Posted: 01 Feb 2014 12:05 PM PST

Stoke savour big day "We've just beaten Man United! Gwaan Stoke!" exclaimed an overjoyed Stoke fan in the concourse as supporters filed out of the Britannia. The win - Stoke's first over Man United since two Mark Stein goals handed them a 2-1 League Cup win in 1993/94 - was greeted by a ground-shaking roar at the final whistle. It's been a difficult period for the Potters, who had gone six league games without a win. Recent performances at Crystal Palace and Chelsea were dire, and while Mark Hughes continues to have the backing of the majority of fans, there is a definite sense that the honeymoon period is over for the one-time Man United player. A big result was needed, and his players provided it here. While the win is significant in its status, Stoke supporters, and indeed Hughes, might later reflect that it came with an element of fortune. A huge deflection aided the opening goal at a period when the visitors were establishing a foothold on the game, and injuries to both Jonny Evans and Phil Jones irreparably damaged United's grip on proceedings. Nevertheless, the commitment and application shown by the Potters was worthy of reward. Charlie Adam's second goal was followed by a period of dogged defending in the howling wind and bitter cold of the Britannia, as Stoke sat deep and held onto what they had. In the first half, Stoke made tackles further up the pitch but often without success, winning just 6 from 13. With three points to hang onto, however, they snarled and fought, eyes fixed with a piercing gaze. Eight out of 10 successful tackles tells the story, and the position of them - far deeper than in the first half, tells a tale too. They hung on. There may be a new manager in town, but this was a win that epitomised what Stoke in the Premier League have been all about ever since promotion in 2008. Moyes is down on his luck As the old saying goes, if you can't be good, be lucky. Since taking over at United, Moyes has been striving to prove he's the former, in the face of widespread criticism for a huge dip in results and performance levels. Moyes is a good manager - and has plenty of time to prove he is good enough for the highest level yet - but unfortunately for both him and his team, he certainly has not been a lucky manager in recent months. The number of injuries to United players during games this season is quite a worry for him - indeed, not a game seems to go by without either a key player absent or someone having to limp off mid-game. Today at the Britannia, Nurse No Luck appeared not once but twice, with both Evans and Jones forced off before half-time. Jones had started the game extremely well: finally restored to his natural position at centre-back, he looked to be relishing the challenge of a physical battle against Stoke and was leading the game for clearances with 7. The England international had also completed 94% of his passes and won 4 of 5 aerial battles, providing a solid platform from which the champions were starting to build. Lady Luck is certainly not smiling on Moyes right now. Evans and Jones' injuries were compounded by a madcap deflection off Michael Carrick for the opening goal, and at 1-0 down, with Carrick having to drop into an unfamiliar role at centre-back, it was always going to be difficult. "We were really unlucky with the first goal," Moyes commented afterwards. You could certainly sympathise with his look of resigned frustration as he analysed the game post-match. Mata showed glimpses but can offer more The game's top passer, an assist, a 94% pass-completion rate and, strangely enough, the game's top tackler with 5 out of 7 successful. Looking at those stats you'd think that Juan Mata was a roaring success in his first away game in the red of Manchester United (or dark blue, on this occasion) . That wasn't quite the case here, however. The £37 million spritely Spaniard is, of course, an exceptional player - the Red Devils acknowledged this when they forked out such a sum for someone who plays in a position that, ostensibly, didn't really need reinforcing. What was clear at the Britannia, though, is that it will take a certain period of adjustment before axis Rooney-Mata-Van Persie is firing on all cylinders. A major problem for Moyes' boys throughout was an inability to link the midfield line with the attack and Van Persie. Despite his expertly taken goal, the Dutchman saw little of the ball, receiving it only 16 times. By comparison, Peter Crouch received the ball more than double that amount, 37 times in total. Mata has been brought to link midfield and attack. He is the very antithesis of an Antonio Valencia-style winger, despite his nominal starting position on the right, and operates more as an inside forward with a duty to knit and weave offensive play. But though he linked well with Rooney, Mata only managed to play 2 passes to Van Persie all game, and another 2 to striker Danny Welbeck, who replaced the injured Jones before half-time. If Moyes' thinking in signing Mata is to create a blueprint of quick interchanges and devastating link play between Rooney, Mata and Van Persie, it isn't working quite yet. It will take some time, naturally, during which Mata will need to adjust. But on the whole, the early signs are promising. Adam fundamental to Stoke's game Hughes' intentions in the January transfer window were obvious. The aim was to help cure Stoke's goalscoring problems by injecting a bit of life into forward areas. John Guidetti and Peter Odemwingie were secured (both vastly more dynamic than the outgoing Kenwyne Jones), while other players with cut and thrust were targeted to help remedy a sometimes ponderous approach to attacking. Charlie Adam is Stoke's top scorer with 7 goals, and his double against United showed once again how important he is to the Potters' game. Adam has had a curious career in many respects. The Scot was like Roy of the Rovers at Blackpool, winning games almost singlehandedly and prompting Sir Alex Ferguson to remark that his corner kicks alone were "worth £10 million". Liverpool charged in and thereafter followed a downward spell similar to the one in his early days at Rangers, where he struggled to establish himself. Against the champions he once again demonstrated why his career has been such a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma, to borrow a phrase from Winston Churchill. Adam didn't offer a great deal. His passing was often wayward (72% of 32 completed) and he didn't run the game by any stretch of the imagination. And yet he won Stoke the match with an unbelievable strike, to top his rather fortunate first goal. "It was an absolutely outstanding strike from Charlie," raved Hughes post-match. "A great goal to win a great game from our point of view. Hopefully it's a key moment of our season and we can build from this." Stoke will hope there's more of the good to come from Adam as the season progresses. The Europa League is calling United From this scribe's point of view, sat up high in a press box where Stoke's wide-open stadium leaves you fully exposed to the ghastly conditions and the bitter wind pounds at you from both sides, the overwhelming conclusion here was that things just aren't going Man United's way at the moment. There will be a lot of panic and many a crisis button hit in reaction to this result over the next few days, but on the evidence of today it really isn't warranted. Moyes was right: United were largely on the front foot and were the victim of misfortune at key moments, as injuries robbed the team of their shape on a rare occasion where the manager was able to field something approaching his strongest side. United were playing with decent rhythm and tempo before Adam's opener. Ashley Young and Patrice Evra looked menacing down the left, Mata and Rooney were combining in enterprising fashion and momentum was building. Defensively, the goals were neither from errors nor bad play. On another day the champions might have prevailed. To rub more salt in the wounds, Adam's goal was virtually slapdash - and there was certainly a comedy element to the way it trickled slowly into the net, to Moyes' horror. With the title now a distant memory, even fourth place is starting to disappear over the horizon. United fans may just have to accept this season for what it is - a transition period - and embrace the possibility of Thursday night football next season.

