Kalou goal makes it 85 not out

Substitute Salomon Kalou heads home 10 minutes from the end of a pulsating clash to earn a draw against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea's Salomon Kalou celebrates scoring against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge, a goal which keeps his team's unbeaten home record to 85 matches.

Unlikely hero Salomon Kalou salvaged a point and preserved Chelsea's 85-game unbeaten home record at the end of a breathless clash with Manchester United. Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari was relieved to escape with a point - and the club's remarkable unbeaten home record - against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge yesterday, after injuries to Deco and Ricardo Carvalho. Chelsea lost the midfield playmaker Deco to an injury during the warm up and defender Carvalho limped off after only 12 minutes of the 1-1 draw. It looked as if United would be the first away team to win at Stamford Bridge for 85 games when Ji-sung Park gave United a deserved 18th-minute lead, but substitute Salomon Kalou headed an equaliser 10 minutes from time to preserve Chelsea's record. "The game is one of the best games we've played [this season], because we have many problems," Scolari said after the match. "After we lost Deco, Manchester controlled the game for 15 minutes and they played better than us. They made a goal - and after this, we improved. "We had more chances than them but we missed some chances in front of goal. "At half-time I said we wanted Lampard and Ballack more up front, nearer the strikers - and we put Drogba on." Scolari is now set to sign Mineiro for midfield cover to the injured Deco. Mineiro is expected to be announced as a Chelsea player within 24 hours after agreeing terms to sign as a free agent following a spell with Hertha Berlin. Scolari made a move for the Brazil midfielder as he also has Michael Essien sidelined. "Mineiro is a player I need because I lost Essien for six months and only John Mikel Obi is there for us," said Scolari. "He won't play this week but maybe after 10 days he will play. "He needs to play in the reserve team and needs some time but that is good for me because he gives me some options. "We would miss Deco, it would not be good news. But it's hard to say at the moment [how bad the injury is]." The United goalscorer Park admitted it was frustrating to get within 10 minutes of victory over their great rivals. "It was disappointing to only get one point," he said. "In the first half we played well and created good chances - but we only had the one goal."