Stoke City 3-1 Manchester United - Match Report

United have finished off their pre-season preparations in disappointing fashion with a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Stoke City.

A packed Britannia Stadium backed the Potters, with Marc Goodfellow giving them the lead, but Diego Forlan levelled the scores with a 25-yard cracker with twenty minutes to go.

However Goodfellow completed his brace on the 72 minute-mark, with Chris Iwelumo securing a morale-boosting victory for the home side seven minutes from time.

Sir Alex Ferguson made 8 changes to the starting line-up which won the Community Shield on Sunday, but it was still a strong XI, with Fabien Barthez, Diego Forlan, John O'Shea, Mikael Silvestre and Nicky Butt amongst the XI.

Butt was given the captains arm-band for the evening.

The first-half finished at a stalemate, with only Gifton Noel-Williams and Carl Asaba having any chances of note.

Noel-Williams' shot had gone just wide of Barthez's goal, following a neat through ball from Chris Greenacre.

The best chance of the half though was Carl Asaba's powerful drive, which forced a magnificent finger-tip save from the United 'keeper. The Reds defence had been caught out when John Eustace was allowed to run down the left flank, and was given the space to play a cross to Asaba, but Barthez's heroics kept the visitors on level terms.

Stoke were undoubtedly having the better of the game, with many of the United stars showing signs of fatigue and looking uninterested at times.

Half Time - Stoke City 0-0 Manchester United

As United looked for the opener, Sir Alex strengthened the attack, with youngster Daniel Nardiello replacing Nicky Butt at half-time.

Stoke made the first of a tedious number of changes at the break, with Chris Iwelumo replacing Noel-Williams.

The start of the second-half followed the pattern of the first, with Stoke dominating possession, and finally got their reward on the hour mark with Marc Goodfellow giving the potter the lead.

Goodfellow latched on to a high through ball from the midfield, and ran through to knock the ball past a helpless Fabien Barthez.

Stoke's lead only lasted nine minutes though, with Diego Forlan proving a point to Sir Alex Ferguson with a tremendous equaliser. The Uruguayan smashed home a 25-yard volley, giving Cutler no chance, but giving his hopes of a regular place in the United squad ever chance!

Sadly, the same could not be said for Fabien Barthez. The eccentric French 'keeper looked to blame as the home side regained their lead through Marc Goodfellow. The Potters man of the match sent a fierce shot at goal, which hit the crossbar, before going in off Barthez's back.

The blunder followed a series of other mistakes from the United 'keeper on the evening, and his chances of starting ahead of Tim Howard or Roy Carroll on Saturday look very slim.

Sir Alex then introduced Alan Tate, who replaced Mikael Silvestre. Tate enjoyed a successful loan spell at Swansea City last season, and is now looking for first-team experience for United.

Stoke secured their victory seven minutes from time, when Chris Iwelumo beat Fabien Barthez with a neat shot.

Barthez's night got worse, as he was replaced by Ricardo in the 84th minute. The Spanish 'keeper received little trouble from the Stoke attack in the closing moments.

Wood also replaced Djemba-Djemba, and Jones had been brought in the place of Diego Forlan only minutes earlier.

An impressive 21,436 were at the Britannia Stadium to witness the Stoke victory, with a healthy travelling support from United - as always.

The result will come as a disappointing one for United, especially following their superb pre-season tour of the U.S.A. The Red Devils have won four of their six friendlies, with two defeats against Sporting Lisbon and Stoke City - with a Community Shield triumph in-between the build-up.

Full Time - Stoke City 3-1 Manchester United
 

Stoke City - Cutler, Thomas (Wilkinson 80), Clarke (Ullathorn 76), Eustace (Neal 74), Asaba (Goodfellow 49), Greenacre , Noel-Williams (Iwelumo 45, L Hall 89), M Hall (Wilson 80), Russell (Triallist 78), Andrews (Henry 74), Marteinsson.

Manchester United - Barthez (Ricardo 86); Lynch, O'Shea, Silvestre (Tate 74) Pugh; Fletcher, Butt (Nardiello 46), Djemba-Djemba (Wood 86), Richardson; Bellion, Forlan (Jones 84)

Still, the Uruguayan will face a tough task to gain regular first team action, with van Nistelrooy, Ronaldo now ahead of him in the picking order.

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