Gary Neville: Chelsea let Manchester United "off the hook"

Gary Neville believes that Chelsea let Manchester United off the hook in their Premier League clash at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Didier Drogba fired the Blues ahead in the 53rd minute, but Robin van Persie scored in stoppage time to earn Louis van Gaal's men a point.

Neville feels that Jose Mourinho's side's lack of a killer instinct, which he believes was an integral part of his team in their title win in the 2004-05 campaign, was to blame for them not securing all three points in the match.

He told Sky Sports News: "When I look at the statistics from all those years ago they are staggering statistics for the team he had first time around. They scored first 28 times and only dropped two points [in those games].

"This team, this season, even though they are at a really high level, have scored first seven times and dropped four points.

"If you're moving up a level in the next few weeks – and we are demanding a lot here from what is a fantastic team – they have got to get to that next level. I think they let United off the hook in the 15 minutes after the goal yesterday."

Chelsea lead the Premier League by four points after nine matches this season.