Manchester United force Leicester to wait for the title after draw at Old Trafford

Leicester City are within touching distance of becoming the first team to become new champions of the English top flight for 38 years after fighting back for a gripping 1-1 draw at Manchester United.

Should Tottenham Hotspur fail to win at Chelsea on Monday night, they will be crowned champions.

United stunned the expectant visiting fans when Anthony Martial fired under Kasper Schmeichel after eight minutes. But Leicester showed the spirit of champions elect, skipper Wes Morgan epitomising that fighting character by heading home Danny Drinkwater’s corner barely 10 minutes later.

Leicester then had huge claims for a penalty turned down as Marcos Rojo appeared to catch Riyad Mahrez in the box just before the break. The visitors also had Schmeichel to thank for keeping them in the game with a fine early save from Jesse Lingard and vital clearance late on.

Danny Drinkwater saw red for a second bookable offence in the dying minutes and he may have been fortunate not to concede a penalty with his tug on Memphis on the fringe of the box. But Leicester held firm for a result that means they are now eight points clear of title rivals Tottenham Hotspur, who must beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Monday night to keep their title challenge alive.

Leicester denied by the referee? Surely if Michael Oliver had spotted Fellaini’s swinging elbow on Huth in the first half or had a cleared view of Rojo’s tackle on Mahrez, then the result could have been very different.

Wes Morgan (Leicester City): Epitomised the fighting spirit of the champions in waiting with a courageous headed equaliser and then kept things tight at the back under intense United pressure. A captain’s performance.

Manchester United: De Gea 7, Valencia 7, Smalling 6, Blind 6, Rojo 5, Carrick 6, Fellaini 6, Lingard 7, Rooney 6, Martial 7, Rashford 7. Subs: Herrera 6, Mata 6, Memphis 6.

Leicester City: Schmeichel 7, Simpson 7, Huth 7, Morgan 8, Fuchs 6, Mahrez 7, Kanté 6, Drinkwater 7, Schlupp 6, Okazaki 6, Ulloa 6. Subs: King 6, Albrighton 7, Gray 6.

8’ – GOAL! Manchester United 1-0 Leicester City: United take the lead as Martial fires under Schmeichel after Valencia’s cross picks him out at the far post.

13’ – SCHMEICHEL SAVE! Terrific reactions from Schmeichel to deny Lingard after Fellaini’s lay-off.

17’ – GOAL! Manchester United 1-1 Leicester City: Wes Morgan heads the Foxes back into the game, holding off Rojo to beat De Gea from the corner.

26’ – FELLAINI ELBOWS HUTH: But it goes unnoticed by the referee. The midfleider could face further retrospective action.

38’ – PENALTY SHOUT! Rojo looks to have clipped Mahrez in the box but Michael Oliver is unmoved.

77’ – SMALLING CLOSE: he heads inches wide from Rooney’s dangerous cross.

86’ – RED CARD! Danny Drinkwater is dismissed for a second yellow and perhaps lucky to escape the concession of a penalty for his tug back on Memphis.

90+2’ – SCHMEICHEL TO THE RESCUE: The keeper saves from Memphis and then gets up to clear from under the nose of Rooney.

Anthony Martial has now scored nine PL goals for United. Among French players only Eric Cantona (on four occasions) scored more PL goals for United in a single season.

Wes Morgan scores his 2nd PL goal of the season, again a header from a set-piece. He scored a header v Southampton from a corner.