Stoke City 1-1 Manchester United
- Published
Ryan Shawcross put stoke ahead inside two minutes
Man Utd draw third game in four
Stoke have lost only once in six
United could slip 12 points behind Chelsea
Manchester United drew their third successive away game after coming from behind to earn a point at Stoke.
The result leaves United nine points behind Premier League joint-leaders Chelsea and Manchester City.
Radamel Falcao swept in from a corner to equalise for United after Ryan Shawcross had given Stoke an early lead with a close-range volley.
Stoke were denied a penalty when Chris Smalling appeared to handle, while a Peter Crouch header hit the post.
Man Utd not good enough - Van Gaal
A point was the least Stoke deserved, with the home side coping better with the blustery conditions and looking more likely to carve an opportunity from open play.
Balls delivered into the box caused problems for United's three centre-halves, who at times were reduced to arguing amongst themselves, while the majority of possession was not enough for a visiting side that lacked the guile to break down an organised Stoke defence.
Six successive victories had led United boss Louis van Gaal to talk of a title challenge, but dropping six points over the Christmas period leaves cementing a top-four place as the more realistic ambition.
Former Manchester United defender Phil Neville on BBC Radio 5 live |
|---|
"The disappointment for United is that over the last three away games they have not been clinical enough. They have had all the possession, but sometimes I would like them to be a bit more direct rather than take the extra pass. Both teams went for victory in horrendous conditions. I think a draw was a fair result in the end." |
Stoke had enjoyed their own period of consistency in December, a run of three wins and a draw only interrupted by a 2-0 defeat by Chelsea.
The Potters lost the influential Bojan to a hamstring injury in their latest win against West Brom, but that mantle was picked up by Marko Arnautovic.
It was his corner in the second minute that was delivered deep to Crouch, who nodded down for the unmarked Shawcross to score against his former club.
Another Arnautovic ball should have led to Mame Biram Diouf putting Stoke further ahead, but he fired wide when given a clear sight of goal and, soon after, United were level.
Stoke 1-1 Man Utd: Mark Hughes says side can give anyone a game
A corner from the left was helped on by Michael Carrick, with Falcao finishing from inside the six-yard box.
However, that did not provide United with the inspiration to improve, with their best chance of the second half coming when the ineffective Robin van Persie poked a volley wide.
Instead, it was Stoke who came closest to winning it, with Crouch hitting the woodwork and Diouf firing over, both from deliveries into the United area.
And the hosts were aggrieved - perhaps justifiably - when Crouch's header into the raised arm of Smalling did not result in a penalty.
Stoke scorer Ryan Shawcross joined Stoke from Manchester United in 2007
Radamel Falcao scored with United's first effort on target
The Colombian has scored three Premier League goals for United
United lost Ashley Young to a hamstring injury
Stoke manager Mark Hughes felt the Potters should have been awarded two penalties
- Published1 January 2015
- Published1 January 2015
- Published31 December 2014
- Published20 June 2016
- Published7 June 2019
