Gylfi Sigurdsson scores
Gylfi Sigurdsson scores

Manchester United 1-1 Swansea City: Report and reaction


Gylfi Sigurdsson's brilliant free-kick put a dent in Manchester United's Champions League hopes as yet another Old Trafford draw gave relegation-threatened Swansea reason to believe in Premier League survival.

Marcus Rashford's contentiously-won penalty just before half-time, converted by Wayne Rooney, had given United control of the match but Sigurdsson bent the ball home the 79th minute, seconds after Ander Herrera abandoned the post to join the wall, to secure a 1-1 draw.

It was a deflating way for United to set a new record unbeaten streak – 25 matches dating back to October 23 – and a more important statistic is the 14 league games they have drawn this season, 10 in front of their own fans.

If that was not enough there was further bad news for United's overworked medical staff, with Luke Shaw and Eric Bailly picking up injuries to join a cluttered treatment room.

Mourinho, already missing a host of first-teamers, made four changes from Thursday's derby draw against Manchester City, with Rooney, Jesse Lingard, Ashley Young and Shaw recalled.

Shaw's third Premier League start of the year lasted just eight minutes, though, as he hobbled from the pitch in genuine discomfort.

For most of the half, United adopted the care-worn look of a squad stretched thin by congestion and circumstance.

There were uncharacteristic giveaways from Michael Carrick, miscued passes from Rooney and even a scream of frustration from the mild-mannered Rashford when an expected ball from Herrera was not forthcoming.

Anthony Martial was key to the two clear chances they did manage, floating the ball brilliantly over the top for Lingard, only for the England winger to fluff his connection after springing the offside trap.

The Frenchman went himself on the half-hour, cutting past two men from the left and unleashing a low drive which Lukasz Fabianski almost spilled at Lingard's feet.

For their part, Swansea were bright and up for the contest.

Fernando Llorente, collecting a smart pass from Tom Carroll, had David De Gea flapping when he turned Bailly at the back post and let fly. Andre Ayew and Sigurdsson both drew further saves from the Spaniard but United took the lead when Rashford made his controversial intervention.

Having sprinted clear he converged with Fabianski, though the teenager was well on his way to the ground when Fabianski touched him. Rooney, for 252nd time, did the rest for United.

He should have had a second early in the second half, but hit Martial's back rather than the target from 10 yards.

Bailly pulled up around the hour mark, leading to a second reshuffle of the red defence and giving Swansea renewed hope.

Rooney's foul on Martin Olsson gave them the opening they needed and Sigurdsson lined up from 20 yards. His strike was clean and curled perfectly inside the post but would have hit Herrera square in the chest had he not sprinted away from his station moments earlier.

Either side might have won it in an ill-tempered finale, Lingard heading straight at Fabianski at the far post and Llorente failing to meet a glorious cross in added time.

Match reaction


Leon Britton hailed Swansea's character after they earned what could be a vital point in their bid to stay in the Premier League.

"The performance was very good," Britton told BT Sport, as the Swans responded to direct rivals Hull drawing at Southampton on Saturday.

"We showed great character, scored a great goal and it's a really good point."

Goalscorer Gylfi Sigurdsson added: "This could be a really big point for us." 

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho said: "We didn't look exhausted - we are exhausted.

"If some people want to analyse the performance, do it in context. Nine matches in April, with a squad of 22. We are very tired so I don't take the performance out of context."

Asked about Shaw and Bailly's injuries, he added: "I think Shaw has to be a big injury to leave the pitch after 10 minutes.

"Eric Bailly, I don't know... he played every game of the previous eight matches in April and today 60, 70 minutes more. I don't know, for sure, Luke Shaw must be an important injury."

Chris Smalling and Phil Jones remain injured and Mourinho said, when asked about their progress: "I prefer not to speak." 


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