United goes club-record 25 games unbeaten but draw is costly

Posted April 30, 2017 7:00 am

The Associated Press

Manchester United's Eric Bailly, left speaks with Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho after suffering an injury during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Swansea, at Old Trafford, in Manchester, England, Sunday April 30, 2017. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP) The Associated Press

MANCHESTER, England (AP) - Gylfi Sigurdsson's free kick dented Manchester United's Champions League hopes as Swansea drew 1-1 Sunday at Old Trafford to enhance its Premier League survival bid.

It was a deflating way for fifth-placed United to set a club record unbeaten streak: 25 matches dating back to Oct. 23. A more important statistic is the 14 league games they have drawn this season, 10 in front of their own fans.

Swansea, though, is now only two points from safety with three games to go.

Marcus Rashford's contentiously won penalty just before halftime, converted by Wayne Rooney, had given United control of the match but Sigurdsson bent the ball home in the 79th minute.

"We didn't look exhausted. We are exhausted," United manager Jose Mourinho said. "If some people want to analyze the performance, do it in context. Nine matches in April, with a squad of 22. We are very tired so I don't take the performance out of context."

There was further bad news for United's overworked medical staff, with Luke Shaw and Eric Bailly picking up injuries to join a cluttered treatment room.

Mourinho, already missing a host of first-teamers, made four changes from Thursday's derby draw against Manchester City, with Rooney, Jesse Lingard, Ashley Young and Shaw recalled.

Manchester United's Eric Bailly is treated on the pitch after being injured, during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Swansea, at Old Trafford, in Manchester, England, Sunday April 30, 2017. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP) The Associated Press

Manchester United's Wayne Rooney, top, celebrates scoring his side's first goal of the game from the penalty spot against Swansea during their English Premier League soccer match at Old Trafford in Manchester, England, Sunday April 30, 2017. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP) The Associated Press

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