Manchester United's 100% start to the Barclays Premier
League season came to an end at the Britannia Stadium
thanks to Peter Crouch's first goal for Stoke.
United went into the game without Wayne Rooney - rumoured
to have picked up a hamstring injury - and lost Javier
Hernandez early on after he was tackled by Jonathan
Woodgate, but took the lead in the 27th minute when
Nani played a one-two with Darren Fletcher before clipping
the ball past Asmir Begovic.
Red Devils goalkeeper David de Gea then pulled off
great stops to deny Andy Wilkinson and Jon Walters,
but the Spaniard had looked shaky dealing with crosses
and it came as little surprise that the hosts' 52nd-minute
equaliser came from a corner, which Crouch, recruited
from Tottenham for a record £10million last month,
met with his head to open his account for his new club.
The result means United leapfrog Manchester City to
return to the top of the table, but they are only ahead
of their derby rivals, who earlier beat Everton 2-0,
on goal difference.
It was also just deserts for Stoke, who put in a battling
performance and have now lost only once in 12 games
in all competitions this term.
A trip to the Britannia Stadium had always promised
to give a searching examination of De Gea's ability
under the high ball and he looked insecure in the opening
seconds, flapping at Rory Delap's first long throw into
the box before the danger passed.
Moments later the Potters survived a scare of their
own as Hernandez found himself through on goal.
Woodgate made a challenge from behind which sent the
Mexican sprawling into the onrushing Begovic, but while
Hernandez stayed down hurt and United boss Sir Alex
Ferguson cried out for a penalty, referee Peter Walton
allowed play to go on.
Glenn Whelan was then booked for upending Patrice Evra
before Phil Jones saw his header from Anderson's free-kick
cleared by Delap.
Hernandez was unable to continue and in the 11th minute
came off for Michael Owen, scorer of two goals in the
midweek Carling Cup win at Leeds.
Another Delap throw led to Stoke winning a corner and
De Gea looked stranded when it came in from Matthew
Etherington, with Crouch heading wide at the back post
but penalised for climbing over Jones.
At the other end, Dimitar Berbatov - who had been called
in as Rooney's replacement to make his first league
start of the season - nodded Anderson's corner off target.
The deadlock was broken just before the half-hour mark
when Nani linked up with Fletcher, burst into the area
and fired past Begovic.
Within seconds, Stoke nearly equalised as De Gea did
superbly to tip Wilkinson's fierce drive onto the woodwork.
Ponderous play from Begovic almost let in Nani to make
it 2-0 but the Portugal international put his effort
over the bar.
Back came Stoke, and after Delap had cracked a shot
wide from distance De Gea produced another fantastic
save to turn Walters' shot around the post.
Woodgate headed over from the resulting corner with
De Gea again failing to convince in an aerial situation,
and Crouch and Jermaine Pennant then both slid in to
no avail in an attempt to get on the end of Walters'
cross.
Having finished the first half strongly, Stoke picked
up where they left off after the restart and seven minutes
in, were level.
Etherington swung in a corner and with De Gea stood
on his line, Crouch rose to head home.
Berbatov sent a shot into Begovic's arms, but it was
Stoke who had all the momentum and Crouch looked set
to score again when he brought down Pennant's chip in
front of goal, only for De Gea to get in the way enough
for the ball to deflect over.
Begovic then got down to save a low effort from Anderson
and De Gea punched away Marc Wilson's firm free-kick.
After Ashley Young's strike had been batted away by
Begovic, the former Aston Villa winger came off for
Ryan Giggs while Danny Welbeck replaced Berbatov.
Giggs delivered a ball into the six-yard box, but Ryan
Shawcross was on hand to get there ahead of Owen, who
then looped a header over the bar.
Both sides had chances to win it towards the end, with
Crouch sending a header and volley wide before Giggs
fired over in stoppage time.
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