Chelsea missed the opportunity to go eight points clear at the top of the Barclays Premier League by drawing 1-1 against Southampton in an entertaining game at Stamford Bridge where the officials’ decisions will once again be scrutinised.

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Jose Mourinho’s men were looking to respond from their European exit by tightening their grip on the title after Manchester City’s loss at Burnley and went in front through Diego Costa’s first Premier League goal in almost two months. Dusan Tadic equalised after a contentious penalty, awarded for a foul by Nemanja Matic on the impressive Sadio Mane.

Replays showed Matic slid in from behind and made contact with the ball, but referee Mike Dean pointed to the spot and booked the Chelsea midfielder.

Chelsea, under pressure for much of the contest, finished on the attack, but Fraser Forster made fine saves from Oscar, Eden Hazard and Juan Cuadrado to earn Saints a point.

The Blues, who are six points clear at the top, still have a game in hand on City and remain firmly in control of their bid for a first Premier League title in five years.

Wayne Rooney was firmly in the spotlight as fourth placed Manchester United produced a rare heavyweight display in dispatching Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 to move within one point of third placed Arsenal.

Louis van Gaal’s side made the perfect start as they took the lead in the ninth minute when Marouane Fellaini, played in by Michael Carrick’s fine pass, kept his composure to beat Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris with a low left-footed shot.

Carrick went from provider to scorer 10 minutes later when United’s former Tottenham midfielder looped a header past Lloris after Fellaini’s initial effort had only been half cleared.

Rooney seized an opportunity to poke fun at himself after he rampaged through the Tottenham defence to fire home following Nabil Bentaleb’s mistake.

With all eyes on him, Rooney celebrated by miming a series of punches and then falling onto his back as if knocked out.

Elsewhere, Everton eased their relegation fears with a 3-0 stroll against Newcastle at Goodison Park. Roberto Martinez’s team started the day only three points above the bottom three, but they went in front after 20 minutes when Republic of Ireland midfielder James McCarthy scored his first goal of the season with a 20-yard drive that deceived Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul.

Everton were on course to end a run of five league games without a win by the 56th minute when Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku drove home a penalty after Newcastle’s Yoan Gouffran brought down Aaron Lennon.

Newcastle’s forgettable afternoon got even worse moments later when defender Fabricio Coloccini was shown a straight red card for hacking down Lennon and Ross Barkley netted the third goal in stoppage-time.