Live Commentary: Manchester United vs Leicester City

A beautiful afternoon to soccer fans the world over. Welcome to Nigerianeye's live text coverage of the Premier League meeting between Manchester United and Leicester City at Old Trafford.


The Foxes head to the Theatre of Dreams knowing that three points will be enough to secure a first top-flight crown in their history.

It will mark arguably the finest ever sporting achievement of any kind, as a squad assembled for a cost of just £30m could become just the sixth team to lift the famous trophy.

United still have plenty to play for too, meanwhile, with their top-four hopes hanging by a thread heading into the final few games of the campaign.


OFFICIAL LINE-UP

MANCHESTER UNITED: De Gea, Valencia, Smalling, Blind, Rojo, Carrick, Fellaini, Lingard, Rooney, Martial, Rashford

LEICESTER CITY: Schmeichel, Simpson, Huth, Morgan, Fuchs, Mahrez, Kante, Drinkwater, Schlupp, Okazaki, Ulloa



MANCHESTER UNITED SUBS: Romero, Darmian, Fosu-Mensah, Herrera, Mata, Schneiderlin, Memphis

LEICESTER CITY SUBS: King, Albrighton, Amartey, Gray, Wasilewski, Chilwell, Schwarzer




























That wraps up our coverage of the game. Until next time!

There was to be no late drama at Old Trafford, then, as Michael Oliver's full-time whistle brings to a close what was an entertaining match on the whole. Leicester City will be the happier of the two sides with the point, particularly after being reduced to 10 men with two minutes to go, while Manchester United are now likely to have to settle for fifth place at most.



90+4 min FULL TIME: MANCHESTER UNITED 1-1 LEICESTER CITY

90+3 min United throwing all they have at their opponents now. A ball fell loosely in the box but Schmeichel was superbly off his line after reading the danger and cleared the ball before a United man could get to it. One minute left to play.

90+1 min CLOSE! Rooney gets the resultant free kick on target, which Leicester's number one fairly routinely kept out. Depay's own set-piece attempt hit the wall, before the Englishman was again thwarted from range. Three minutes of added time to come.

89 min LEICESTER CITY SUB! Andy King is quickly on to fill the void left by Drinkwater, replacing Mahrez for the final minute of normal time.

88 min RED CARD! Danny Drinkwater is shown a second yellow card for pulling back on Depay on the edge of the United box. An unhappy return to Old Trafford for the midfielder, who will now miss next week's meeting with Everton. Leicester will now have to hold on with 10 men.

86 min MANCHESTER UNITED SUB! Final change of the afternoon for the Red Devils; Memphis Depay replacing Marcus Rashford for the final stages. Martial will now operate down the middle, but can he be the hero for a second week running?

84 min A dangerous cross right into the centre of Leicester's box was superbly met by Morgan, who get the slightest of touches on the ball to put Mata off. Incidentally, Rooney pulled back on an opponent during that Leicester counter a few minutes ago, but the referee clearly did not see it. Lucky boy!

80 min Most of the game is being played in Leicester's half now, but the Foxes just love springing forward on the counter. They do just that with 10 minutes to play, but Ulloa's shot at the end of the move fails to truly test De Gea. We are entering Sylvain Wilton, 2002 territory now.

78 min MANCHESTER UNITED SUB! The Red Devils just stepping things up a tad in the final quarter of this match. Fellaini, who appeared to elbow Huth in the first half, is the next to make way in place of Herrera. Twelve minutes left for United to win this game.

76 min Both managers have used just one of their three available substitutions so far. Will Ranieri or Van Gaal be next to roll the dice at Old Trafford, in a match that has more importance to the hosts in terms of needing a win.

74 min SAVE! A rare save for De Gea to make, but it was simple enough by the Spaniard's high standards. Leicester hit their opponents on the break, forcing a four-on-four situation and, just when the chance to shoot looked to have gone, Mahrez unleashed a bullet which De Gea punched well away.

72 min Fellaini gets his head to a corner after Ulloa misjudged the flight of the ball, but he could not pick out the target. Been a quiet half for both goalkeepers, in truth, with this second half failing to match what we saw in the first in terms of entertainment.

