Premier League
Man UtdManchester United1LeicesterLeicester City1

Manchester United 1-1 Leicester City

By Phil McNultyChief football writer at Old Trafford
Wes Morgan
Leicester's goalscorer Wes Morgan was in this season's PFA team of the year

Leicester City moved to within two points of the Premier League title after holding Manchester United to a draw at Old Trafford - and will clinch it on Monday if Tottenham fail to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

The Foxes recovered well from a shaky start, during which they went behind after eight minutes when Anthony Martial drilled home a near-post finish from Antonio Valencia's cross.

Claudio Ranieri's side demonstrated the strength of purpose that has become their trademark this season when captain Wes Morgan outmuscled United's defenders to head the equaliser past David de Gea nine minutes later.

Both sides had penalty appeals turned down when United's Marcos Rojo blocked off Riyad Mahrez and when Leicester's Danny Drinkwater was sent off late on after receiving a second yellow card for dragging back Memphis Depay, with referee Michael Oliver ruling it was right on the edge of the area.

Leicester's supporters celebrated long and loud after the final whistle but this was a blow to United's hopes of qualifying for the Champions League as they now stand four points behind fourth-placed Manchester City with only three games left.

Champagne on ice - but not for long

Leicester banner
Some Leicester fans revelled in their success in a self-deprecating fashion

Leicester City did not quite complete the formalities of the greatest story the Premier League has ever told - but it surely will not be long before they can officially celebrate this spectacular triumph.

Thousands of visiting fans stayed behind well after the final whistle at Old Trafford in a demonstration of sheer elation as this dream journey towards a first top-flight crown reaches its conclusion.

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal gave his counterpart Ranieri a warm, almost congratulatory, greeting at the final whistle, while those home fans still inside the stadium rose to applaud Leicester's players as they made their way to the dressing room.

It was another sign of the wave of goodwill that has accompanied Ranieri and his players on this momentous journey.

The scenery now shifts to Stamford Bridge on Monday night, where the title will be Leicester's if Spurs do not beat Chelsea. Viewers can watch highlights of that game on a special Match of the Day programme on BBC One at 22:55 BST (23:25 in Northern Ireland).

And even if Spurs do beat Chelsea, a victory at home to Everton will seal the deal next Saturday.

Old Trafford point 'satisfies' Ranieri

Leicester show what they are all about

Average positions
Leicester City were pinned back for much of the game, especially compared to their opponents, as the average positions graphic shows

Leicester have answered every question put in front of them this season - and so it was again when Martial put United ahead and the Foxes were on the rack.

Keeper Kasper Schmeichel kept Leicester in it with a fine save from Jesse Lingard before Morgan equalised.

This Leicester City side is built on solid foundations of character and resilience as well as ability and it served them well here. Many might have crumbled in the face of that early United surge - not the Foxes.

They grew into the game, matched United and proved once again they will be worthy Premier League champions.

Will Fellaini ever learn?

Marouane Fellaini's use of his elbows has characterised his career in England, both at Everton and now at Manchester United - and he shows no signs of curbing his excesses.

Louis van Gaal's most outrageous quote yet?

The Belgian's wild swinging elbow that caught Robert Huth on the jaw in the first half at Old Trafford went unseen and unpunished by referee Michael Oliver and will surely attract the attention of the Football Association.

Fellaini's mitigating circumstance will be that Huth pulled at his hair in an act of provocation.

This was clearly true but there can be no excuse for Fellaini's reaction, which would surely have brought a red card from referee Oliver had he been seen.

In the light of Tottenham's Dele Alli receiving a three-match ban for his punch on West Bromwich Albion's Claudio Yacob, it is hard to see Fellaini escaping similar sanction. The consolation will be that any suspension will cover three league games and leave him available for the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace.

Man of the match - Kasper Schmeichel

Kasper Schmeichel
Leicester City's keeper made five saves and had more touches of the ball (40) than either of his centre-backs

The game in stats

  • Leicester have lost just one of the last 10 Premier League games in which they have conceded first (W3 D6) - vs Liverpool in December.
  • Anthony Martial has scored 15 goals in all competitions this season, more than any other Manchester United player.
  • Martial's goal was the first Leicester had conceded in the opening 10 minutes of their top-flight fixtures this season.
  • The Foxes have lost just one of the last five top-flight games in which they have had a player sent off.
  • Danny Drinkwater notched his seventh Premier League assist of the season - only James Milner (11), Dele Alli (9) and Ross Barkley (8) have more among English players in 2015-16.
  • Leicester remain one of only three teams Wayne Rooney has faced with Manchester United in the Premier League without scoring against (along with Blackpool and Derby).
  • Claudio Ranieri has enjoyed just two victories in his 10 Premier League clashes with the Red Devils (D6 L2).

