Capo's Match Report - Stoke 1-2 Manchester United

Stoke City    1   -   2   Manchester United Tuncay   81                           Hernandez   27, 86   Att: 27,372   Tuncay Magic Not Enough for Potters   A moment of brilliance from Tuncay gave Stoke their first goal against United in the Premiership but it was not enough to rescue a point after an Hernandez brace gave Man Utd their first away win of the season.  It could have been a different story if referee Andre Marriner had not bottled a decision to send off Gary Neville in the first half.   Hernanadez gave United the lead from a corner with a brilliantly executed back header midway through the first half, the Mexican then broke City hearts with a winner four minutes from time after it looked liked Stoke could have gone on to take all three points after a super strike from Tuncay.   Stoke started the game brightly with crosses and throw ins testing Van Der Sar after his blunder last week, the Dutchman was nearly caught out after he raced out of his area to clear near the corner flag but his poor kick went straight to Delap who had an open goal from forty yards but put his shot wide.  Pennant looked lively down the right a great bit of skill saw him skin Evra and win a throw in off O'Shea, Delap delivered a pin point throw on to the head of Huth who flicked on to the far post but no one was there to put it in.  An Etherington corner nearly gave Stoke the lead and that elusive goal against United but a scramble and a plethora of players in the six yard box see United hack the ball away.   The first goal came in the 27th minute when Nani took a short corner to Evra who's cross to the far post headed back across goal by Vidic and Hernandez was there to head home brilliantly past Sorenson after he was facing away from goal.  Stoke responded positively and continued to look lively, Neville clattered Etherington from be-hind and was booked in 35th minute despite the usual protests and United players surrounding the ref.  Etherington had to leave the pitch for treatment but made a gingerly return moments later.  Scholes found himself in the book in the 41st minute after a rash and reckless challenge on Pennant which could of been a lot worse if he had not had both feet off the ground when Scholes flew into him and it could of been a red card.  The major talking point of the game came two minutes later when referee Marriner should have been brandishing a red card to Neville after he took out Etherington in what was a worse challenge than his first one, but the ref seemed to bottle it after being swayed by the United players surrounding him again.   Pulis questioned the referee in his post match interview and said if it was a Stoke player who had committed two offences like that at Old Trafford then he would have undoubtedly been sent off.    When the players lined up for the second half Neville was immediately substituted before kick off and left the pitch laughing whilst Ferguson stood on the touchline grinning as Neville came off to be replaced by Brown.    Collins found himself in the book in the 50th minute for challenge on Nani just before Delap got away with leaning into Evra in the area which could have given the visitors a penalty but the ref was probably just evening up his decisions.   Tuncay was introduced in the 66th minute for Walters to a huge ovation from the City faithful, United nearly doubled their lead in the 72nd minute after a quick throw out by Van Der Sar sent Berbatov haring down the pitch he crossed to Hernandez who smashed his effort just wide of Sorenson's far post.  Pennant was replaced by Gudjohnsen in the 79th minute after putting in excellent shift down the right, Gudjohnsen went upfront with Jones and Tuncay went out to the right.   Just minutes later Stoke were back on level terms, a mistake by Scholes gave the ball away Jones and Gudjohnsen linked up well Wilson picked the ball up in the middle swept it out wide to Tuncay who ran at Evra skinned him got the ball on his weaker left foot and bent it into the far corner past Van Der Sar, a sublime finish from the Turkish International.    Stokes ecstasy was short lived though as Hernandez grabbed all three points in the 86th minute after he stabbed home a shot/cross from Evra.  Four minutes added on time saw Stoke go in search of an equaliser and won a corner in the 92nd minute, Sorenson came up for it but Higginbotham headed over.  United then nearly got a third but Sorenson superbly saved a deflected shot after Nani's effort hit Shawcross.     STOKE CITY: Sorensen, Huth, Shawcross, Faye, Collins (Higginbotham, 59), Pennant (Gudjohnsen, 79), Wilson, Delap, Etherington, Walters (Tuncay, 66), Jones Subs: Begovic, Whelan, Pugh, Wilkinson.   MANCHESTER UNITED: Van der Sar, Neville (Brown, 46), Ferdinand, Vidic, O'Shea (Carrick, 70), Nani, Fletcher, Scholes (Obertan, 86), Evra, Berbatov, Hernandez. Subs: Kuszczak, Smalling, Macheda, Gibson.   Man of the Match: Tuncay, a moment of brilliance surely must put him back in the first team picture.   Ref: Andre Marriner