Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was irate that his side were not awarded a penalty in their 0-0 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday and also hit out at the Blues for an article posted on their website before the match singling out Harry Maguire.

Previewing the clash between the two teams, Chelsea made note of a controversial moment in the previous encounter when Harry Maguire appeared to foul Cesar Azpilicueta in the box.

The United captain had both arms round the Chelsea skipper as he competed for a header but no penalty was given despite a VAR check.

Chelsea wrote: “The Man United skipper’s actions will also be under scrutiny again on Sunday after his penalty area tangle with Jamal Lascelles last weekend.

“In recent Chelsea meetings the Red Devils’ centre-back has survived VAR reviews of a potential penalty foul on Cesar Azpilicueta and violent challenge on Michy Batshuayi that may well have affected the outcome.”

But Solskjaer was not happy that the incident got a mention as he criticised rivals who have claimed that United have been given favourable treatment by officials in recent months.

Solskjaer felt referee Stuart Attwell should have pointed to the spot after Callum Hudson-Odoi twice appeared to have handled the ball in the first half of their goalless stalemate.

Left-back Luke Shaw claimed to Sky Sports post-match of the incident: “The ref even said to H [Harry Maguire] if it’s a pen then it’s going to cause a lot of talk about it after.

“So I don’t know what happened there. H got told it was a pen. I’m not sure. I don’t understand.”

And Solskjaer then told the cameras: “One hundred percent [it was a penalty].

“It was a penalty, 100 per cent nailed on. If that’s a natural position for a hand to be in when the ball comes in then I must be blind.

“I can’t say [what the ref said], because that’s not going to be good for him.”

United’s draw means Manchester City sit 12 points clear at the top of the Premier League table ahead of the Manchester derby meeting between the two teams next week.

And Solskjaer admitted the Red Devils, who are resigned to a top-four fight rather than a title battle, weren’t good enough against Chelsea.

“We wanted to win. Apart from the last quality or pass being not good enough. We had great pressing, desire, work-rate. There was a great save by David de Gea and we got the clean sheet.

“That’s what let us down, that quality on the ball. The first half was scrappy. Poor game really. But then we played some good stuff at times. When we settled we created a few chances but we didn’t have enough.”

United return to action away at Crystal Palace on Wednesday and could trail leaders City by 15 points by then.