Premier League
Man Utd1Leicester1

Manchester United 1-1 Leicester City

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 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.

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

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
Marouane Fellaini's Premier League season will be over if he is punished for elbowing Robert Huth

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.

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.

Full report to follow.

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).

Line-ups

Man Utd

  • 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

  • 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
Home70%
Away30%
Shots
Home21
Away14
Shots on Target
Home6
Away3
Corners
Home6
Away5
Fouls
Home16
Away10

Live Text

Match ends, Manchester United 1, Leicester City 1.

Full Time

Second Half ends, Manchester United 1, Leicester City 1.
Foul by Daley Blind (Manchester United).
Leonardo Ulloa (Leicester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt saved. Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner.
Attempt blocked. Memphis Depay (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Ander Herrera (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by N'Golo Kanté (Leicester City).
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.

Substitution

Substitution, Leicester City. Andy King replaces Riyad Mahrez.

Dismissal

Second yellow card to Daniel Drinkwater (Leicester City) for a bad foul.
Memphis Depay (Manchester United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Daniel Drinkwater (Leicester City).
Memphis Depay (Manchester United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Danny Simpson (Leicester City).

Substitution

Substitution, Manchester United. Memphis Depay replaces Marcus Rashford.
Attempt missed. Leonardo Ulloa (Leicester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Riyad Mahrez.
Chris Smalling (Manchester United) hits the right post with a header from the centre of the box. Assisted by Wayne Rooney.
Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Christian Fuchs.

Substitution

Substitution, Leicester City. Marc Albrighton replaces Jeffrey Schlupp.
goal

As It Stands

TeamPWDLGDPts
1Leicester36221133077
2Tottenham35191243969
3Arsenal36191072567
4Man City3619893265
5Man Utd3517991260
6West Ham35151461759
7Southampton361510111255
8Liverpool351510101155
9Stoke3613914-1448
10Chelsea34121111747
11Everton35101411644
12Watford3512815-644
13Swansea36111015-1343
14West Brom36101115-1441
15Bournemouth3611817-2041
16Crystal Palace3610917-1039
17Newcastle368919-2533
18Sunderland3571117-1832
19Norwich358720-2631
20Aston Villa363726-4516
View full Premier League table

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