MAN UNITED 1, SWANSEA CITY 1
Wayne Rooney was hero turned villain as Manchester United’s hopes of finishing in the Premier League’s top four was dealt a massive setback.
After scoring a penalty to give the Reds the lead, the recalled Rooney then conceded the free kick that led to relegation threatened Swansea City’s equaliser from Gylfi Sigurdsson.
It was another disappointing day for United who were held at home for a 10th time in the league as Old Trafford is no longer a fortress.
And the 23 points dropped on home soil – they also lost to Manchester City – is why they are likely to miss out on fourth spot.
United manager Jose Mourinho blamed fatigue – nine games in April – for their laboured display.
He said: “We lost players and we lost points, so yes today was a bad day. We did not look tired and exhausted, we are tired and exhausted.
“You cannot isolate the performance out of the context. This is the ninth match of April, it is not human. We have a squad of 22 that is reduced to 13 or 14 players. The players are very tired.
“Jesse Lingard and Ashley Young looked sharper than other people as they did not play the last match. I am more than happy with the players, they gave everything they could. I have zero criticism.”
Mourinho reiterated his concerns about fixture congestion as they have become a victim of their own success.
And he pointed out United could have to play the Europa League final three days after their last league game against Crystal Palace when he hinted he would play Nicky Butt’s U23 side, hoping it does not have any repercussions in the battle against relegation.
After after losing Luke Shaw and Eric Bailly, he added: “I don’t know about the injuries. 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.
“At the moment, we can walk from the bed to the toilet and break a leg.
Mouronho added Paul Pogba and Marouane Fellaini will be back for Thursday’s Europa League semi final against Celta Vigo.
Swansea manager Paul Clement said he was “proud” of his players, especially handling the adversity of conceding a disputed penalty.
Clement said: “I looked at the reaction of my players, and I had no doubt in my mind.
“The delay between contact/non contact and the decision being given proved there was doubt and replays showed the player (Marcus Rashford) deceived the keeper.
“And the keeper (Lukasz Fabianski) was furious saying he went down before there was any contact.”
Clement added the decision again proved that video technology is needed to eliminate such errors.
He said: “It was trialled in the France v Spain game when it took 48sec to make a decision using video technology.
“It is unbelievable in these days when everybody can see incidents on television that the only ones not helped are the ones who need it. It has to be done.”
It was a game that had repercussion at both ends of the Premier League table with United batting for a top-four spot and the Swans seeking to avoid relegation.
United made four changes from the side that kicked off Thursday’s derby.
There were recalls for Rooney, Lingard, Young and Shaw. The players to make way were Antonio Valencia, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Matteo Darmian and the suspended Fellaini.
United were forced into a ninth minute change after Shaw limped off to be replaced by Valencia. He took over at right back with Young switching to the left.
Swansea had plenty of early possession and carved out the first clear-cut chance when Fernando Llorente’s shot was beaten out by David De Gea with Daley Blind completing the clearance.
United’s first opening came when Lingard latched on to Anthony Martial’s though ball, but keeper Fabianski turned the ball behind for a corner.
De Gea was called into action again, scampering across his goal to keep out a 30-yard free kick from Sigurdsson.
Martial cut in from the left and forced a decent low save from Fabianski with Lingard following up in the event of him spilling the shot.
Swans remained a threat and a fierce angled shot from Jordan Ayew was kept out by the legs of De Gea.
Lingard cut in from the left only to see his 25-yard drive flash just wide of the upright.
United made the breakthrough in first half stoppage time in controversial circumstances when Rashford burst through only to go down under a challenge from Fabianski. Television replays showed, however, there was no contact with the keeper.
Rooney scored from the spot, his 252nd goal for United, as he sent Fabianski the wrong way from the spot.
United were dealt another injury blow just short of the hour when centre-back Eric Bailly limped off to be replaced by Matteo Darmain.
The Reds came lose to a second goal just after an hour when Martial’s drive from the edge of the box took a wicked deflection, but Fabianski managed to keep out the ball with his legs as he dived the opposite way.
Fabianski also had to beat out a fierce angled drive from Valencia who broke forward on an overlapping run.
Swans drew level with 11 minutes left through a spectacular free kick from Sigurdsson.
Rooney fouled Ayew 25 yards out and the Icelander lifted the ball over the defensive wall leaving De Gea standing. It was his 10th goal of the season for the Swans.
Mourinho immediately took off Rooney replacing him with Mkhitaryan.
Martial and Lingard had goal attempts late on without looking like scoring and not even six minutes of stoppage time could benefit their pursuit of three badly-needed points.