Manchester United cling on for victory against Stoke City
/dnl.eurosport.com/sd/img/placeholder/eurosport_logo_1x1.png){kind=logo}
ByEurosport
Updated 03/12/2014 at 10:41 GMT
Premier League, Old Trafford – Manchester United 2 (Fellaini 21, Mata 59) Stoke City 1 (Nzonzi 39)
: Juan Mata of Manchester United (R) celebrates scoring his team's second goal with his team-mates Chris Smalling (L) and Ashley Young during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and Stoke City at Old Trafford (Getty)
Image credit: Getty Images
Manchester United won their fourth match in succession for only the second time since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson with a hard fought 2-1 win over Stoke.
Marouane Fellaini rose at the far post to nod home Ander Herrera’s cross for his first home goal before Steven N’Zonzi rifled in his first of the season with a fierce drive from outside the area.
Juan Mata’s free kick early in the second half restored United’s lead before a fantastic double save from David De Gea and goal line clearance from Ashley Young somehow protected all three points.
The big news before kick-off was the omission of Wayne Rooney, who failed to recover from an injury sustained when he collided with an advertising hoarding against Hull City.
But it was United’s midfielders who did the damage on the night in a reshuffled team, the victory meaning the gap between them and third-placed Southampton is down to a point.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2014/12/02/1364118-29276305-2560-1440.jpg)
Manchester United's Belgian midfielder Marouane Fellaini celebrates with Manchester United's English striker James Wilson (up) after scoring the opening goal of the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Stoke City
Image credit: AFP
KEY MOMENTS
PRE-MATCH: Wayne Rooney misses out after colliding with an advertising hoarding at the weekend. James Wilson makes his second Premier League start.
17’ – GREAT CHANCE HERRERA: Begovic passes the ball straight to van Persie and he side foots to Herrara but the midfielder blasts over.
21’ – GOAL! Man Utd 1-0 Stoke: Fellaini climbs at the back pose to head home his first at Old Trafford from Herrera’s cross.
30’ – UNITED PENALTY CLAIM: Cameron goes through the back of Wilson in the box. Looked a good shout but referee Moss is unmoved.
39’ – GOAL! Man Utd 1-1 Stoke City: Nzonzi unleashes a fierce drive from outside the box that beats De Gea after a good run from Bojan.
42’ – GREAT SAVE BEGOVIC: It looks on a plate for Fellaini to slot home his second from Smalling’s miscued drive but Begovic flies across to parry his effort.
59’ – GOAL! Man Utd 2-1 Stoke City: Juan Mata’s free kick evades everyone to sneak in the far post. Marcus Rojo claims to get the slightest touch, but he would have been offside although the flag stayed down.
70’ – CHANCE WILSON: He bears down on goal with van Persie inside him but goes himself and shoots just wide.
90+3’ – GREAT SAVE DE GEA: It’s a fantastic point blank block from Diouf’s header to keep United ahead.
90+4’ – GREAT DOUBLE BLOCK: It’s De Gea again to save from Arnautovic before Young somehow blocks Diouf’s shot off the line.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2014/12/02/1364082-29275585-2560-1440.jpg)
Marouane Fellaini of Manchester United celebrates scoring the first goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and Stoke City at Old Trafford on December 2, 2014 in Manchester, England (Getty)
Image credit: Getty Images
KEY STATS
Stoke have now lost at Old Trafford in all seven of their PL seasons. They also have a 100% losing record in the PL at Chelsea and Arsenal, but have not played at either ground yet this season.
Manchester United win four consecutive Premier League games for only the second time since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson (after four wins in Dec 2013).
Stoke have not won consecutive games against the Red Devils in all competitions since February 1953.
Stephen Ireland makes his first PL start away from home since May 2014 – his two PL starts this season have both come at the Britannia Stadium.
Steven N’Zonzi scored his first PL goal since March 2014 – when he netted in the 4-1 win at Aston Villa.
Opta/ Infostrada
TALKING POINT
Where would United be without De Gea? The United keeper has made some wonderful stops this season but none better or more important than the incredible double save in the dying minutes of the match.
MAN OF THE MATCH
David De Gea (Manchester United): For exactly the reason mentioned above. He has won his side two points this evening and who knows how valuable they will be come the end of the season?
PLAYER RATINGS
Manchester United: De Gea 9, Valencia 7, Smalling 7, Rojo 6, Young 6, Herrera 6, Fellaini 8, Carrick 6, Mata 7, van Persie 6, Wilson 6; Subs: Fletcher 6, Januzaj 6, Falcao 6.
Stoke City: Begovic 6; Bardsley 6, Shawcross 7, Wilson 6, Pieters 7; Cameron 6, Nzonzi 8; Ireland 6, Bojan 7, Assaidi 6; Diouf 7; Subs: Arnautovic 7, Crouch 6.
MATCH IN A TWEET
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article