Stoke City v Manchester United

A point against Manchester United must have felt like a win for Stoke’s fans after they saw their side come from behind to claim a 1-1 draw at the Britania on Saturday.

But inside the club the Potters management crew felt they could have taken all three points from United on another day.

“The minute that we scored we looked like we were threatening,” said assistant manager Dave Kemp. “We looked like we had a goal in us all the way till the end”.

The Potters goal, that came eight minutes after the half-time interval, was a thunderous header from Peter Crouch as the England striker managed to get in between both Phil Jones and Rio Ferdinand, to meet Mathew Etherington’s in swinging corner.

Stoke had trailed going into the half thanks to a well worked move between Nani and Darren Fletcher that gave the Portuguese winger enough space to lash an effort past Asmir Begovic.

But the Potters rallied after the break and, after Crouch pulled them level, almost found a winner. Only the efforts of David De Gea in the United goal, and some poor finishing prevented Pulis’ men from claiming all three points.

“The goalkeeper made some fantastic saves,” said Kemp in reference to De Gea’s fingertip save from Andy Wilkinson’s pile driver and reflex save from Crouch in the second.

“We could have had more, but we didn’t, so we’ll accept it and move on.”

A Wayne Rooney hamstring injury meant he missed the trip to Stoke and when Javier Hernandez was taken off after 11 minutes so may argue that Stoke faced a weakened United strike force. But Rory Delap and Glenn Whelan held the front line of the Stoke defense as the Potters aimed to keep two rows of four behind the ball whenever United came forward.

Despite the missed chances Kemp seemed happy to have finally broken United’s stranglehold over the Potters.

“It’s the first time we’ve taken anything off Manchester United. 

“It’s a great result for us.

“We’re delighted.”