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Saturday analysis: Pardew can kiss Cabye-bye to a strong season finish

Posted: 01 Feb 2014 12:00 PM PST

Newcastle 0-3 Sunderland There's something about Gus Poyet and Newcastle United - or Alan Pardew, at least. This emphatic win was the Uruguayan's fifth over his Toon adversary, and propelled his previously ailing Black Cats side to the dizzy heights of 12th. It's now three wins from their last four, and seven goals in as many games for free-scoring former England man Adam Johnson. After the Wearsiders' superb start - Fabio Borini's penalty and Johnson put them two up inside 23 minutes - there was only ever one winner. Newcastle struggled for fluidity in Yohan Cabaye's absence and, although Moussa Sissoko was creative in the first half (he crafted 4 chances for team-mates), the Magpies were impatient in their assaults on Vito Mannone's goal. The stats show they registered 28 efforts on goal, but a significant number came from outside the box. Pardew said the visitors "lost their heads" and that they must "go back to basics" as they rebuild from a tough transfer window. Before this game Shola Ameobi was the Magpies' only fit out-and-out striker, but new signing Luuk de Jong was forced on for the second half. Ameobi performed well in the air (6/11 aerial duels won, and 5/5 inside the box) but attempted a huge 9 shots, of which only a third were on target. Loic Remy is suspended for another two games, and in the meantime their efficiency up front needs addressing. Analyse with Stats Zone West Ham 2-0 Swansea If this didn't prove how badly West Ham need Andy Carroll, nothing will. The towering Geordie was crocked for the first half of the campaign, and until his return against Cardiff last month you couldn't discuss the Hammers without lamenting the ponytailed predator's absence. Without him, Sam Allardyce's side just don't function. It doesn't matter if you know exactly what they're going to do - if Carroll's in the side there's often not much you can do about it. At Upton Park on Saturday, the lumbering England man completely bullied Swansea by winning everything in the air and proving a vital focal point for almost every Hammers attack. He set up both Kevin Nolan goals with his prized noggin, converting hopeful box-balls into genuine goalscoring chances. No surprise, then, that he won 10 of 13 aerial duels before his daft sending off for swinging an arm at Chico Flores. In his absence, West Ham had no great outlet until Carlton Cole's introduction and Swansea passed their way back into the game. Thankfully for Allardyce's troops, their South Welsh visitors were utterly hopeless. Half of Swansea's 20 attempts came after the red card, but they still ended the game without an effort on target. Must do better. Analyse with Stats Zone Cardiff 2-1 Norwich Craig Bellamy's match-winning days have all but left him - but the Welshman has proved he's still got a spark. By half-time he'd misplaced only 1 pass, and by the end had clocked 93% accuracy with the equalising goal to his name. If you haven't heard, the 34-year-old became the first player to score with seven different Premier League clubs. Meanwhile, Cardiff fans caught a first glimpse of Manchester United loanee Wilfried Zaha. The youngster with a point to prove replaced Peter Whittingham after 38 minutes, and within four of the restart he'd set up Bellamy to start the Bluebirds' vital revival. Despite playing just over a half he recovered more balls than any other player (9) in a hard-working wing display. A few more performances like this and nobody will be questioning the 21-year-old's maturity. As for Norwich... well, the less said the better. Robert Snodgrass was busy, netting the opening goal with his only on-target effort in 7, but the trigger-happy Canaries were frustrated in their attempts to beat David Marshall. Their wing-happy approach earned them the opener, but just 12/44 crosses found a yellow shirt. Snodgrass attempted 18 of those, created 3 chances and completed 3/8 take-ons as the Norfolk side's most active player once again. This, though, is a result that won't sit well for Chris Hughton. Analyse with Stats Zone Everton 2-1 Aston Villa Who needs Leighton Baines when you've got Kevin Mirallas to find the top corner? (OK, Everton really do need Leighton Baines). For a while it looked like Roberto Martinez's men wouldn't see reward for their territorial dominance - they completed almost four times as many final-third passes than Villa in the end - but Mirallas' stunning set-piece completed the turnaround after Steven Naismith's 74th-minute equaliser. Everton finished the game with the game's top 10 passers. Patience pays, apparently. This one did stick to the script for the most part, however. Paul Lambert started with both Christian