Stoke City 1 - 1 Manchester United
Crouch 52 Nani 27
Att: 27, 582
Stoke ended United's 100% winning start to the season in style and should have taken all 3 points in what was a thrilling and pulsating game under flood lights at the Brittanina. Nani gave United the lead middway through the first half but Crouch got the equaliser early in the second half and squanded the cahnce to grab the winner just after.
Stoke were on the wrong end of a 4-0 defeat last week at Sunderland after there worst preformance for a long time but what a difference a week makes! Pulis made three changes from that defeat which saw Whelan brought in for Whitehead, Walters restored upfront for Jerome and Pennant back on the right and Wilkinson was preffered instead of Huth at right back.
Ferguson said before the game that he had no problem with the way Stoke played but he may have changed his mind early on in the game when Hernandez was challenged from behind by Woodgate and had to go off injured. United had already been dealt an injury blows before a ball was kicked when Rooney and Evans both pulled out of the game with injuries, Owen was brought on for the injured Mexican.
Ferguson then saw Evra flipped head over heels right in front of the dugout on the half way line, the ball ran loose and Evra gathered it but Whelan quickly snapped in winning the ball cleanly but taking Evra clean out in the process. This was enough for ref Peter Walton to produce the first and only booking of the game.
A trip to Stoke had always promised to give a searching examination of the United keeper De Gea's ability under the high ball and he looked insecure in the opening seconds, flapping at Delap's first long throw into the box before the danger passed.
It was a fast and frantic start to the game with both sides looking to attack down the flanks Stoke with Pennant & Etherington and United with Young & Nani, another Delap throw led to Stoke winning a corner and De Gea looked stranded when it came in from Matthew Etherington, with Crouch heading wide at the back post but he was penalised for climbing over Jones.
At the other end, Berbatov who had been called in as Rooney's replacement to make his first league start of the season nodded Anderson's corner wide of the target.
United finally got the break through in the 27th minute when Nani played a neat one two with Fletcher side stepped Woodgate to get into the area and hit his shot into Begovic's bottom left hand corner.
Stoke response was instant, United had David de Gea to thank for preserving their lead, with the Spaniard making a stunning reflex save from Wilkinson's rasping drive, tipping the ball on to the bar.
Begovic nearly gifted United a second after poor control and bad judgement after a back pass from Shawcross let in Nani but he put his shot wide.
Stoke hit back again and after Delap had cracked a shot wide from distance De Gea produced another fantastic save to turn Walters' shot around the post.
Woodgate headed over from the resulting corner with De Gea again failing to convince in an aerial situation, and Crouch and Jermaine Pennant then both slid in to no avail in an attempt to get on the end of Walters' cross.
Stoke finished the first half much the stronger and looked certain to get the equaliser in the second half.
The cut and thrust of the first half continued as Stoke pinned United back during the opening minutes of the second half and made their pressure pay in the 52nd minute when Etherington whipped in an unplayable corner from the right, Crouch darted between Jones and Ferdinand and leapt high to head in.
Two minutes later United's flaky defence was exposed by Pennant, whose flighted cross found Crouch who got the better of Ferdinand six yards out, with De Gea making a crucial save with his right elbow.
United were rocking and a Wilson piledriver from a free kick in the 68th minute stung the palms of De Gea.
A breathless second half saw the pendulum swing one way then the other before United were claiming handball against Ryan Shawcross, who appeared to block Evra's shot with the back of his upper arm but the appeals proved in vain.
Crouch could have clinched the winner when he chested down Pennant's cross from the right, but dragged his shot wide.
Giggs' late miss left him staring to the heavens in despair as United surrendered what was the last remaining 100% record in England.
After the game Pulis praised his £10 million striker Crouch saying, "I thought he was magnificent and that is why we spent decent money on him, The other players will learn off him because he has got tremendous technique. At times they (United) just could not handle him."
Stoke's attention now turns to the Europa League with the visit of Besiktas in what promises to be a lively and atmospheric game.
Man of the Match: Crouch, first goal for Stoke played well and on another day could of had an hat-trick.
