Stoke City v Manchester United

Stoke City v Manchester United

The Britania Stadium

Premier League

Week 6

Peter Crouch was on fire at the Britania Stadium as Stoke City battled their way to an impressive draw against a Rooney-less Manchester United.

The Visitors opened the scoring after 27 minutes at the Britanina Stadium. Nani, and Darren Fletcher carved open Stoke’s defensive lines with a beautiful one-two that gave the Portuguese winger enough time to lash his left footed strike past Asmir Begovic at the near post.

It hadn’t all been plain sailing for the visitors from Lancashire in the opening minutes, as Stoke tried to hurry and press United in an attempt to contain the reigning titleholder’s fluid style of play.

That physicality took its toll early on as Javier Hernandez was forced to make way for Michael Owen just 11 minutes into the game, after Jonathan Woodgate’s fair and strong challenge.

The Potters game plan was simple; dominate with strength and size in defence, and test United’s keeper David De Gea with set pieces from Matthew Etherington and long throws from Rory Delap. 

Peter Crouch played the target man for Stoke and could have given his side the early lead after 14 minutes, but his free header from an Etherington corner was guided wide of the target.

Tony Puli’s men came close to equalizing twice before the half time break, but De Gea’s fine saves denied both a thunderbolt from Andy Wilkinson and Jon Walter’s strike, allowing United to take the lead into the break.

The Potters came out flying from the interval and deservedly equalized after eight minutes. Etherington’s whipped in corner from the Potters right was met by the head of Crouch, who managed to get between both Phil Jones and Rio Ferdinand, leaving De Gea to stand and watch as the ball flew past him into the back of the net.

Crouch should have given his side the lead moments later, as Jermaine Pennants cross looped over the head of Ferdinand, but the Spanish keeper did just enough to deny the Potters striker second from close range.

Both sides traded chances as the half went on. De Gea again denied the Potters a lead when Marc Wilson’s driven free-kick required a firm punch away from goal. Ashley Young’s too wasted a chance for the visitors, as effort from 18-yards was struck straight at Begovic.

Stoke pressured United to the end as Crouch’s dominance in the air lead to chances late on. His header from an Etherington corner and a volley at the back post three minutes from time both went wide of the goal and failed to test De Gea.

United weathered the storm and almost snuck a winner in injury time, but Ryan Gigg’s volley was miss-hit and the Potters brought an end to Alex Ferguson’s perfect start to the season.