Manchester United 1-1 Swansea: Wayne Rooney's penalty cancelled out by trademark Gylfi Sigurdsson free kick as visitors' relegation plight receives glimmer of hope at Old Trafford
- Marcus Rashford was brought down in the box and Wayne Rooney converted at the stroke of half time
- Rooney then brought down Jordan Ayew in the second half Gylfi Sigurdsson struck with a trademark free kick
- Luke Shaw hobbled off for United after only nine minutes to add to the Red Devils' injury woes this season
- Eric Bailly was also substituted after injuring himself in a tackle with Fernando Llorente in the second half
On another frustrating day when Manchester United players continued to drop like flies – not always legitimately either – a club record 25-match unbeaten run in the league went largely unnoticed.
Rarely has a milestone been less deserving of celebration as Jose Mourinho's side limped on through a marathon season still unsure of their place in next season's Champions League.
A chance to move up into the top-four was wasted here after Swansea joined the likes of Hull, Bournemouth, Burnley, West Ham and Stoke in taking a point from Old Trafford. It was a deserved point, too.
Wayne Rooney converted from the spot and slotted home to put United in front against Swansea on the stroke of half time
The United skipper celebrates scoring in 150 different Premier League games with midfielder Michael Carrick
But Gylfi Sigurdsson cancelled Rooney's effort out with a sweet, curling free kick to level the game at 1-1
The draw means Swansea keep tabs on Hull, who sit a spot above them, who also drew away to Southampton on Saturday
MATCH FACTS, RATINGS, TABLE AND MATCH ZONE
MANCHESTER UNITED (4-2-3-1): De Gea 5.5; Young 6.5, Bailly 6.5 (Darmian 61mins, 6), Blind 7, Shaw 6 (Valencia 8, 6); Carrick 6, Herrera 6; Lingard 6.5, Rooney 5 (Mkhitaryan 80), Martial 7; Rashford 5.
Unused subs: Mata, Romero, Valencia, Tuanzebe, McTominay.
Scorer: Rooney 45.
Booked: Lingard, Martial.
SWANSEA (4-3-1-2): Fabianski 6.5; Naughton 5, Fernandez 8, Mawson 6.5, Kingsley 6; Ki Sung-Yeung 5.5 (Fer 61, 6), Britton 6 (Montero 65, 6), Olsson 72', 6), Carroll 7; Sigurdsson 7; Ayew 6.5, Llorente 6.
Unused subs: Amat, Baston, Nordfeldt, Olsson, Cork.
Scorer: Sigurdsson 79.
Booked: Britton, Fernandez.
Referee: Neil Swarbrick 5.
Star man: Federico Fernandez.
Attendance: 75,271.
Wayne Rooney's heat map on return to Manchester United's starting lineup
That record unbeaten run (in a single top-flight season) now includes 12 draws, 10 of them at home.
There was even an element of controversy about United's opening goal from a penalty, won by Marcus Rashford and converted by Wayne Rooney, in added time at the end of the first half.
Rashford has provided us with some memorable moments in his fledgling career, but there was nothing to admire in the way he persuaded Neil Swarbrick to point to the spot.
Did Lukasz Fabanski even make significant contact with his opponent? It hardly mattered. Rashford had already made up his mind to go to ground after racing onto Jesse Lingard's throughball and touching it past the advancing Swansea goalkeeper.
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Rooney sent Fabianski the wrong way and then had a chance to wrap up victory within four minutes of the restart when Ander Herrera's cross gave the United captain a chance to pick his spot from close-range. Unfortunately, the spot Rooney chose was Anthony Martial's backside.
Swansea had shown enough enterprise, not least when Fernando Llorente span past Eric Bailly and forced a fine save from David De Gea who then denied Jordan Ayew at his near post.
And the Premier League strugglers drew level in the 79th minute with a trademark freekick from Gylfi Sigurdsson.
United should have known what to expect from a man who had scored on his previous two visits to Old Trafford when Rooney brought down Ayew with a clumsy challenge 20 yards out.
