Leicester City's Premier League party was put on hold for another day as Anthony Martial's early opening goal saw them draw 1-1 with Manchester United. 

It was an eventful start to proceedings from both sides with goals from Martial and Wes Morgan making it one-a-piece before the 20-minute mark. Jesse Lingard and Jeffrey Schlupp had the best opportunities either side of the goals but couldn't give their sides the lead. 

The second period didn't live up to the intensity of the first with Shinji Okazaki and Leonardo Ulloa and Riyad Mahrez  in the opening twenty minutes of the period. Chris Smalling clattered the post and the dismissal of Danny Drinkwater gave the Foxes a scare but ultimately settled for the point. 

Above: Anthony Martial fires home in Manchester United's 1-1 draw with Leicester City | Photo: Reuters
Above: Anthony Martial fires home in Manchester United's 1-1 draw with Leicester City | Photo: Reuters

Quick fire start 

Claudio Ranieri's were on the verge of history as they headed into this Old Trafford clash but it was the Red Devils, who were still fighting for a Champions League place, were the ones to strike first. 

It was simple for Martial as he was left unmarked at the back post from Antonio Valencia's cross into the area and the Frenchman composed himself brilliantly to slot it beyond Kasper Schmeichel

Jesse Lingard almost doubled their lead five minutes after taking the lead as his low shot looked destined to find the net but the Dane made a save father Peter would have been proud of to keep them in the contest. 

Above: Leicester City celebrates his goal in their 1-1 draw with Manchester United | Photo; Man Utd via Getty Images
Above: Leicester City celebrates his goal in their 1-1 draw with Manchester United | Photo; Man Utd via Getty Images

Champion's resilience 

Leicester City have shown great resilience throughout the season which has seen them on the edge of glory and they showed it again as they got the equaliser in the 17th minute. 

It was poor defending on United's behalf as Drinkwater played a ball in from the free kick as Marcos Rojo failed to track Morgan and his header gave David De Gea no chance. 

They almost grabbed a second seven minutes from the break as Schlupp's excellent ball into the area almost caught De Gea who had to tip it away from goal. 

It only went as far as Riyad Mahrez who appealed for the penalty after been tripped by Rojo but Michael Oliver waved the appeals away. 

Above: Anthony Martial has a shot in the second half in Manchester United's 1-1 draw with Leicester City | Photo: PA
Above: Anthony Martial has a shot in the second half in Manchester United's 1-1 draw with Leicester City | Photo: PA

Slow it down

Both sides couldn't bring the same intensity into the second period with two half-chances from Leicester been the only real opportunities of the opening 20 minutes. 

Former United man Danny Simpson did well to win the ball on the halfway line and did well to make up ground before playing it off to Okazaki but his shot was deflected behind by Smalling. 

It was then the turn of Ulloa who was the hero last week with his brace in the 4-0 drubbing of Swansea City and rose with intent once again as he got his head to Drinkwater's set piece but he glanced it wide. 

On the 70-minute mark, Mahrez showed why he was crowned PFA player of the year as he showed some great trickery to make some space for himself before hitting a stinging shot which was ultimately punched away by De Gea. 

Above; Leciester City's Danny Drinkwater was sent off during their 1-1 draw with Manchester United | Photo: Oli Scarff/AFP/Getty Images
Above; Leicester City's Danny Drinkwater was sent off during their 1-1 draw with Manchester United | Photo: Oli Scarff/AFP/Getty Images

Jangling nerves 

The Foxes went looking for the goal that would secure their title victory but United still proved to be a danger as the game entered it's latter stages. 

United skipper Wayne Rooney played a superb ball into the far post looking for Smalling and the central defender came very close to restoring his sides lead but came back off the post. 

The nerves were shaken further as Ranieri's side were reduced to ten men after Drinkwater was given his second yellow as he pulled substitute Memphis Depay and despite penalty appeals Oliver point to the edge of the box.

Rooney tested Schmeichel on two quick-fire occasions as he punched away his first effort and when the ball came to the England international from Depay's blocked effort he tried from range but Schmeichel did well to hold on.  

He was at it again in injury time as a quick counter attack from United saw Martial look for Rooney but the Dane came flying off his line to block and then went further to clear the danger. 

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About the author
Danial  Kennedy
Award-winning sports journalism graduate. Currently studying a PR Masters at the University of Sunderland. Writing for VAVEL since August 2014. Twitter - @ddkjournalism.