The Premier League Match Centre has issued an explanation after Manchester United saw a goal ruled out against Chelsea. The Blues are seeking to get back to winning ways against a struggling United side but looked to have suffered an early setback at Stamford Bridge.

Matheus Cunha appeared to have put Michael Carrick's side in front after bundling the ball over the line. However, the visitors' celebrations were cut short as it emerged the forward was standing in an offside position.

On social media, the Premier League Match Centre posted: "#CHEMUN – 34’ VAR OVERTURN. VAR checked the referee’s call of goal – and determined that Cunha was in an offside position and recommended that the goal was disallowed."

The goal was quickly overturned, much to Chelsea's relief, and the game headed in level at the half-time break, just over 10 minutes after the Cunha incident. TNT Sports pundit Ally McCoist was the first on the broadcast team to suggest that the United star had been stood beyond the last Chelsea defender.

"Harry Maguire knocks it back, might be a hint of offside, that's where I'm going, I might be wrong, I might be totally wrong.," McCoist said on commentary.

Lead commentator Darren Fletcher replied: "That is some spot from you (McCoist), it is being looked at by James Bell, and it is a fraction offside."

"It's harsh, you know whether we think it is or not, it's offside," McCoist continued. "That's remarkable, it really is."

When it became clear that Cunha's goal would be ruled out, Fletcher turned his attention to United boss Carrick. "Let me just tell you that's the last thing the poor fella sat on the bench needs to see," Fletcher said. "He must be thinking, 'how do I buy a break here?'"

McCoist added: "It's so unlucky because the defender bumps him offside, it's unbelievable. How's your luck? There's no getting away from it, it's offside but a great degree of sympathy for the goalscorer."

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