Man Utd 1 City 1
Report by Chris Griffin
Apologies for the delay in publishing this report, the Trust Board has been busy in the last 24 hours for some reason…. #premierleaguechampions
A trademark durable performance saw Leicester gain a well-deserved point against a determined Manchester United in a hard fought match. Should Tottenham fail to win tonight at Chelsea City are champions. Leicester fell behind to a Martial goal in the eighth minute but hit back with a Morgan equaliser on the quarter hour mark.
The result was a good outcome for City given United’s excellent run of form at home. Every player gave his all, none more so than Ulloa who relished his battles with Blind and Smalling.
United began the game with great pace and momentum. Leicester found it hard to retain possession. Valencia and Rojo pushed up the field from full back, stretching the Leicester defence. From such an upfield incursion Valencia crossed from the right to the far post where the unmarked Martial shot quickly and smartly to beat Schmeichel at the near post.
United kept pressing and a shot from Lingard from a Rojo cross seemed goal bound until Schmeichel made a superb save down by the foot of the post.
City meanwhile were gradually establishing a foothold in the game. A raking diagonal ball from Morgan set Schlupp free but his cross was cleared. Then Schlupp was fouled by Carrick. Drinkwater took the free kick and Morgan met it with a firm header which nestled in the corner of the United net. Once again City’s positive response to adversity had got them back into the game.
United kept pressing. Rooney shot wide. Martial made a good break but his cross to Lingard was cut out. A United corner was headed clear by Ulloa. Leicester coped well with a series of crosses launched into their penalty area. One incident saw a clash between Fellaini and Huth which was not spotted by referee or linesman and may well have suspension consequences for each player.
Another Huth challenge gave United a free kick on the edge of the D. Rooney’s free kick rebounded from the wall and Valencia blazed over the bar.
Gradually Leicester were drawing United’s sting. Switching Schlupp to the right and Okazaki to left midfield gave City better defensive cover and an element of control. After a good run Mahrez released Schlupp but his cross was cleared for a corner.
From the corner United broke quickly. The ball fell to Simpson on the halfway line. He hesitated and Lingard nicked the ball away. This launched a foot race between the two and the United fans yelled for a free kick and a card when Lingard went down. Referee Oliver waved play on and Schmeichel, as alert as ever, cleared the danger.
Seconds later Rooney clattered into Ulloa but no yellow card appeared. Fuchs was equally fortunate to escape a card after a challenge on Lingard. Meanwhile at the other end Morgan got to a Fuchs corner but was unable to repeat the power and accuracy of his earlier effort.
A good Mahrez run took him into the United penalty and Rojo was very fortunate not to concede a penalty when he swept away the winger’s legs.
Half time arrived with Leicester firmly in the game and United probably thinking they should have had more from their superior possession.
The second half saw a change in momentum with Leicester much more on the front foot. De Gea dealt easily with another Morgan header from a corner. Schlupp’s strong run led to a good Fuchs cross but Okazaki was penalised. Good work between Kanté, Mahrez and Simpson saw the latter surge into the United penalty area but his cross was just out of reach of the advancing Okazaki.
United continued to look vulnerable at set pieces and their passing began to lack the pace and accuracy of the first half as Leicester maintained their forward drive. Schlupp’s forward runs were a constant threat drawing yellow card fouls from Lingard and Carrick. Following one Schlupp run Ulloa met the header from the resulting corner but Martial cleared off the line. Drinkwater received a yellow card for pulling back Rashford but midway through the half Leicester were coping comfortably with a good defensive screen and the back four heading away any crosses. At the other end a Drinkwater free kick saw Ulloa attempt a header but it went high and wide.
Rooney eventually received a yellow card after pulling down Mahrez. Gray came on for Okazaki and then good work between Schlupp and Mahrez saw Mahrez cut inside and shoot but De Gea punched it away with some comfort. Gray then raced to the byline but his pull back was cut out.
Another strong Martial run saw his cross flash across the City six yard line with no one on hand to apply the finish. Smalling headed wide from a Rooney cross. Meanwhile Leicester broke quickly and Mahrez found Ulloa in the area but he mishit his shot. It was during this move that Rooney pulled Gray down on the edge of the area but fortunately for the United and England captain the referee missed it. The game was now stretched and Mata headed a Valencia cross wide of the City goal.
Drinkwater held Depay back as he raced into the Leicester penalty area and referee Oliver gave him his second yellow card: an unfortunate return to Old Trafford for the midfielder. It was a touch and go call whether a penalty should be awarded. Schmeichel fisted the ensuing free kick away.
United kept pressing and Schmeichel dealt inventively with a Huth back pass to clear the danger. Leicester saw out the rest of the game: honours even was a fair outcome overall, a view echoed by manager Ranieri. City players left the pitch to the applause of many United fans.
City have dealt well with the two Vardy-less games. A draw or a Chelsea win tonight at Stamford Bridge would be enough to clinch the title. A Spurs win means Leicester go into the Everton match minus Drinkwater and possibly Huth following his contretemps with Fellaini, but such adversity does not seem to negatively bother this group of players.
Teams
Leicester City: Schmeichel; Simpson; Morgan; Huth; Fuchs; Mahrez; Kanté; Drinkwater; Schlupp; Ulloa; Okazaki. Subs: Gray for Okazaki 67 minutes; Albrighton for Schlupp 77 minutes; King for Mahrez 88 minutes. Subs not used: Schwarzer; Amartey; Wasilewski; Chilwell
Manchester United: De Gea; Valencia; Smalling; Blind; Rojo; Carrick; Fellaini; Lingard; Rooney; Martial; Rashford. Subs: Mata for Lingard 61 minutes; Herrera for Fellaini 74 minutes; Depay for Rashford 82 minutes. Subs not used: Romero; Schneiderlin; Darmian; Fosu-Mensah
Referee Michael Oliver Attendance 75,275