Stoke punctures United optimism
Print Edition
Manchester United slumped to a 1-2 loss at relegation-threatened Stoke City in the English Premier League on Saturday to puncture the optimism generated by Juan Mata’s arrival and leave the reigning champion with a huge task to finish in the Champions League positions.
United’s eighth defeat of a wretched campaign means Liverpool, which currently occupies the fourth and final Champions League place, is now seven points clear of its rival after drawing with West Bromwich Albion 1-1 yesterday.
Charlie Adam scored both of Stoke’s goals at Britannia Stadium either side of Robin van Persie’s equalizer, with a miserable day for seventh-place United capped by first-half injuries to center halves Jonny Evans and Phil Jones that forced them off. It was Stoke’s maiden win over United in the Premier League, and first since 1984.
“I don’t know what we have to do to win,” said United manager David Moyes.
Everton bounced back from its derby thrashing by Liverpool in midweek by coming from behind to beat Aston Villa 2-1 and climb to fifth above Tottenham Hotspur, which drew 1-1 at Hull City.
Cardiff City climbed off the bottom by scoring two goals in 73 seconds at the start of the second half to defeat Norwich City 2-1. That left Fulham, which was overwhelmed 0-3 at home by Southampton, two points adrift in last place.
West Ham United completes the bottom three even though it beat Swansea City 2-0 thanks to a brace by Kevin Nolan. That win was marred by a red card to striker Andy Carroll for elbowing an opponent.
The other match saw Sunderland earn a second straight 3-0 win at Newcastle United in the northeast derby, sparking anger and frustration by home fans disillusioned by the sale of star player Yohan Cabaye to Paris Saint-Germain.
Such is the tightness of the bottom half of the table, Sunderland — like Stoke — is now nearer mid-table than the relegation zone.
With Mata joining from Chelsea for a club-record fee last week and both Wayne Rooney and van Persie back fit, things looked like turning around for United and under-pressure manager Moyes.
Most thought the comfortable 2-0 win over Cardiff on Tuesday would be the first in a run of victories to lift the champions up to the top four, but it came unstuck at the hands of a gutsy Stoke side managed by a former United favorite, Mark Hughes. “I thought we were, to a man, fantastic,” said Hughes, who played 467 games for United.
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