Benteke and Grant Holt up front to make his intentions clear. But while Benteke put in a typically bullish display as the leading light of Villa's attack, Holt's presence on the pitch was utterly, completely, 100% pointless. Regardless of the fact he was hauled off after an hour, the former Norwich man made fewer passes (6) than Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard (7), with Villa stopper Nathan Baker matching the American's total. If Villa don't score on the break or from a long ball - which they do immensely well, to their credit - it seems they're flat out of ideas. Analyse with Stats Zone Fulham 0-3 Southampton Oh, Fulham. You'd better hope Kostas Mitroglou thinks he's playing in an Olympiakos shirt, because this is bad. From start to finish the Cottagers were dominated by their south-coast rivals, and, although they made it to half-time unscatched, Mauricio Pochettino's men made their quality pay in a devastating second half. The Saints had passed the drop-zone dwellers into submission before the break (227 to Fulham's paltry 93), but it only got worse for Rene Meulensteen's men after the restart. The Saints converted 3 of their 11 second-half efforts as Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert and Jay Rodriguez sealed a comfortable win in front of watching England boss Roy Hodgson. The former duo can't do much more to make the plane for Brazil this summer, but they're giving it a good go. Rodriguez peppered the target with 6 attempts (although hit the target only once), while Lallana was neat and tidy in the final third as both proved influentialonce again. Fulham had one crack at goal (see below) after the break, which didn't come until seven minutes from time. The Cottagers are now bottom of the league by two points after Cardiff's win. It can only get better, right? Maybe after that next trip to Old Trafford. And then that game against Liverpool... Analyse with Stats Zone Hull 1-1 Tottenham Tottenham just can't seem to get it going - and it may well cost them a place in the Champions League. Tim Sherwood knew victory at the KC Stadium would prove the perfect tonic for a midweek tonking at the hands of Manchester City, but what he saw was a game in which his top-four chasers toiled against promoted opposition not for the first time this season. It took Roberto Soldado penalties to unlock Hull and Crystal Palace earlier in the campaign, and Paulinho's late winner to see off Cardiff in September. Here, the north Londoners were made to work again. Steve Bruce's January signings combined for the opener as Shane Long netted from Nikica Jelavic's flick-on, but the visitors were given half an hour to find a winner after Paulinho equalised. Despite all of their possession in the attacking third, however, Spurs were disappointing in their attempts to break down a side missing Alan McGregor, James Chester and the ineligible Jake Livermore. Three shots on target from 19 attempts just isn't good enough. Hull were forced into one fewer clearance than their established opponents, as they ended a run of four straight defeats with an excellent point. For Spurs, meanwhile, there are still big question marks over Sherwood. Can he really get the best out of this team on a regular basis? Analyse with Stats Zone Stoke 2-1 Man United "I don't know what we have to do to win," said David Moyes after seeing his Manchester United side crash to their eighth defeat of the campaign. But the excuses won't wash at Old Trafford anymore. Sure, Asmir Begovic's wonderful save to deny Wayne Rooney was a turning point in this game, but it's just another example of what might have been for the struggling champions. Moyes was able to select Juan Mata, Rooney and Robin van Persie in the same line-up for the first time. And while the Mata-Rooney passing combination (14) was bettered by only one other in the game, his link-up with Van Persie was much more infrequent. Nonetheless, 1 of Mata's 2 passes to the Dutchman produced United's equaliser. But it was the same story for Rooney and Van Persie, who found each other just 3 times at the Britannia Stadium. For Stoke, though, this was their first-ever win over United in the Premier League. Charlie Adam's screamer won it, capping an all-round solid display from the Scot, who was also Stoke's leading passer (23), made 8 recoveries, won 4/5 tackles and made 1 block. United once again looked to attack down the flanks, a strategy surely flawed against a Stoke team who are clearly strong in the air (indeed, they won 20/33 duels) and defending the wings. The Potters were heroic in their blocking (7)."We got to the byline and cut things back three or four times without getting on the end of it," sighed Moyes. It's time to prove there's more to your thinking than simple wing play, David. Analyse with Stats Zone

