Stoke City finally made their extra man count as they struck late on to earn a 1-1 draw against a Hull City side reduced to 10 men after under a quarter of an hour of their encounter at the KC Stadium.
Chester scored the only goal of the game when Hull opened the season with a victory at Queens Park Rangers last weekend but lasted less than 15 minutes before being given his marching orders for bringing down Glenn Whelan when he was through on goal.
Hull battled back bravely from that early setback to go ahead just before half-time when Nikica Jelavic pounced on a loose ball after Asmir Begovic's parry fell loose.
However, the numerical deficit finally took its toll on the home team as Ryan Shawcross bundled in an equaliser off the prostrate of Allan McGregor with just eight minutes left on the clock.
Hull City manager Steve Bruce: "Given the circumstances, I think you would accept a point after you're down to 10 men after 15 minutes. However, we feel there was an injustice, of course, and when you see it, how blatant it is, I just can't understand how the three officials can't get together and make that decision right.
"It's difficult to take and difficult for the players, because after their exertions in midweek and playing with 10 men for 75 minutes, the determination to succeed was manful to say the least.
"I got into trouble twice last year and vowed I wouldn't give the FA any more money, but we've already had two awful decisions. Last week [against QPR] it didn't count when he had a penalty go against us, but let's give the referee a hand as the fourth official has a monitor next to him."
Stoke manager Mark Hughes: "Relieved is one of the emotions, but also frustration, given the circumstances we found ourselves in. We didn't take the best out of that situation against a team with 10 men.
"First of all, we shouldn't have conceded a goal, because that makes it doubly difficult to overcome a side battling hard. In the second half, we needed to use a bit of guile and intelligence to understand what was required and we didn't do that to a large extent.
"But we kept going, we changed it around and we got Peter Crouch on, which helped as he gave us a different option, so we got something out of the game, but all credit to Hull on the day, who found themselves up against it and did really well.
"I suppose to get a point in our first away game is something to take out of the match, but we're not quite up to speed yet."
Tottenham 4 0 Q.P.R
Harry Redknapp endured a miserable return to White Hart Lane as Queens Park Rangers were outclassed in a 4-0 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur.
Redknapp was dismissed by Spurs in 2012 despite guiding the club to three consecutive top-five finishes in the Barclays Premier League, before winning promotion from the Championship with QPR last term, but his former employers were less than hospitable on the 67-year-old's return to north London.
Nacer Chadli deservedly gave the home side the lead 12 minutes in, before Eric Dier followed up his goal at West Ham United on the opening weekend by netting the second.
Chadli added a third eight minutes before the break, and Emmanuel Adebayor made absolutely certain with a fourth goal in the 65th minute.
The result sees Spurs maintain their winning start to the 2014-15 campaign and lifts them to the top of the Barclays Premier League, while QPR are left searching for their first points since returning to the top flight.
Spurs head coach Mauricio Pochettino: "We are very pleased. We are happy because we are in front of our supporters for the first game this season here.
"I told the players at half-time that, for me, the game is 0-0 and we need to win the second half, but 1-0 in the second half was good."
"It's nothing because it's two games. The most important thing is to try to develop our style and philosophy and today the team showed our basis. It's important that the team show that we play like a team. When we play like a team together, we can achieve something."
QPR manager Harry Redknapp: "We didn't play with enough energy and we looked off the pace a bit. In certain areas we weren't sharp enough, we've got to work harder than that with and without the ball. Maybe one or two looked a bit slow.
"I don't think it's systems, that [3-5-2] system allows me to get two strikers in the team, which I was trying to do.
"[Loic] Remy doesn't play up on his own, Charlie Austin doesn't either really; it's difficult so you're looking to get two up front. You [can] play 4-4-2 but you get slaughtered in midfield, it's very difficult.
"I thought it would suit us fine. I felt Rio [Ferdinand] and [Steven] Caulker did okay today, I thought they coped but in front of them we were short of energy and didn't really get a grip of the game at all."
Sunderland 1 1 Manchester United
Louis van Gaal's spluttering start to life at Manchester United continued as they drew 1-1 with Sunderland in the Premier League.
Man United, who lacked fluency at the Stadium of Light, took a 17th-minute lead through Juan Mata against the run of play.
However, they failed to take advantage as an unmarked Jack Rodwell headed in a first-half leveller on his home debut to earn Sunderland a point.
All eyes were again on the Dutchman after United began their campaign with a 2-1 home defeat to Swansea City last week.
As if to add to the pressure, all three of the club's close-season signings – Luke Shaw, Ander Herrera and Marcos Rojo – were unavailable.
That they emerged with a point was perhaps a source of relief, with Connor Wickham spurning a great chance for Sunderland just after half-time.
Sunderland head coach Gus Poyet: "I know Van Gaal very well and if you give him time he will achieve what he promises. I have no doubt.
"I am so pleased Will Buckley had a very good first half because everybody knows why I was so consistent in trying to get him.
"He was electric, direct and he will do plenty of things. We have to be patient with him but he showed why he is here."
Manchester United manager Louis Van Gaal: "One point: that is not good enough for Manchester United.
"We lost a lot of balls in situations where I don't expect it. We were dominating without creating chances. That is disappointing.
"I think that is down to the confidence. The play was much better in the United States [in pre-season].
"We have to improve but it takes time. You can never say how long it will take. If you win the next game, then confidence is coming back."
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