Manchester United’s top-four aspirations were dealt a blow when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Swansea in a Premier League encounter at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon, writes MARSHALL GOUTS.

Jose Mourinho made four changes to his side that played to a 0-0 draw against Manchester City, with Wayne Rooney, Ashley Young, Jesse Lingard and Luke Shaw all returning to the starting line-up.

Paul Clement made one change from the team that defeated Stoke City last week, as Ki Sung-Yueng replaced Leroy Fer.

The game got off to a slow start with neither side willing to commit too many numbers forward in the opening exchanges.

Manchester United were dealt an early blow when defender Luke Shaw’s afternoon came to a premature ending after he sustained an injury and was replaced by Antonio Valencia in the ninth minute.

Swansea gradually found their rhythm and started looking more positive when in possession of the ball, and should have taken the lead in the 12th minute when Fernando Llorente turned Eric Baily after a great pass by Tom Carrol, but his shot was kept out by David De Gea.

United came close to opening the scoring with their first chance of the game as Lingard beat the off-side trap to profit from a ball over-the-top by Anthony Martial, but his delicate finish was stopped by Lukasz Fabianski.

Martial went on a trademark run in the 30th minute, before cutting inside and finishing, but Fabianski was equal to the task as he saved the shot, before Lingard could get on to the rebound.

Jordan Ayew’s driven effort was saved by De Gea, with the rebound just evading Sigurdsson in the 32nd minute, as United’s disjointed defence were put under constant pressure by the hosts.

The home side were given a penalty on the stroke of half-time when Fabianski was adjudged to have brought down Rashford in the area. Captain Wayne Rooney stepped up to convert the resultant spot-kick to give his side a 1-0 lead heading into the half-time break.

The second half started in similar vein to the first, but United should have doubled their lead in the 49th minute when Ander Herrera found Rooney in acres of space in the area, but his goal-bound strike was blocked by Martial.

Mourinho’s side were forced into another change in the 59th minute when Matteo Darmian replaced Baily, who was hurt after tussling with Llorente.

Swansea were also dealt an injury blow when substitute Jefferson Montero was himself substituted five minutes after coming on.

Manchester United would rue their missed chances as Gylfi Sigurdsson levelled the scores in the 75th minute with a brilliantly struck free-kick, which left De Gea rooted to the spot.

The home side responded by launching a late flurry of attacks towards the Swansea goalframe, however it was Swansea who had the best chance to put the game to bed, when Llorente beat the off-side trap to get on to the end of Sigurdsson’s free kick, but the Spaniard failed to get a touch on the ball.

Neither side were able to break the deadlock again, with the final score ending 1-1.

Photo: EPA/Rui Vieira