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Moyes: Bad luck cost United at Stoke

Posted: 01 Feb 2014 10:19 AM PST

Saturdays reversal at the Britannia Stadium was Uniteds eighth Premier League loss this season as a Charlie Adam brace either side of Robin van Persies equaliser handed Stoke the points. After Stokes first league win over United since 1984, Moyes bemoaned the fact his players failed to make the most of the possession they enjoyed in and around the penalty area. I thought the performance was really good. I thought we played well, Moyes said. We created numerous opportunities, we played well (but) we didnt pick anyone out around the box. We lose to a free-kick from 30 yards with a wicked deflection and a worldy. I thought we were the better team. They get a goal, we get back in it, I thought we were the team more likely. I thought on the day we certainly did enough to get something out of the game. United saw Jonny Evans and Phil Jones taken off injured in the first half. Evans has a calf strain and Jones suffered concussion after a tangle with Jonathan Walters. A scan has since confirmed that Jones is fine, according to Moyes, who felt United were unfortunate to be on the receiving end of a third successive away defeat in all competitions. We had bad luck, we really did, he added before lamenting some of Uniteds decision-making. It was our own downfall that we didnt score our chances. We must have got to the byline eight, nine, 10 times but we never pulled the ball back or never picked someone out in the box so its our own undoing.

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Premier League: Stoke City 2 Manchester United 1

Posted: 01 Feb 2014 09:01 AM PST

On a day where none of the top four sides played and Tottenham dropped points, United failed to take advantage, going down to an organised Stoke side at the Britannia Stadium. In a first half largely dominated by United, Stoke went ahead after 38 minutes thanks to a deflected Charlie Adam free-kick. The former Liverpool midfielders effort hit Michael Carrick on the edge of the area, taking the ball beyond the reach of a helpless David de Gea. United were level just two minutes after the break, Robin van Persie the man on target as he became the first player in Premier League history to score in eight successive appearances against a single opponent. The visitors celebrations were cut short however, when Adam unleashed an unstoppable effort past De Gea from outside the area after 52 minutes. It proved to be the winner as United lost their eighth league game of the season and their third straight match on the road in all competitions. United boss David Moyes started the attacking trio of Juan Mata, Van Persie and Wayne Rooney for the first time as they looked to claim a third victory over Stoke this season. While United were able to field a full-strength forward line, Moyes was given a defensive injury headache just 10 minutes in when Jonny Evans was replaced by Rafael Da Silva having suffered what appeared to be a hamstring problem. Rooney then had the first chance of the game, turning and firing wide inside the area after 14 minutes following Patrice Evras cross from the left. From there, United began to pile on the pressure, Van Persie next to go close with an effort that deflected wide past Asmir Begovics right-hand post. However, Stoke survived the strong United spell and perhaps should have engineered a shot on goal when Jonathan Walters was slow to react to a loose ball on the edge of the box - Phil Jones producing a well-timed tackle. Van Persie went close for the visitors when his close-range header took a deflection off Glenn Whelan and crept over the crossbar. However, seven minutes before the break, Adams free-kick, with the help of a large slice of luck and an inadvertent Carrick deflection, put the home side ahead. Things got worse for United before half-time when Jones was taken off injured after a clash of heads in the air with Walters. However, Van Persie was again the man to haunt Stoke as he angled a finish past Begovic following Matas carefully-weighted throughball. The scores were level for just five minutes however, when Adam registered his sixth league goal of the season with a magnificent left-footed strike. With time running out United threw everything forward, and Begovic produced a stunning save in seven minutes of added time to deny Rooney from a free-kick. But Stoke, who were in the relegation zone prior to kick-off, held on to move 11th in the table with their first league win since December.

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Sunday, 2 February 2014

Five lessons from Stoke 2-1 Man United: Mata needs time to really help unlucky Moyes

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Five lessons from Stoke 2-1 Man United: Mata needs time to really help unlucky Moyes

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Sunday, 2 February 2014

Five lessons from Stoke 2-1 Man United: Mata needs time to really help unlucky Moyes

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Five lessons from Stoke 2-1 Man United: Mata needs time to really help unlucky Moyes

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