Another Manchester United stalemate – thanks to Gylfi Sigurdsson – puts top-four bid in jeopardy

Wayne Rooney of Manchester United reacts during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Swansea City at Old Trafford on April 30, 2017 in Manchester, England. Jan Kruger / Getty Images

Manchester United 1 Swansea City 1

United: Rooney (45’+3’)

Swansea: Sigurdsson (79’)

Gylfi Sigurdsson was a childhood Manchester United fan whose father used to travel to Old Trafford with United’s Icelandic Supporters’ Club.

By scoring in each of Swansea City’s last three appearances at Old Trafford and assisting two further goals, the junior Sigurdsson might be doing his utmost to impress the team he supports in the hope that they sign him.

His latest goal – a free-kick which was so well placed that David de Gea did not even attempt to save it – ensured he threw a large spanner in United’s ambitions of a top four Premier League finish.

Each time United have threatened to break back into the top four since September, Jose Mourinho’s side have faltered, usually with a home draw.

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Sunday’s 1-1 stalemate was United’s tenth in the league this season, more than Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and Arsenal combined.

Nine of the bottom 11 teams have played at Old Trafford; six of them have gone home with a point.

United’s away form is fine, their home results would not even be acceptable if it was still two points for a win.

United did lead for most of the second half after a 44th minute Wayne Rooney penalty after Marcus Rashford appeared to dive - Rashford later told his manager Jose Mourinho that he had felt contact from goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianksi before he went to ground.

Swansea manager Paul Clement’s take on the incident was that Rashford had “deceived” the referee.

The home team were fortunate to lead. Aside from a spell at the start of the second half, Mourinho’s injury hit side were sluggish throughout and the injury list grew even worse as defenders Luke Shaw and Eric Bailly limped off during the game.

All United’s recognised centre-backs are now sidelined and Mourinho is unsure who will be back for Thursday’s Europa League semi-final first leg at Celta Vigo, though midfielder Paul Pogba will return.

He is needed, for it was another United performance reminiscent of the Louis van Gaal era, another Groundhog Day moment from the Mourinho era, another frustrating draw which drew groans from another vast home crowd. Positives were few. Wayne Rooney, playing because Zlatan Ibrahimovic is injured, took his penalty well, but United gave the ball away too easily against Clement’s well organised side.

Swansea passed the ball around well and fully deserved their point, providing cheer for their 2,700 travelling fans. Clement felt the draw “was the least” that his side deserved.

United may well be unbeaten since October in the league, but as they squander every opportunity to get in the top four with their wretched home form, they become increasingly reliant on winning the Europa League to gain a place in next season’s Uefa Champions League.

Mourinho is alarmed by the fatigue of his players and the relentless fixture schedule and wore a frustrated face after more dropped home points.

“We lost players and we lost points,” explained the Portuguese. “But the context of the performance is that we played nine matches in April - 810 minutes of football with high levels of fatigue.

“Big match after big match after big match. A Thursday night derby and Sunday 12 [pm UK kick-off time] is difficult. Players are very, very tired. We are in a very difficult situation, but the boys will give absolutely everything.”

As was shown against Swansea, it might not be enough as his side literally limp into May with their fortunes needing a big pick up if it’s going to be a merry month.

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