Stoke City 1-1 Manchester United

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.

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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.

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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

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Stoke

• 1Begovic
• 20Cameron
• 17Shawcross
• 5Muniesa
• 3Pieters
• 19Walters
• 15N'Zonzi
• 6Whelan
• 10ArnautovicSubstituted forAssaidiat 81'minutes
• 25Crouch
• 18Diouf

Substitutes

• 2Bardsley
• 4Huth
• 12Wilson
• 16Adam
• 22Butland
• 24Assaidi
• 34Shenton

Man Utd

• 1de Gea
• 6Evans
• 12Smalling
• 4Jones
• 8Mata
• 3ShawSubstituted forJanuzajat 64'minutes
• 16Carrick
• 10Rooney
• 18YoungSubstituted forda Silvaat 75'minutes
• 9FalcaoSubstituted forHerreraat 64'minutes
• 20van Persie

Substitutes

• 2da Silva
• 11Januzaj
• 13Lindegaard
• 21Herrera
• 24Fletcher
• 42Blackett
• 49Wilson

Referee:

Michael Oliver

Attendance:

27,203

Match Stats

Home TeamStokeAway TeamMan Utd

Possession

Home34%

Away66%

Shots

Home11

Away6

Shots on Target

Home2

Away2

Corners

Home11

Away7

Fouls

Home8

Away12

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Stoke City 1, Manchester United 1.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+3'

Second Half ends, Stoke City 1, Manchester United 1.

Posted at 90'+2'

Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Glenn Whelan.

Posted at 90'+2'

Attempt saved. Oussama Assaidi (Stoke City) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Mame Biram Diouf.

Posted at 90'

Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Erik Pieters.

Posted at 90'

Attempt missed. Rafael (Manchester United) left footed shot from the right side of the box is too high. Assisted by Ander Herrera.

Posted at 83'

Foul by Phil Jones (Manchester United).

Posted at 83'

Oussama Assaidi (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 82'

Foul by Phil Jones (Manchester United).

Posted at 82'

Mame Biram Diouf (Stoke City) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Substitution

Posted at 81'

Substitution, Stoke City. Oussama Assaidi replaces Marko Arnautovic.

Posted at 80'

Attempt missed. Ryan Shawcross (Stoke City) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Glenn Whelan.

Posted at 79'

Attempt missed. Robin van Persie (Manchester United) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Adnan Januzaj with a cross.

Posted at 77'

Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Wayne Rooney.

Posted at 76'

Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Rafael.

Posted at 76'

Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Phil Jones.

Substitution

Posted at 75'

Substitution, Manchester United. Rafael replaces Ashley Young because of an injury.

Posted at 74'

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Posted at 74'

Delay in match Ashley Young (Manchester United) because of an injury.

Posted at 72'

Foul by Robin van Persie (Manchester United).

Posted at 72'

Geoff Cameron (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 70'

Attempt blocked. Jonathan Walters (Stoke City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Marko Arnautovic with a cross.

Posted at 70'

Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Chris Smalling.

Posted at 70'

Attempt blocked. Mame Biram Diouf (Stoke City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.

Posted at 69'

Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Wayne Rooney.

Posted at 69'

Peter Crouch (Stoke City) hits the right post with a header from the centre of the box. Assisted by Marko Arnautovic with a cross following a set piece situation.

Posted at 68'

Foul by Chris Smalling (Manchester United).

Posted at 68'

Mame Biram Diouf (Stoke City) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Posted at 68'

Foul by Robin van Persie (Manchester United).

Posted at 68'

Erik Pieters (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 67'

Attempt missed. Robin van Persie (Manchester United) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Juan Mata with a through ball.

Posted at 64'

Attempt blocked. Peter Crouch (Stoke City) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Marko Arnautovic with a cross.

Posted at 64'

Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Phil Jones.

Substitution

Posted at 64'

Substitution, Manchester United. Adnan Januzaj replaces Luke Shaw.

Substitution

Posted at 64'

Substitution, Manchester United. Ander Herrera replaces Falcao.

Posted at 63'

Offside, Manchester United. Michael Carrick tries a through ball, but Luke Shaw is caught offside.

Posted at 61'

Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Geoff Cameron.

Posted at 61'

Attempt saved. Phil Jones (Manchester United) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Juan Mata with a cross.

Posted at 60'

Phil Jones (Manchester United) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 60'

Foul by Marko Arnautovic (Stoke City).

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