LEICESTER’S title celebrations were put on hold when they were forced to cling on with 10 men as they drew 1-1 with Manchester United at Old Trafford yesterday.
The Barclays Premier League leaders responded to Anthony Martial’s early strike through captain Wes Morgan, but it was not enough to earn they three points they needed to complete the unlikeliest of title successes.
They were left living on their nerves in the closing minutes after Danny Drinkwater was sent off for a second bookable offence when he brought down Memphis Depay just outside the area.
In the end they were probably relieved to reach the final whistle and claim a point that inches them closer to a fairytale that could still be realised tonight if Tottenham do not beat Chelsea.
Failing that, Claudio Ranieri’s men could finish the job on their next outing, back at the King Power Stadium against Everton on Saturday. The Foxes’ failure to seal the deal with two games to spare was not for the want of trying. It was only after
Drinkwater’s 86th-minute dismissal that it began to look like a draw was a satisfactory outcome.
United, who were also anxious to pick up points in their battle for fourth place, were never in the mood to oblige them or their buoyant fans. The opening half-hour was a frenetic affair as Leicester made an unusually, but understandably, nervous start.
It came as no surprise they conceded, as Marcus Rashford had already seen a shot blocked. Martial arrived unmarked to sweep an Antonio Valencia cross under Kasper Schmeichel after eight minutes. It was only the third goal the normally rocksteady Foxes had conceded in eight games and it needed a fine save from Schmeichel to deny Jesse Lingard and prevent it getting worse.
Leicester needed to regroup and did so successfully with Morgan getting away from the erratic Marcos Rojo to reach a Drinkwater free-kick and head in a 17th-minute equaliser.
Attention then switched to referee Michael Oliver and a series of big decisions which could have had a significant bearing on the game. Firstly, Lingard seized on poor control by Danny Simpson and threatened to race clear, only to be dragged back by the Leicester defender. Lingard went down but Oliver did not deem contact strong enough to constitute a foul, much to the relief of
Simpson, who on another day might have been sent off.
There was controversy at the other end when Riyad Mahrez wrong-footed and then collided with Rojo in the penalty area, but again nothing was given. United midfielder Marouane Fellaini may also have been lucky to escape punishment after appearing to catch Robert Huth with a flailing arm following a tussle that involved the Leicester defender pulling the Belgian’s hair.
Leicester upped the tempo at the start of the second half. Simpson found space and had a cross deflected just out of Shinji
Okazaki’s reach before Leonardo Ulloa headed the resulting corner over. Ulloa had another good effort deflected wide.
United came back into the game as time ticked away and Chris Smalling went close with a firm header that struck the outside of the post.
Hearts were then in mouths when United substitute Memphis went down after contact by Drinkwater on the edge of the area. Only a free-kick was given but the red card made for anxious times in the closing minutes.
Elsewhere, Jurgen Klopp defended Daniel Sturridge after the striker headed straight down the tunnel following Liverpool’s 3-1 defeat at Swansea, who made sure of avoiding relegation.
Sturridge failed to acknowledge the Liverpool fans after club’s first game on British soil after the Hillsborough inquest verdict.
Manager Klopp said: “If somebody forgot to say something to the fans then it’s my fault. Hopefully our fans know how close we are to them.”
Andre Ayew scored a double for the hosts with Jack Cork getting their other goal.
Christian Benteke netted for Liverpool, who had Brad Smith sent off after 76 minutes.
Sadio Mane scored a hat-trick in Southampton’s 4-2 win at home to Manchester City.