70 min This game has gone very flat all of a sudden. Again, the onus is very much on the Red Devils to find a third goal to win this match, with their top-four hopes depending on it. City happy to soak up the pressure in the remaining 20 minutes of the contest.

68 min YELLOW CARD! The cautions keep on coming, the latest being shown to Rooney for dissent towards the linesman. We have seen less of that from the Englishman in recent times, but he failed to keep his cool on this occasion. Okazaki has now been replaced by Gray for the visitors.

66 min Drinkwater sends in another decent delivery from a right-sided free kick, which Ulloa again glances narrowly over the bar. A rare half-chance in this cagey second half, with neither side really able to get in behind so far from open play.

64 min MANCHESTER UNITED SUB! Mata is indeed introduced for the home side for his 100 appearance in Red Devils colours, replacing Lingard out on the left-hand side. That seems like a smart change from Van Gaal on the face of it.

62 min Leicester holding on a little as the ball is played around the edge of the box. The Foxes were quick to pounce on Rooney when the loose ball made it to the Englishman, forcing the United skipper to dink his attempt well over the bar.

60 min Morgan taking no chances when blasting a ball up the line well into the stands. Momentum just appears to be swinging the hosts' way as we hit the hour mark, but they have not really looked like scoring since the restart.

58 min Juan Mata is being readied to come on by Van Gaal and his backroom staff, so the Dutchman appears to be the first to roll the dice. Leicester slightly on top over the past 10 minutes, with the Red Devils not really able to find any rhythm in attack.

56 min YELLOW CARDS! Ulloa's glancing header is cleared away close to the line. Carrick was shown a yellow card in the next wave of play, while Drinkwater also entered the referee's book for a niggling challenge on Lingard out wide.

54 min YELLOW CARD! Jesse Lingard is shown a yellow for a late challenge. Seconds later Ulloa has his shot deflect wide of the target with De Gea sprawling across. City coming close to a second at Old Trafford.

52 min City well on top at the start of this second half, really looking to create some inroads in the attacking third. United therefore having to sit back, which is a complete reverse of what we saw in the opening 45 minutes.

50 min Half a chance for Leicester to take the lead for the first time, as Simpson is played in behind the United backline down the right but opts to fire across goal in the hope of a touch from Okazaki than going for target himself. The Foxes striker was inches away from connecting, and we remain at 1-1.

48 min SAVE! Leicester with the first attempt of the second half - Morgan again getting his head to a corner which De Gea keeps out routinely enough down the middle. Martial creates some space up the other end but cannot keep his shot on target.

46 min RESTART! Leicester City get proceedings back underway at Old Trafford. Let's just hope that the next 45 minutes are just as gripping as what we witnessed in the first half. So much on the line at Old Trafford!


So we are all square at the interval, then, in a game that has certainly kept those in attendance on the edge of their seats. Only three real attempts on target, but there has been plenty of attacking intent on show and plenty to keep us gripped for the remaining 45 minutes.


45+1 min HALF TIME: MANCHESTER UNITED 1-1 LEICESTER CITY

44 min United enjoying another strong spell at the end of this first half. Rooney is the first to see his shot blocked on the edge of the box, before Martial's attempt is also deflected wide for a corner. Can the Red Devils bag a second before the break? Time is against them.

42 min So much energy on display at Old Trafford in this first half. Leicester get forward again, with Ulloa and Drinkwater linking up for the later to fire a deflected shot narrowly wide of goal. Morgan gets on the end of the corner once more but this time cannot direct it on target.

40 min CLOSE! Schlupp's cross from the left is dipping horrible and forces De Gea to claw it away - technically Leicester's second on-target attempt of the match. Mahrez gets on the loose ball and is brought down by Rojo, but Michael Oliver felt the defender simply stood his ground.

38 min Ulloa gets his first sight of goal when picked out by Mahrez's cross from the right, but he can only glance the ball over the bar. Not the worst attempt you will see, and his run to get into the position certainly offers hope of more chances to come.

36 min Lingard looking lively again as he bursts forward, but Fuchs gets the better of that personal battle on this occasion and the ball rolls out for a goal kick. The excitement levels have certainly lowered over the past 20 minutes or so but this one is still delicately poised.