Swansea manager Paul Clement instructs his side while United boss Jose Mourinho patrols the touchline at Old Trafford
Mourinho opted to play Wayne Rooney against the Swans, captaining the side from an advanced central midfield position
United defender Luke Shaw went down off the ball after only nine minutes and had to receive medical treatment on the pitch
Shaw hobbled off the field and made his way down the tunnel at Old Trafford to add to the Red Devils' injury woes this season
The Portuguese had to quickly rearrange his tactics and formation as his pre-match plan was hampered by Shaw's injury
It looked like they had a plan as Herrera dropped out of the defensive wall and took up position by the near post to guard that side of De Gea's goal.
However, the confused Spaniard was ordered back into the wall and Sigurdsson duly despatched an exquisite freekick to the exact point where he had been standing.
Swansea could even have snatched victory in added time but Llorente fluffed his effort with only De Gea to beat.
So United stay outside the top-four and Swansea inside the bottom three, albeit with a valuable point in their battle for Premier League survival.
To add to Mourinho's problems, Eric Bailly and Luke Shaw both limped off with what appeared to be ankle injuries.
David de Gea makes a strong save to keep out a shot from the visitors as Swansea rattled United after Shaw's substitution
Swansea star Gylfi Sigurdsson unleashes a shot as the home side are penned into their own box and visitors heap pressure on
Marcus Rashford gets crowded out by a host of Swansea defenders in a solid defensive display in the first half for the visitors
Federico Fernandez clatters into the United skipper in a strong challenge which steals the ball away from United
Rashford is brought to the ground by Lukasz Fabianski and referee Neil Swarbrick deemed it a penalty after some deliberation
The Red Devils' highest goalscorer sent the Swansea keeper the wrong way and fired his team into the lead at Old Trafford
Rooney gestures to the sky after his goal made United more comfortable after a difficult first half for the home side
The United boss wears a wry smile as he makes his way down the tunnel before the half-time whistle sounds
Bailly, the cornerstone of United's defence in the absence of Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and Marcus Rojo, departed just after the hour mark.
Shaw was hurt inside seven minutes, his manager's exasperation evident on the touchline.
'I think Luke Shaw's must be a big injury because to leave the pitch after 10 minutes I am expecting a very big injury,' said Mourinho.
'Maybe Eric's injury relates to playing 800 minutes of football in April.
'At the moment, we can walk from the bed to the toilet and break a leg.'
Both defenders are set to miss Thursday's Europa League semi-final against Celta Vigo in Spain, taking United's casualty list back up to seven.
The second half did not start as the home side hoped as Eric Bailly went down after a challenge with Fernando Llorente
Meaning Mourinho had to make another substitution at the back as Italian Matteo Darmian came on for the defender
The Ivorian looks dejected as he makes his way towards the tunnel at the Theatre of Dreams to join fellow defender Shaw
Mourinho looks on from the touchline while Clement cajoles his side to get an equaliser during the second half
At least Paul Pogba should return for that game and Juan Mata made the bench, while Marouane Fellaini will be free of a domestic suspension.
'I prefer not to speak about Phil Jones and Chris Smalling, I prefer to speak about Juan Mata giving everything to be available. I am grateful for that,' added Mourinho, who retained enough humour to start warming up himself at one point.
But his frustration at the gruelling fixture schedule – this was United's 57th game of the season compared to Swansea's 38th – and persistent injuries has been palpable in recent weeks. Even the fans were not exempt from it on Sunday.
'This is the ninth match of April, it's not human,' said Mourinho. 'It's a consequence of our success but you are punished for doing well.
'We are tired and exhausted. Did the supporters know it? Because if they did they would be more supportive of the players.'
'We lost players and we lost points, so today was a bad day.'
Ander Herrera had been stationed on the post shortly before Gylfi Sigurdsson stepped up to take the free-kick
But Herrera left his station to return to the defensive wall, before Sigurdsson curled the ball home where he'd been standing
The Iceland international then pops up for his side, as he does so often, to put Swansea back on level terms with his strike
Rooney gives a knowing glare to the sideline after Sigurdsson scores from the free kick which he conceded
The United boss watches on as his side look certain to peter out to their 10th home league draw of the season - the most ever
Henrikh Mkhitaryan comes on for Rooney as United try and salvage all three points in a final push for a winner
The managers shake hands at the end of the game as each side come away with a share of the spoils in a toughly fought draw
Mourinho consoles the dejected Rashford as United's Champions League hopes are dealt a blow at Old Trafford
Clement acknowledges the travelling fans from South Wales after a well-earned point in the north west of England
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