Chelsea defender Gary Cahill describes debut draw with Manchester United as 'sickening' after losing three-goal lead

Gary Cahill admits he was lucky to escape punishment for his first half challenge on Danny Welbeck but concedes his disappointment after Chelsea went on to draw 3-3 at Stamford Bridge against Manchester United after leading by three goals.

Manager Andre Villas-Boas disputed the award of the two second half spot-kicks that saw United start to rise to the challenge.

The newly signed centre back however felt fortunate regarding his first half challenge after he brought down the England striker as he threatened to break into the box after darting across the centre backs.

"I thought the contact was outside the box anyway, and at the time I thought I had got the bottom of my studs on the ball," Cahill, told the club’s official website.

"I have seen the replay and sometimes when you go through the player and across the player to get the ball they are given against you, so I was fortunate to get away with that one but if you see the direction the ball moves I think my studs actually touched it first."

The Blues took the lead after Daniel Sturridge forced an own goal from Jonny Evans, and extended the lead to 3-0 just after half time through Juan Mata and David Luiz, but went on to draw 3-3.

"It is a sickening feeling like we have lost the game. The mood is a bit flat and we are disappointed,” Cahill conceded.

"It was a fantastic game to be involved in and it was in at the deep end but these are the games you want to be involved in, however any game you go 3-0 up you expect to win so that has put a dampener on my debut.

"The second half we started fantastically well and went 3-0 up and really should have seen the game off from there, but the second penalty was disappointing.

The Blues were pegged back by two Wayne Rooney penalties, awarded for challenges on Patrice Evra and Danny Welbeck respectively, before Javier Hernandez equalised with a header with less than ten minutes left on the clock.

Cahill explained: "The first one was probably a penalty but the second one was right in front of me and I didn't think it was a penalty at the time and seeing the replay I haven't changed my mind, so that went against us at a crucial part of the game."

The 26-year-old nearly scored the winner deep into injury time with a powerful strike from distance, but the effort swerving into the arms of De Gea. Mata got closer with a free kick but a winner did not come for the home side, and Cahill credited De Gea’s efforts to see out the result.

"I think if that was anywhere but straight down his neck then it was going in but he has pulled off two fantastic saves near the end,” Cahill added.

The free-kick from Juan Mata he couldn't have put it anywhere closer to the top corner and he [De Gea] has managed to claw that one out as well to get them a point."