Stoke: Begovic, Wilson, Woodgate, Shawcross, Wilkinson (Huth 83), Etherington, Whelan, Delap (Whitehead 85), Pennant (Jerome 90+2), Walters, Crouch
Subs: Sorenson, Upson, Shotton, Palacios
Ref: Walton
Crouch 52 Nani 27
Att: 27, 582
Stoke ended United's 100% winning start to the season in style and should have taken all 3 points in what was a thrilling and pulsating game under flood lights at the Brittanina. Nani gave United the lead middway through the first half but Crouch got the equaliser early in the second half and squanded the cahnce to grab the winner just after.
Stoke were on the wrong end of a 4-0 defeat last week at Sunderland after there worst preformance for a long time but what a difference a week makes! Pulis made three changes from that defeat which saw Whelan brought in for Whitehead, Walters restored upfront for Jerome and Pennant back on the right and Wilkinson was preffered instead of Huth at right back.
Ferguson said before the game that he had no problem with the way Stoke played but he may have changed his mind early on in the game when Hernandez was challenged from behind by Woodgate and had to go off injured. United had already been dealt an injury blows before a ball was kicked when Rooney and Evans both pulled out of the game with injuries, Owen was brought on for the injured Mexican.
Ferguson then saw Evra flipped head over heels right in front of the dugout on the half way line, the ball ran loose and Evra gathered it but Whelan quickly snapped in winning the ball cleanly but taking Evra clean out in the process. This was enough for ref Peter Walton to produce the first and only booking of the game.
A trip to Stoke had always promised to give a searching examination of the United keeper De Gea's ability under the high ball and he looked insecure in the opening seconds, flapping at Delap's first long throw into the box before the danger passed.
It was a fast and frantic start to the game with both sides looking to attack down the flanks Stoke with Pennant & Etherington and United with Young & Nani, another Delap throw led to Stoke winning a corner and De Gea looked stranded when it came in from Matthew Etherington, with Crouch heading wide at the back post but he was penalised for climbing over Jones.
At the other end, Berbatov who had been called in as Rooney's replacement to make his first league start of the season nodded Anderson's corner wide of the target.
United finally got the break through in the 27th minute when Nani played a neat one two with Fletcher side stepped Woodgate to get into the area and hit his shot into Begovic's bottom left hand corner.
Stoke response was instant, United had David de Gea to thank for preserving their lead, with the Spaniard making a stunning reflex save from Wilkinson's rasping drive, tipping the ball on to the bar.
Begovic nearly gifted United a second after poor control and bad judgement after a back pass from Shawcross let in Nani but he put his shot wide.
Stoke hit back again and after Delap had cracked a shot wide from distance De Gea produced another fantastic save to turn Walters' shot around the post.
Woodgate headed over from the resulting corner with De Gea again failing to convince in an aerial situation, and Crouch and Jermaine Pennant then both slid in to no avail in an attempt to get on the end of Walters' cross.
Stoke finished the first half much the stronger and looked certain to get the equaliser in the second half.
The cut and thrust of the first half continued as Stoke pinned United back during the opening minutes of the second half and made their pressure pay in the 52nd minute when Etherington whipped in an unplayable corner from the right, Crouch darted between Jones and Ferdinand and leapt high to head in.
Two minutes later United's flaky defence was exposed by Pennant, whose flighted cross found Crouch who got the better of Ferdinand six yards out, with De Gea making a crucial save with his right elbow.
United were rocking and a Wilson piledriver from a free kick in the 68th minute stung the palms of De Gea.
A breathless second half saw the pendulum swing one way then the other before United were claiming handball against Ryan Shawcross, who appeared to block Evra's shot with the back of his upper arm but the appeals proved in vain.
Crouch could have clinched the winner when he chested down Pennant's cross from the right, but dragged his shot wide.
Giggs' late miss left him staring to the heavens in despair as United surrendered what was the last remaining 100% record in England.
After the game Pulis praised his £10 million striker Crouch saying, "I thought he was magnificent and that is why we spent decent money on him, The other players will learn off him because he has got tremendous technique. At times they (United) just could not handle him."
Stoke's attention now turns to the Europa League with the visit of Besiktas in what promises to be a lively and atmospheric game.
Man of the Match: Crouch, first goal for Stoke played well and on another day could of had an hat-trick.
Stoke: Begovic, Wilson, Woodgate, Shawcross, Wilkinson (Huth 83), Etherington, Whelan, Delap (Whitehead 85), Pennant (Jerome 90+2), Walters, Crouch
Subs: Sorenson, Upson, Shotton, Palacios
Ref: Walton