34 min Rashford is the latest to see a shot from inside the box deflected to safety, but Schmeichel made sure by pouncing on the ball to prevent a corner. Home fans now urging their side on, buoyed by that red card appeal that went against them a little earlier.

32 min A huge moment in this match already, as Simpson gives the ball away to Lingard who is free to race through on goal. Schmeichel raced out to narrow the angle, though, and the former United defender also tracked back and did just enough to put his countryman off without conceding a foul. Home supporters wanted a red card but it appeared to be the correct call.

30 min Leicester's best attacking move of the match so far sees the ball smartly moved from the left into a central position via three different players, but Schlupp's shot inside the box was well blocked behind for a corner. Good play from the visitors.

28 min The onus is still on the Red Devils to pick up a win here, remember, so it is not all that surprising that Leicester are willing to sit back a little. No reason for the visitors to go all-out attack this afternoon unless they are chasing a goal.

26 min Van Gaal will be more than happy with his side's showing in the opening quarter of this match. The Red Devils have been on top pretty much throughout, scoring once and creating another big chance which Schmeichel kept out, but Leicester found a way through from their only attack of note.

24 min The game's quietest spell so far, but it has followed a familiar theme as United continue to ask most of the questions. Rojo sends a teasing cross into a central position, although it was simple enough for the Foxes to deal with. "We shall not be moved" chant the travelling army of City supporters.

22 min The Red Devils wins themselves a free kick in a decent shooting position around 25 yards out. It is a little too central, but that does not prevent Rooney from taking the shot on, which he sends right into the Leicester wall.

20 min Rooney drags a shot wide of goal from 20 yards out as United go in search of a quick response of their own. The Englishman has just seven goals for the campaign, needing three to hit double figures to match the feat of his previous 14 years at the club.

18 min First attack, first goal. The sign of champions? It's skipper Wes Morgan who powered home the header, meeting a fine chipped free-kick delivery into the box from former United man Drinkwater, leaving De Gea with very little chance to get anything on the ball. What a superb response from the visitors, who have been second best all afternoon.

17 min GOAL! MANCHESTER UNITED 1-1 LEICESTER CITY (WES MORGAN)

15 min Morgan with a fine long ball into the channel for Schlupp, but the winger - selected ahead of Albrighton once more - fails to pick out a teammate with his cross. Pretty much the first time City have managed to get high up the field and put some pressure on their opponents.

13 min SAVE! Leicester still camped inside their own area, unable to get a grip on this contest. United probably should have had a second, as a ball from the left was knocked down brilliantly by Fellaini into the path of Lingard, who saw his strike kept out by the feet of Schmeichel.

11 min A very bright start from the hosts, who have come out of the blocks fast to perhaps catch their opponents a little by surprise. Still plenty of time for the Foxes to net a goal or two of their own, but at the moment they are very much second best.

9 min A collective groan from the neutrals watching on around the world, as Anthony Martial smartly tucks the ball home to open the scoring for United. It was a well-worked goal, too, with Valencia getting down the right on the overlap before cutting inside and picking out his teammate at the back post who just peeled away from his man. Incredible composure shown by the Frenchman to pick his spot beyond the Leicester No.1 for goal number 15 of the season.

8 min GOAL! MANCHESTER UNITED 1-0 LEICESTER CITY (ANTHONY MARTIAL)

7 min Only the one real shot so far in the opening seven minutes, coming via the boot of Rashford for Huth to block from 18 yards out. A Fellaini foul on Ulloa allows City to breath a little after spending a lot of this game in their own half so far.

5 min A positive enough start to the match for United, as they continue to knock the ball around with some urgency. Leicester are able to sit back and soak up any pressure this afternoon, knowing that a point will do their title hopes no real harm with two games to go.

3 min Fairly tentative start to the match, which was to be expected really. The Red Devils doing most of the early pressing, but a loose ball on the edge of the box was just about cleared away before Martial could wrap his foot around it.

1 min KICKOFF! Marcus Rashford, one of the breakthrough talents of this remarkable Premier League season, gets proceedings underway at the Theatre of Dreams alongside Wayne Rooney. How will United approach these early stages? The pressure is on them to find a way through.