Manchester United 1 Leicester 1: Title party postponed as Foxes can only draw at Old Trafford

THEY so wanted to complete the fairytale at the Theatre of Dreams.

To sink to their knees and kiss the turf like Brian Kidd did when Manchester United earned a vital late win on their way to a first Premier League title in 1993.

To know what it meant to the real Ronaldo when he was applauded off by United’s gracious fans after scoring a hat-trick for Real Madrid.

Or to celebrate in front of the 3,000 travelling fans in the way that Sylvain Wiltord once did when he sealed the title here for Arsenal.

Anthony Martial opened the scoring for United to put Leicester's party on hold Reuters

Instead, the wait to be crowned champions goes on, until tonight at the very least.

That is when every Leicester fan all over the world will crowd around TV sets to see if Chelsea can finish the job for them against Tottenham.

It is up in the air still, which is where Claudio Ranieri will be when he completes a whirlwind return to Leicester after lunch with his mum Renata in Rome.

This remarkable club have had their head in the clouds all season.

Martial's ninth Premier League goal of the season put United ahead News Group Newspapers Ltd

Everyone is getting giddy with their success and it comes to something when a good draw at Old Trafford somehow feels like a bad point.

They came here to win the Premier League title, to finish this once and for all at this sporting cathedral.

Instead they turned the air blue, with Danny Drinkwater sweating on a potential FA charge of foul and abusive language after he was sent off in the 87th minute.

He was booked twice — once for a foul on Marcus Rashford and again for a foul on substitute Memphis Depay — before he appeared to give referee Michael Oliver a mouthful.

Wes Morgan beat Marcos Rojo in the air to power in Leicester's equaliser News Group Newspapers Ltd

Morgan's goal sent Leicester another step closer in the title race Reuters

Now it all turns on whether Oliver reports Drinkwater in the same way Jon Moss had Jamie Vardy over in the 2-2 draw with West Ham at the King Power.

This was another draw, a perfectly reasonable one after the Foxes recovered from Anthony Martial’s eighth-minute strike for United.

Captain Wes Morgan, a colossus at the back for Leicester this season, levelled with a header after just 17 minutes.

It was their first attack, or at least the very first serious attempt to make inroads into United’s defence.

Claudio Ranieri was frustrated at Old Trafford, but his side have taken one step closer Reuters

If you want to make a case for dismissing United boss Louis van Gaal at the end of the season, then this 90 minutes is all you will ever need.

His side enjoyed 70 per cent possession, had nearly twice as many touches on the ball and yet still could not convert their superiority into victory

United are all fur coat and no knickers, all mouth and no trousers.
It is the story of their season, the reason they are a staggering 17 points behind the league leaders.

History tells you that it was in the final stretch of the season when Sir Alex Ferguson would put the hammer down.

Jubilant Foxes thought they were in for relegation battle, instead they are set to be champions Getty Images

This is another nail in Van Gaal’s coffin because the football, especially in the second half, was lamentable.

In days gone by, in their pomp, United were irresistible.

For all of 15 minutes they were at it, pinning Leicester to the Stretford End as they went in search of goals.

Martial scored, reading Antonio Valencia’s clever flick with the outside of his right boot when Danny Simpson switched off at the back stick.

Danny Drinkwater is sent off for a second yellow Getty Images

To be fair to Simpson, apparently dating Ex on the Beach star Ashleigh Defty, he probably has other things on his mind.

Wouldn’t we all, because he was caught day-dreaming again when he played a dopey pass into the feet of United winger Jesse Lingard.

He recovered, just in time, to prevent Lingard getting a run on Kasper Schmeichel’s goal.

The momentum was with United, who were bristling with confidence as they targeted a top-four finish ahead of the noisy neighbours.

Instead, they ran out of ideas when Drinkwater sent in a free-kick from the right and Morgan scored with a powerful, towering header beyond keeper David De Gea.

Huth grabs Fellaini's barnet while marking the midfielder Sky Sports

Fellaini lashed out with an unsavoury elbow to down the German Sky Sports

After that, it turned into a scrap, with Marouane Fellaini planting his elbow into the side of Robert Huth’s head after the defender tugged at his barnet.

Leicester lull teams in, allowing the opposition to make the fatal mistake of thinking they do not really fancy it. Big mistake.

Leo Ulloa, deputising for suspended Foxes striker Jamie Vardy again, could easily have had a hat-trick.

Instead, for some inexplicable reason, everything the Argentinian hit came off the wrong part of his body.

Louis van Gaal's side enjoyed 70 per cent of possession but could not make it count Reuters

Riyad Mahrez felt the same when he sent Marcus Rojo for a hot dog in the twisting move that led to a penalty appeal towards the end of the first half. Michael Oliver denied him.

The PFA Player of the Year was undeterred, forcing De Gea to fist away his effort after that bundle of energy N’Golo Kante set him free. After Drinkwater was sent off, Claudio Ranieri’s side sat back and settled for the draw that means Tottenham must win at Stamford Bridge for the first time since 1990.

DREAM TEAM RATINGS
MAN UTD: De Gea 6, Valencia 8, Smalling 6, Blind 8, Rojo 7, Carrick 7, Lingard 6 (Mata 6), Fellaini 7 (Herrera 6), Rooney 7, Martial 7, Rashford 7 (Depay 6). Subs not used: Romero, Schneiderlin, Darmian, Fosu-Mensah. Booked: Lingard, Carrick, Rooney. Ent: 2

LEICESTER: Schmeichel 7, Simpson 6, Morgan 7, Huth 6, Fuchs 8, Mahrez 7 (King 6), Kante 6, Drinkwater 5, Schlupp 6 (Albrighton 6), Okazaki 6 (Gray 5), Ulloa 7. Subs not used: Amartey, Wasilewski, Chilwell, Schwarzer. Sent Off: Drinkwater (86). Booked: Drinkwater. Ent: 2