Stoke stun Man City as ex-United striker bags brilliant goal

Manchester City were stunned 1-0 as Stoke stole all three points courtesy of a Mame Diouf solo effort.

It was difficult to say that Stoke did not deserve it, either, particularly with such a well-worked goal from the ex-Manchester United player.

On the break just before the hour mark, after a Manchester City corner, Diouf took on the lagging defence, and proceeded to nutmeg Joe Hart for his first goal for the club.

They almost doubled their lead four minutes afterwards, but Victor Moses, loitering at the far post, could not get his boot to the ball in from the right from substitute Peter Odemwingie.

There had been little to inspire in the first half. Diouf thought he deserved a penalty when Aleksandar Kolarov brought him down in the box, but referee Lee Mason disagreed.

Yaya Toure had a fine chance in injury time, picking up Kolarov’s diagonal ball intersecting the box from Sergio Aguero’s backheel, but his shot was always rising.

But the goal improved the spectacle a touch, with City forced to chase the game, albeit to little effect.

19’ PENALTY? Kolarov appears to be a touch too physical on Diouf twice over, once in the box and once not, but neither challenge gets a decision from the officials.

30’ CHANCE! Crouch is in ahead of Demichelis, takes the ball down beautifully, but it's not a great shot.

45’+1 CLOSE! Aguero's backheel reaches Kolarov, whose ball in reaches Toure - and that shot is rising.

58’ GOAL! Well. Diouf gets his first goal for Stoke and that seems probably fair. On the break after City's corner, he takes on the defence, and it's through Hart's legs.

62’ CLOSE! Moses is unmarked at the far post and can't get a final touch to the ball in from the right!

70’ PENALTY? Aguero shouts for handball as the ball pings off Wilson in the box, but he had no chance to get out of the way there.

72’ CLOSE! Another real chance for Stoke, courtesy of Peter Crouch, rising between two City defenders, but again the header is wide.

87’ PENALTY? Toure thinks he's got a penalty as Pieters swings a leg at the ball and catches the man as well. No.

Stoke score away at Man City for the first time in eight top flight matches, since a 1-1 draw on 9 January 1982.

Before today, Stoke had won just one of their 12 Barclays Premier League games against Manchester City, and none of the last 10.

Stoke have lost their last nine top flight away matches against the defending champions, since a 2-2 draw at Aston Villa in September 1981.

Stoke’s last top flight away win at defending champions came at Derby County (3-0) in February 1973. They have drawn two and lost 14 since.

Before today, Stoke had not kept a clean sheet in a Premier League away game since last December (at Hull City).

Man City have failed to score at home for only the second time in their last 71 Premier League games there.

Several very loud penalty shouts elicited little interest from the officials. Manuel Pellegrini may well think that his team should have had at least one spot kick and potentially a point – they had two appeals, one for handball and one for a foul, but nothing doing there either. Having said that, Diouf thought he should have had a penalty in the first half after a challenge from Kolarov, so perhaps it evens out.

Mame Diouf worked tirelessly and scored an impressively effortless solo goal.

Manchester City: Hart 6, Sagna 6, Kolarov 6, Kompany 6, Demichelis 6, Fernando 6, Nasri 6, Yaya Toure 7, Silva 6, Jovetic 6, Aguero 5. Subs: Caballero, Clichy, Zabaleta, Fernandinho 6, Milner, Navas 7, Dzeko 7.

Stoke City: Begovic 7, Bardsley 8, Shawcross 8, Wilson 8, Pieters 7, Whelan 7, Nzonzi 7, Diouf 8, Walters 7, Moses 7, Crouch 8. Subs: Sorensen, Huth, Muniesa 7, Odemwingie 6, Arnautovic, Adam 7, Bojan.