Manchester United put on an improved display for beleaguered boss Louis van Gaal, but failed to find a way past Chelsea at Old Trafford.

Both teams spurned a number of presentable chances, with the hosts striking the woodwork on two occasions in the first period and United goalkeeper David de Gea made several impressive stops at the other end.

However, a goalless draw left United in sixth place - five points behind Manchester City in the fourth and final Champions League spot, albeit having played a game more than their rivals - while Chelsea move up to 14th in the table.

Van Gaal had hinted at quitting after a wretched slump in form, but although his side have now gone eight games without victory in all competitions, they at least avoided sinking to five straight defeats for the first time since December 1936.

The merchandise sellers outside Old Trafford hawked scarves bearing Jose Mourinho's face but Van Gaal was able to acknowledge applause from large sections inside the stadium as he stepped out of the tunnel.

The Dutchman recalled captain Wayne Rooney in place of Memphis Depay after the striker had been dropped to the bench for Saturday's 2-0 loss at Stoke City, while experienced German midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger was back from suspension and full-back Matteo Darmian also returned after a recent hamstring injury.

As for the visitors, interim coach Guus Hiddink was able to call upon playmaker Eden Hazard after a hip problem, with the Belgium international playing as a 'false' No 9 in the absence of suspended striker Diego Costa.

It was United, though, who made a lightning start to the contest, with Juan Mata inches away from opening the scoring against his former club after just three minutes.

However, the Spaniard's well-struck left-footed shot from just inside the area may have beaten Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, but not the crossbar.

Chelsea responded to that close call by immediately going up the other end of the pitch and after Hazard had failed to pick out the unmarked Willian in the six-yard box after Daley Blind's untimely slip, it was John Terry's turn to almost break the deadlock.

The Chelsea skipper rose well at the near post to direct a powerful header goalwards from Willian's curling right-wing corner, only for De Gea to make a sensational fingertip save to keep the scoreline goalless.

That was all the champions offered in the opening 45 minutes though as they struggled to pose many questions to United's back four.

The home side, on the other hand, were far more threatening, with all the danger coming down their left flank through the lively Anthony Martial, who was desperately unlucky not to score just past the quarter-hour mark.

Collecting the ball on the left-hand touchline, the powerful Frenchman drove at the retreating Chelsea defence, before cutting in and striking the base of Courtois' near post with a well-struck shot.

The visitors posed more questions after the break, however, and could have gone in front just three minutes into the second period, but for a brilliant double save from De Gea. The Spaniard first denied Pedro and then on the follow-up Cesar Azpilicueta after an excellent driving run by Hazard.

But those near misses appeared to galvanise United, who themselves were left to rue the brilliance of the opposition goalkeeper just before the hour-mark.

Martial, who caused opposite number Branislav Ivanovic problems all game long, drove at the visitors' back line before pulling the ball back for the waiting Ander Herrera six yards out, only for Courtois to deny him with a sensational point-blank stop.

If United were left cursing the brilliance of the giant Belgian, they were also grateful that Nemanja Matic failed to punish them minutes later after the defensive midfielder found himself racing clean through on goal.

However, with just De Gea to beat, the Serbia international blazed high over the bar and Chelsea's best chance to claim an all-too-rare away win in the Premier League this season had gone.

United had one last great opening to claim all three points right at the death after substitute Cameron Borthwick-Jackson set up Rooney at the far post, only for the striker to miss the target and the chance to relieve the pressure on his under-fire boss, who insisted after that whistle that he would not resign.

Player ratings

Manchester United: De Gea (8), Darmian (7), Smalling (7), Blind (6), Young (7), Schneiderlin (7), Schweinsteiger (7), Mata (8), Herrera (7), Martial (9), Rooney (8)

Subs used: Jones (6), Depay (6), Borthwick-Jackson (7)

Chelsea: Courtois (8), Ivanovic (6), Zouma (7), Terry (7), Azpilicueta (7), Mikel (7), Matic (8), Willian (6), Oscar (6), Pedro (6), Hazard (7)

Subs used: Ramires (6), Loftus-Cheek (6)

Man of the match: Anthony Martial

Teams

Manchester United De Gea, Darmian (Borthwick-Jackson 70), Smalling, Blind (Jones 81), Young, Schneiderlin, Schweinsteiger, Mata (Depay 77), Herrera, Martial, Rooney (c)
Subs Not Used Romero, Carrick, Fellaini, Pereira
Booked Schneiderlin, Smalling, Schweinsteiger, Rooney
Goals

Chelsea Courtois, Ivanovic, Zouma, Terry (c), Azpilicueta, Mikel, Matic, Willian (Ramires 70), Oscar (Loftus-Cheek 90+3), Pedro, Hazard
Subs Not Used Begovic, Rahman, Traore, Djilobodji, Kenedy
Booked Mikel, Hazard
Goals

Attendance 75,275

Referee Martin Atkinson