Striking late
Man United have had a bad run of league form at home lately only winning one of their four this season. Stoke City are sitting in 16th after only winning 2 matches this season with manager Mark Hughes coming back to were his footballing career took off.
Manchester United start Shinji Kagawa after his performance in the mid week win against Real Sociedad. Adnan Januzaj and Ashley Young are both of the bench as Luis Nani starts on the wing. Wayne Rooney and Robin Van Persie start as Javier Hernandez drops to the sub bench.
Stoke City change their centre midfielder with Wilson Palacios coming in for Charlie Adam. Also left back Geoff Cameron comes in at left back for Andy Wilkinson. The only other change is Peter Crouch coming into the starting lineup for Oussama Assaidi as Marko Arnautovic goes out onto the left.
3 minutes into the match when Stoke left back Pieters had slipped through three players very easily down the left. Pieters had space on the left no one around him as Stoke fans raise their voices Pieters had looked for a ball into the box as he's cross found Crouch. The header had been saved by De Gea at point blank range as Crouch who had followed up to put the ball into the back of the net. Stoke fans and Mark Hughes were over the moon as United fans start to worry that little bit more. Crouch has so far won half of his aerial duels but scored with a tap in.
14 minutes had gone when Arnautovic had skipped past the challenge of Chris Smalling down the left hand side. Arnautovic cross had been deep to the back post as the Stoke attacker had clipped the ball back into the middle where goalscorer Peter Crouch had been with the defender next to him. The Stoke forward had clipped his shot just over De Gea's bar as Stoke continue to have good opportunities.
Half way through the first as N'Zoni lofted a ball over to Peter Crouch just outside the Manchester United box. Crouch had cushioned the ball down to Jonathan Walters open with space as he volleyed the ball very strongly. The Spaniard David De Gea had made a fantastic save as the rebound had Walters edging to shot again but another defensive block from Johnny Evans kept it at 1-0.
32 minutes into the match when Rooney had picked up the ball 30 yards from goal. The striker had kept calm and curled a shot on target as Asmir Begovic dived to divert the ball just over the Stoke goal.
3 minutes before half time when Luis Nani had been on the right hand side. The Portuguese winger had clipped a ball into in the box as United fans needed a sigh of relief as the ball which Nani provided had found Rooney. The Strikers header had been saved at the left hand near post by Begovic as it rolled back out to Dutchman Robin Van Persie to finish into the left hand corner getting United back into the game. The sigh of relief United fans needed as Van Persie gets his 9th goal against Stoke since first playing against them.
1 minute before half time when Phil Jones had given away a free kick on the left hand side 25 yards away from De Gea goal. Stoke fans in hope after United equalised that they could go into half time drawing. Arnautovic had been over the ball as he looped his curling free kick over the wall. The shot had gone over the wall hit the bar and gone in as Stoke take the lead again. Stoke fans had been excited as they did not expect a second goal. A fantastic goal from Arnautovic.
At half time and Man United go into the break losing 2-1. Man United were stunned just 4 minutes in when Crouch tapped in after a great save from De Gea. Van Persie than equalised from Begovic save at the near post then a fantastic free kick from Arnautovic had De Gea beaten.
People stare and wonder what could be going on? Man United will need to step up as Stoke go into the changing room happy.
72 minutes into the match when Rooney had broke away into open space as Januzaj had been up with him on the right hand side. Rooney gave the ball to the youngster as he had darted down the right and cut back inside. Januzaj had given the ball back to Rooney on the edge of he box as he set the ball back to the 18 year old but he's attempt on goal was blocked by a Stoke defender.
77 minutes into when Manchester United had won a corner on the left. Manchester United fans hoping,praying for a goal as Van Persie had whipped in a cross to the front post where Rooney had been unmarked to head over Begovic and into the left hand side of the goal. Unbelievable as United now have a renewed hope with he United faithful urging their team to push for another. Rooney has now scored in 5 of Man United's 8 league games.
3 minutes later when Manchester United had attacked again. Michael Carrick had given the ball out to the left wing were Patrice Evra had been with the Man United fans renewed hope that they could win this. Evra had skipped past the defender and had crossed back post where substitute Javier Hernandez had been to head home in an open goal. Javier Hernandez scores his first league goal of the season.
At full time as Manchester United get 3 points by the skin of there teeth. Goals from Robin Van Persie,Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez a comeback which you would expect from Fergie. Relief surrounds David Moyes as he now can relax until the league cup quarter final task against Norwich City in mid week.