'Holding is allowed, headlocks aren't': Chelsea fuming after Harry Maguire's challenge on Cesar Azpilicueta goes unpunished

Blues manager Frank Lampard frustrated after draw against Manchester United

Manchester United's Harry Maguire tussles with Chelsea's Cesar Azpilicueta in the area during the 0-0 draw at Old Trafford. No penalty was given after a VAR review. Reuters

Manchester United's Paul Pogba in action with Chelsea's Cesar Azpilicueta. Reuters

Manchester United's Aaron Wan-Bissaka against Chelsea's Ben Chilwell at Old Trafford on Saturday. EPA

Chelsea's N'Golo Kante, left, tries to block a shot from Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes at the Old Trafford stadium in Manchester on Saturday. AP

Manchester United's Edinson Cavani, centre, Bruno Fernandes, right, and Paul Pogba . AP

Chelsea's Christian Pulisic, centre right, tries to block a shot from Manchester United's Scott McTominay. AP

Chelsea's goalkeeper Edouard Mendy saves a shot at goal. EPA

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Chelsea manager Frank Lampard after the match. EPA

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on Saturday. EPA

Chelsea's goalkeeper Edouard Mendy and Manchester United's Paul Pogba after the match. EPA

Chelsea boss Frank Lampard said he was frustrated after his side were denied a "clear penalty" against Manchester United in Saturday's 0-0 Premier League draw at Old Trafford.

Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta was manhandled in the area by United counterpart Harry Maguire as they challenged for a header in the first half but the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) dismissed the Spaniard's claims for a penalty.

Lampard vented at the officials after the match, saying "holding is allowed, but headlocks aren't".

"I thought it was a clear penalty," he said. "I couldn't see it at the time from where I was standing and those ones are hard calls for the referee. It's why we brought VAR into the game, but VAR was very quick to dismiss it.

"They should have taken time and advised the referee to look at the monitor. If he watches the monitor, he has to give the penalty, so it's confusing. There's a frustration because the rules seemed to be moving in the right direction.

"The referees were looking at the monitor a bit more at the start of the season. The person on the pitch should always take first responsibility and that was given back to them with the monitor."

The result extended United's wait for a first league win at Old Trafford this season, and they remain stuck in the bottom half of the table. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side were at least able to avoid losing a third straight home league game at the start of the season for the first time since 1930.

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But the Norwegian was encouraged by the debut of new signing Edinson Cavani, who joined United earlier this month.

The Uruguayan nearly opened his account with his first touch, stabbing a Bruno Fernandes cross inches wide of Edouard Mendy's near post.

"He showed in glimpses what he can do. He'll give us a presence in the box. He's an experienced centre forward and the more we get the ball into him in and around the box we'll get goals from him," Solskjaer said.

Solskjaer said United were missing the presence of their supporters, with fans not allowed into football grounds due to the ongoing Covid-19 levels in the UK.

"We missed the crowd behind the goal there to suck the ball into the goal, which happens so many times at this place," he told BBC's Match of the Day.

"There were good players at the other end of the pitch. Their keeper made some fantastic saves.

"The quality in the defending was very good. I've said all the time we have a squad full of good players and good characters but now it's about kicking on after a poor start."