on the sidelines.

Despite failing to take a first leg advantage to Manchester, Ferguson has never beaten a Jose Mourinho side in four attempts and will need to break that duck if they are to advance to the final.

Teams:

Chelsea: Cudicini, Paulo Ferreira, Terry, Gallas, Bridge, Lampard, Makelele, Tiago (Kezman 66), Cole (Jarosik 75), Gudjohnsen (Drogba 45), Duff.
Subs Not Used: Cech, Johnson.
Booked: Drogba.

Manchester United: Howard, Phil Neville, Silvestre, O'Shea, Heinze, Ronaldo (Smith 90), Fletcher, Djemba-Djemba (Scholes 61), Fortune, Saha, Rooney.
Subs Not Used: Carroll, Miller, Spector.
Booked: Heinze, Ronaldo.

Attendance: 41,492
Referee: N Barry (N Lincolnshire).