Manchester United’s frustrating Premier League campaign continued as they were held to a 1-1 draw at home against Stoke City. Jose Mourinho’s men should have been at least two goals up at half-time, but an inspired performance from Stoke keeper Lee Grant meant that the visitors were still in the game at the break.
United finally found the breakthrough in the 69th minute courtesy a brilliant curling effort by substitute Anthony Martial, but the home side’s joy last only 14 minutes as Joe Allen smashed the ball into the net from close range to equalize after it gently bounced off the crossbar. The point lifts Mark Hughes’ men off the bottom of the table to 19th place.
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Here’s how each player fared in the match.
Manchester United
David De Gea – 5/10
United’s wall between the sticks was not tested much throughout the match, with tame Stoke efforts falling into his hands whenever United were posed with a threat. However, he should have done better to parry away Glen Johnson’s shot, which eventually resulted in Stoke’s equalizer by Joe Allen.
Antonio Valencia – 5/10
Valencia had a few good moments where his pace and power down the flanks troubled the Stoke left back Erik Pieters. But the final ball always eluded him and he was unable to contribute much to United’s creativity going forward – something he had a part in in abundance during the first three matches of United’s campaign.
Erik Bailly – 6/10
Bailly was an assured presence in defence for United for the majority of the match, although he did have a few moments of insecurity on the ball in the face of Stoke attacks, particularly in the beginning of the second half. His effort and commitment to prevent the Stoke goal cannot be doubted, even with the ball unfortunately bouncing off his body to hit the crossbar from Walters' attempted cross.
Daley Blind - 6/10
Blind did what was asked of him, as he was comfortable with the ball at his feet and pinged balls into the midfield regularly for Pogba and Herrera to orchestrate attacks. However, similar to the other full back Valencia, he offered little going forward.
Chris Smalling – 6/10
Manchester United’s captain was guilty of not reacting quickly enough to block Glen Johnson’s shot which resulted in Stoke City’s goal. He only managed to deflect the ball into De Gea’s palms, apart from which he dealt with the aerial threat of Arnautovic well.
Paul Pogba – 5/10
Just when will it start coming good for the world’s most expensive player? After a promising start, he faded away in the game, and wasted all the goal scoring chances that came his way. Should have scored the winner for United but his header only found the crossbar after Rashford’s powerful cross.
Ander Herrera – 6.5/10
The Spanish midfielder delivered his usual terrier like performance in midfield, tenacious in his tackle and always a threat from long range. However, he was lucky to stay on the pitch after his studs-up challenge on Joe Allen went unpunished. He was Substituted in the 82nd minute for Memphis Depay.
Jesse Lingard – 5/10
Lingard had United’s best chance in the first half when he met a fast paced low ball with his toe barely two metres away from the goal. Stoke keeper Lee grant pulled off the save of the match to deny Lingard, who’s creative game was otherwise stifled well by the Stoke defence. Substituted for Anthony Martial in the 65th minute.
Juan Mata – 7/10
Along with Marcus Rashford, he was the only creative spark in Manchester United’s team today. His calm and composed nature on the ball and incisive passing should have seen a better end product by Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who had one of his less memorable games in a United shirt. Substituted for Wayne Rooney in the 65th minute.
Marcus Rashford – 7.5/10
Rashford embodied Manchester United’s grit on the pitch. The youngster could have had a couple of assists to his name had Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Paul Pogba converted the chances he made for them. Deserved to be on the winning side today, as he terrorised the Stoke full backs with his pace down the wings.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic – 5/10
The match could have turned out much differently had Zlatan slotted the ball past Lee Grant in just the opening stages of the game, but his low effort at the near post was a sign of things to come. He missed other crucial opportunities and summed up Manchester United's frustrations in front of goal. A forgettable game for the Swede.
Substitutes
Anthony Martial – 7/10
An inspired substitution in place of Jesse Lingard in the 65th minute, Martial gave United the lead with a brilliant curling effort just moments after coming on to the pitch. He troubled Glen Johnson on the left wing, but was eventually left frustrated. Could contest for a starting spot in the next match.
Wayne Rooney – 5.5/10
The Manchester United captain was brought on with the intention of being a creative spark as Stoke legs began to tire, but provided little different in place of Juan Mata. His horizontal passes did not help Manchester United’s cause.
Memphis Depay – N/A
Depay was brought on for Herrera in the 82nd minute.
Stoke City
Lee Grant – 9/10
In what was only his second match for Stoke City in place of Shay Given, Lee grant produced a man of the match display between the sticks, and was the difference between a loss and a draw for Stoke. Produced crucial close-range saves from Ibrahimovic and Lingard, and made a total of 8 saves in the match – joint most by any Premier League goalkeeper this season.
Glen Johnson – 7/10
The former Liverpool man was instrumental in setting up his side's equalizing goal as he cut inside from the right wing to unleash a shot that David De Gea could not parry away too far. Johnson looked assured on the ball and was a constant threat bombing forward on the wing.
Ryan Shawcross – 6/10
Ryan Shawcross was calm and composed as the leader of the centre back pairing with Bruno Martins Indi. There were no stand out moments from the Stoke captain, but no moments of weakness either. Would be happy his side are taking home a point.
Bruno Martins Indi – 7/10
The Dutchman was easily the best defender on the pitch in the match, and made a couple of goal-saving blocks to deny Manchester United a goal. Solid overall, and quick on the ground as well.
Erik Pieters – 6/10
Pieters gave the ball away cheaply once and was lucky to not be punished by Manchester United in return. He was defensively oriented throughout the game otherwise, and did not venture forward much like the other full back Glen Johnson.
Geoff Cameron – 6/10
What Geoff Cameron lacked in attacking confidence, he more than made up for it in being the player through which all Stoke attacks were orchestrated. The American could have given Stoke an early lead when the ball was squared to him by Joe Allen, but his shot was not powerful enough to trouble De Gea.
Glen Whelan – 6/10
It was a typical Glen Whelan performance, which involved him forcing the United midfielders into making mistakes with his pressing game. One is left to wonder whether United could have absorbed Stoke’s attacking pressure early in the second half if he had joined in the attack as well.
Joe Allen – 8.5/10
‘Welsh Xavi’ Joe Allen was the key behind Stoke City’s draw today. Apart from getting the equalizing goal where he showed great positional sense to smash the ball home, he was all over the United midfield like a rash, not allowing the likes of Pogba and Rooney a minute’s rest on the ball. Best midfielder on the pitch in the match.
Xherdan Shaqiri – 6.5/10
The Swiss Maestro was given a free flowing role across the front three which also included Arnautovic and Bony. Shaqiri had a few good moments on the counter attack where he took on the United defenders, but the final pass always eluded him.
Wilfried Bony – 6/10
The powerful Ivorian held the ball well in the middle of the attacking three, but with Arnautovic and Shaqiri not proving to be willing runners, he could not provide the service. Overall, Bony’s positional sense needed to be better. Substituted for Peter Crouch in the 77th minute.
Marko Arnautovic – 5.5/10
Arnautovic was guilty of dallying on the ball too much when making a pass would have been the better option. Was checked well on the right wing by Antonio Valencia, and was substituted for Jonathan Walters in the 77th minute after enduring a frustrating afternoon.
Substitutes
Peter Crouch – N/A
Crouch came on for Wilfried Bony in the 77th minute.
Jonathan Walters – N/A
Walters came on for Marko Arnautovic in the 77th minute. Although he was not heavily involved in the attack, he did well to reach the ball first after De Gea had parried it away from Glen Jonhson's shot, which eventually resulted in the goal.
