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JOE JOY

Manchester United 1 Stoke 1: Joe Allen scrambles in equaliser for struggling Potters after Anthony Martial’s curler for Red Devils

United miss a host of chances with Paul Pogba heading against the bar - but Mark Hughes' side show character to get back into the game

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JOE ALLEN scrambled in an equaliser for struggling Stoke as Manchester United missed a host of chances at home to the Potters.

The Welshman did his compatriot and boss Mark Hughes a huge favour by tapping in the equaliser after David de Gea's blunder left him firing at an open goal.

Anthony Martial unleashes a shot into the top corner for Manchester Uniteds goal
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Anthony Martial unleashes a shot into the top corner for Manchester Uniteds goal
Anthony Martial celebrates scoring the first goal of the game
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Anthony Martial celebrates scoring the first goal of the gameCredit: Reuters
Zlatan Ibrahimovic had an early chance but could not put the ball in the back of the net despite being one-on-one with Lee Grant
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Zlatan Ibrahimovic had an early chance but could not put the ball in the back of the net despite being one-on-one with Lee GrantCredit: Reuters
Zlatan Ibrahimovic fails to beat Lee Grant from close range
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 Zlatan Ibrahimovic fails to beat Lee Grant from close rangeCredit: Getty Images
Paul Pogba had another frustrating first half for Manchester United
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Paul Pogba had another frustrating first half for Manchester UnitedCredit: Reuters
Jose Mourinho urges on his players as Manchester United find it hard to score a first goal
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Jose Mourinho urges on his players as Manchester United find it hard to score a first goalCredit: Reuters
Mark Hughes watches on for Stoke
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Mark Hughes watches on for StokeCredit: EPA
Marcus Rashford plays a through ball at Old Trafford
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Marcus Rashford plays a through ball at Old TraffordCredit: Getty Images
Ander Herrera was in dynamic in midfield again for Manchester United in the first half
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Ander Herrera was in dynamic in midfield again for Manchester United in the first halfCredit: Reuters
Ander Herrera rides a tackle with Xherdan Shaqiri keeping close tabs
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Ander Herrera rides a tackle with Xherdan Shaqiri keeping close tabsCredit: EPA
Memphis Depay, Anthony Martial and Wayne Rooney share a joke as they start on the Manchester United bench
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Memphis Depay, Anthony Martial and Wayne Rooney share a joke as they start on the Manchester United benchCredit: PA:Press Association

Sub Anthony Martial had scored the opener - and it looked like United would fire in several more, but the visitors hit a sucker punch.

Martial's goal came just moments after being brought on by Jose Mourinho, he played a neat pass inside to fellow sub Wayne Rooney, who dithered on the ball before it was nicked off his foot by Geoff Cameron.

But it fell kindly to the Frenchman, who curled a peach into the top corner.

STATS, FACTS, GOALS AND LOLS

  • It is now over 40 years since Stoke last won at Old Trafford - several teams have smashed unwanted records like that in the last few years - but not the Potters.
  • Both sides wore black armbands as a tribute to former United and Arsenal striker David Herd who died at the age of 82. He was a key man in helping the club rebuild in the aftermath of the Munich air disaster.
  • Is there a manager who moans at the officials more than Mark Hughes. The former United hero was in the ear of the fourth official right from the word go here.
  • United had scored 97 goals in home games against the Potters going into this one - and should have reached three figures in the first half. A host of chances went begging.
  • Stoke have failed to find the net in the first half in 11 of their last 12 Premier League matches - after drawing a blank in the opening 45 minutes here.
  • As for United, it's feast or famine. They followed up the four goal blitz against Leicester with two blanks. That's how it used to be under Louis van Gaal.
  • You would expect a player who cost £89million to core the two chances which came Paul Pogba's way in the first half.
  • Wayne Rooney came off the bench at almost exactly the same point as Thursday night - with the scoreline the same. He must wonder if this is how it will be now.
  • At least it gave the Stoke fans a chance to sing their song about Phil Bardsley knocking out Rooney in that infamous SunSport video.
  • Just like Thursday night, Rooney inadvertently played a part in breaking the deadlock - this time with a poor touch which Cameron put into Martial's path.
  • Wilfried Bony had a miserable return to Manchester and does not look match fit. The Ivorian needs to have a think about where his career is going.

BIG PICTURE

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Next five pictures

MAN UTD
Oct 17 - Liverpool [a] Prem
Oct 20 - Fenerbahce [h] Europa
Oct 23 - Chelsea [a] Prem
Oct 26 - Man City [h] EFL Cup
Oct 29 - Burnley [h] Prem
STOKE
Oct 15 - Sunderland [h] Prem
Oct 22 - Hull [a] Prem
Oct 31 - Swansea [h] Prem
Nov 5 - West Ham [a] Prem
Nov 19 - Bournemouth [h] Prem

DREAM TEAM RATINGS

MAN UTD: De Gea 5, Valencia 7, Bailly 7, Smalling 6, Blind 7, Herrera 7 (Depay 84, 5), Pogba 7, Mata 6 (Rooney 67), Lingard 6 (Martial 67, 7), Rashford 6, Ibrahimovic 7. Subs not used: Carrick, Romero, Fellaini, Darmian.

Booked: Valencia, Herrera, Ibrahimovic.

Goal: Martial (69)

STOKE: Grant 8, Johnson 6, Shawcross 7, Martins Indi 6, Pieters 6, Cameron 7, Whelan 6, Shaqiri 5 (Bardsley 90), Allen 7, Arnautovic 6 (Walters 77, 6), Bony 6 (Crouch 77, 6). Subs not used: Adam, Diouf, Given, Krkic.

Goal: Allen (82)

STAR MAN: LEE GRANT (STOKE) 8

WHAT THEY SAID

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho: ";They scored a goal that is very undeserved. But it was a much better performance than against Leicester, because against Leicester the goals are more than the performance. Today was exactly the opposite.

"The best performance by far, six, seven, eight chances to win the game, even after the one-nil gives United a team that wants to score more goals and wants to be completely in control.

"In the first minute, the goalkeeper made immediately an unbelievable save. And he kept doing that until the end of the game. He started with an amazing save to Zlatan, he ends with an amazing save from Zlatan too.

"He had the ball in the post from Pogba. We had face-to-face chances, we had control of the game and played really well.

"You can say what you want but that's my opinion. Today for me, a great performance to have not just the three points, but three points and a bad result.

"The reaction of the fans at the end of the game says absolutely everything.

"They fought like they do every game, they come for a draw, when they concede the goal, they couldn't have a reaction because we were totally in control, I have to say they were lucky - but luck is part of football.

"My tribute to them is that they are not guilty of our bad luck."

SOCIAL SAYS


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