Premier League: Stoke City v Manchester United full time report
Stoke 1 Man Utd 2
Javier Hernandez struck both goals as Manchester United battled to a hard-fought victory over Stoke at the Britannia Stadium.
The Mexican cleverly scored with the back of his head midway through the first half following a Nemanja Vidic header across goal, before United’s Gary Neville was fortunate not to be sent off for fouling Matthew Etherington.
A typically stubborn Stoke kept battling, and thought that they’d stolen a point when substitute Tuncay cut inside and smashed a left footed effort into the top corner of the net nine minutes from time.
However, Hernandez was on hand to tuck home Patrice Evra’s cross-shot from close range with just four minutes remaining.
United were eager for their first away victory of the season at the end of a week that has been dominated by stories regarding Wayne Rooney’s future, but with their star striker injured here, boss Sir Alex Ferguson partnered Dimitar Berbatov and Hernandez upfront, with Evra used in an unfamiliar position on the left of midfield.
In a raucous Britannia Stadium atmosphere, the hosts started in typically committed fashion, and Rory Delap fired wide from over 40 yards out after goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar had vacated his penalty area.
United were looking dangerous on the break, but it was Stoke carrying the greater threat – particularly from set pieces – and one Delap long throw resulted in a goalmouth scramble eventually cleared by the visitors’ defence, but it was a set piece at the other end that was soon to prove Stoke’s undoing.
After a short corner, Nani’s cross from the right was headed back across goal and to the edge of the six yard box by Vidic, from where Hernandez cleverly flicked a header behind him, past the despairing dive of Thomas Sørensen. It was the Mexican’s fourth goal for United since a £6million summer arrival from CD Guadalajara, and surely the most inventive.
He almost scored a more straightforward one shortly after, as the Mexican charged down Abdoulaye Faye’s weak backpass before seeing Sørensen’s attempted clearance strike him and ricochet over the crossbar, before Evra headed a corner over as United looked for a second before the break.
The Stoke crowd were incensed when Neville somehow escaped a second booking for a clear foul on Stoke’s Matthew Etherington shortly before the break, and it came as no surprise that the fortunate Neville was replaced by Wes Brown at half time, even though the veteran full back did initially emerge for the second half.
Lucky to still have eleven on the field, United then went in search of a penalty after Evra threw himself to the ground following a shove from Delap, but it was Stoke who were causing the most problems through their familiar route of corners and Delap’s long throws.
United still had the greater quality going forward though, and Hernandez somehow missed a golden opportunity to seal the points when he volleyed Berbatov’s cross wide from close range following a fast break.
Perhaps after seeing his side’s physical approach fail to pay off, Stoke boss Tony Pulis turned to Tuncay and Eidur Gudjohnsen – the artists in his squad – and how it paid off with just 10 minutes to go.
Paul Scholes carelessly gave the ball away, and after it had been worked wide to Tuncay on the right, the Turkish international cut inside and hit a stunning effort into the top corner of the net with his left foot for Stoke’s first ever Premier League goal against United.
However, Stoke weren’t level for long, and after Berbatov’s chipped ball into the box, Evra scuffed an effort across the six yard box, where the ever-alert Hernandez was waiting to tap home, sending the visiting fans behind the goal wild.
Stoke attempted a response – which included Sørensen coming up for a corner – but United held on for a crucial three points that cuts the gap between them and table toppers Chelsea to five.
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