What's up next?

If Tottenham fail to win at Chelsea on Monday, then Leicester will be crowned Premier League champions.

Otherwise, Ranieri's side - 5,000-1 outsiders at the start of the season - will have the chance to seal the title in front of their own fans when they play Everton next Saturday (17:30 BST).

United travel to struggling Norwich next Saturday (12:45 BST) as they look to boost their slim Champions League hopes.

Line-ups

Man Utd

Formation 4-1-4-1

  • 1de Gea
  • 25A Valencia
  • 12Smalling
  • 17Blind
  • 5Rojo
  • 16CarrickBooked at 57mins
  • 35LingardBooked at 53minsSubstituted forMataat 62'minutes
  • 27FellainiSubstituted forHerreraat 75'minutes
  • 10RooneyBooked at 66mins
  • 9Martial
  • 39RashfordSubstituted forDepayat 82'minutes

Substitutes

  • 7Depay
  • 8Mata
  • 20Romero
  • 21Herrera
  • 28Schneiderlin
  • 36Darmian
  • 51Fosu-Mensah

Leicester

Formation 4-4-2

  • 1Schmeichel
  • 17Simpson
  • 5Morgan
  • 6Huth
  • 28Fuchs
  • 26MahrezSubstituted forKingat 88'minutes
  • 14Kanté
  • 4DrinkwaterBooked at 86mins
  • 15SchluppSubstituted forAlbrightonat 77'minutes
  • 20OkazakiSubstituted forGrayat 67'minutes
  • 23Ulloa

Substitutes

  • 10King
  • 11Albrighton
  • 13Amartey
  • 22Gray
  • 27Wasilewski
  • 30Chilwell
  • 32Schwarzer
Referee:
Michael Oliver
Attendance:
75,275

Match Stats

Home TeamMan UtdAway TeamLeicester
Possession
Home71%
Away29%
Shots
Home21
Away14
Shots on Target
Home6
Away3
Corners
Home6
Away5
Fouls
Home16
Away10

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Manchester United 1, Leicester City 1.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Manchester United 1, Leicester City 1.

  3. Post update

    Foul by Daley Blind (Manchester United).

  4. Post update

    Leonardo Ulloa (Leicester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  5. Post update

    Attempt saved. Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner.

  6. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Memphis Depay (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

  7. Post update

    Ander Herrera (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  8. Post update

    Foul by N'Golo Kanté (Leicester City).

  9. Post update

    Attempt saved. Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) right footed shot from a difficult angle and long range on the left is saved in the top right corner.

  10. Substitution

    Substitution, Leicester City. Andy King replaces Riyad Mahrez.

  11. Dismissal

    Second yellow card to Daniel Drinkwater (Leicester City) for a bad foul.

  12. Post update

    Memphis Depay (Manchester United) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  13. Post update

    Foul by Daniel Drinkwater (Leicester City).

  14. Post update

    Memphis Depay (Manchester United) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  15. Post update

    Foul by Danny Simpson (Leicester City).

  16. Substitution

    Substitution, Manchester United. Memphis Depay replaces Marcus Rashford.

  17. Post update

    Attempt missed. Leonardo Ulloa (Leicester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Riyad Mahrez.

  18. Post update

    Chris Smalling (Manchester United) hits the right post with a header from the centre of the box. Assisted by Wayne Rooney.

  19. Post update

    Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Christian Fuchs.

  20. Substitution

    Substitution, Leicester City. Marc Albrighton replaces Jeffrey Schlupp.

As It Stood

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Leicester362211364343077
2Tottenham351912465263969
3Arsenal361910759342567
4Man City361971068383064
5Man Utd35179943311260
6West Ham351514660431759
7Southampton361691153391457
8Liverpool3515101059481155
9Stoke36139143852-1448
10Chelsea341211115346747
11Everton351014115549644
12Watford35128153642-644
13Swansea361110153750-1343
14West Brom361011153246-1441
15Bournemouth36118174363-2041
16Crystal Palace36109173646-1039
17Newcastle3689193964-2533
18Sunderland35711174058-1832
19Norwich3587203561-2631
20Aston Villa3637262772-4516
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