Premier League
Manchester United drop their first points of the season in a tough away day at Stoke.
There was a shock in the build up to the game when the absence of Wayne Rooney from the match day squad was announced, meaning Dimitar Berbatov kept his starting place from the 0-3 victory away at Leeds in the Carling Cup midweek. And moments before the game United were forced into another last minute change, when Johnny Evans who was set to start at right back, pulled up with a hamstring injury. Antonio Valencia took his place for the start of the game.
If it seemed United's injuries were bad before the game, then when it started they got even worse. When after just three minutes Chicharito was brought down in the box by Jonathan Woodgate, and fell badly on his head. Chicharito's game was over almost as soon as it had begun. To add insult to injury United were not awarded what should have been a penalty for the challenge, leaving Sir Alex dumbfounded. On the back of a brace of goals midweek, Michael Owen came on to replace the Mexican.
The game was a scrappy affair with challenges flying in from both sides. The free flowing football United had produced in previous weeks, was not coming together as the manager hoped, at a hostile Britannia Stadium. It took till the 27th
minute for the first clear cut chance, which also resulted in the opening goal. Nani played an intricate one two with Darren Fletcher on the right wing when he cut inside, beating a couple of defenders before cutting back onto his right foot, slotting a sublime shot past the helpless Begovic. A stunning goal from United's Portuguese winger. However going behind didn't shock the home side, when just a minute later they almost levelled the score, when David De Gea made a world class reaction save to deny Andy Wilkinson. Just moments before half time De Gea made another equally impressive save, diving to his right to deny a Jonathan Walters shot, that was heading for the bottom corner of goal.
United held onto their lead until half time, however it took Stoke City just six minutes after the restart to draw things level. Peter Crouch nodded home a simple header from a Matthew Etherington corner. It was poor marking from Rio Ferdinand that gave Stoke's summer signing the opportunity to level, and just minutes later Crouch almost put the home team ahead, when he found him self unmarked again inside the United area. De Gea made yet another crucial save tipping Crouch's shot over with his elbow.
United were under pressure throughout the second half, and on 68 minutes the United keeper was forced into action again beating out Mark Wilson's powerful free kick. There was another contentious refereeing decision late in the second half when Ryan Shawcross clearly blocked a Patrice Evra shot with his arm, but yet again Peter Walton refused to give United the decision. In the final seconds of the game it was United who almost snatched the winner when Ryan Giggs, a second half substitute, shot wide from an in swinging cross.
The points were shared in what had been an even game. Stoke created the clearer chances throughout the game, and with better refereeing United could have had a couple of penalties. United drooped their first league points of the season, but returned to the top of the table on goal difference from their rivals Manchester City.
No comments:
Post a Comment