Violence mars United draw in Rome

Mercifully, there were no problems inside with 1,200 visiting fans well policed and able to watch their team perform impressively but eventually lose their 100% Champions League record when Mancini levelled Gerard Pique's first-half header.

But yet again, despite a marked improvement in security from the disgraceful baton-wielding policing on United's last visit in April, the talk will still be about the apparent inability of the Italian authorities to contain the scourge of hooliganism, which has already twice seen soccer suspended in the country.

Roma manager Luciano Spalletti must have felt reasonably confident about ending an understrength United's perfect record in Group F but it soon became apparent the visitors were not in the mood to roll over.

Had Nani's set-piece delivery matched the eye-catching nature of his blistering left-wing raids, United would probably have been in front long before they eventually seized the initiative through Pique in the 34th minute.

The Spain Under-21 international has supposedly had his attitude criticised by Sir Alex Ferguson's assistant Carlos Queiroz recently. If those stories are true, then the Barcelona-born youngster provided the perfect answer as he rose to nod home when Nani eventually got a corner right.

Ghanaian midfielder Ahmed Barusso left a nasty imprint on the game and Johnny Evans' shin at the start of the second half as he went straight over the ball with a woeful tackle which could have brought a greater sanction than the yellow card produced by referee Martin Hansson.

Having already shown the worst side of his game, Barusso offered a glimpse of his best, sending a 25-yard effort whistling just wide of Tomasz Kuszczak's goal.

United were never on the back foot for long though and would have doubled their lead if Alexander Doni had not raced out to block Louis Saha's shot at point-blank range after Wayne Rooney had sent his strike partner clear with a superb through-ball.

The introduction of Mirko Vucinic changed that theory as the Montenegrin quickly set up Mancini for a well-taken equaliser before striking the base of a post with an excellent snap-shot, the nearest Roma came to a winner.