Stoke City 2-2 Manchester United: Five talking points

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Stoke-on-Trent, September 10: Manchester United's poor run at the Bet365 Stadium continued as the Red Devils only managed to salvage a 2-2 draw against a brilliant Stoke City who finally ended United's winning run.

Cameroon international Choupo-Moting hit a double for Stoke to end United’s 100 per cent record while Marcus Rashford and Romelu Lukaku were on target for the Red devils.

Here are five talking points from the match.

1. United still not solid at defence

United have progressed brilliantly under Mourinho this season, however, this show at Stoke indicates regardless of their good start they still have much work to do to become a league winner. At the point when United played well, Stoke attempted to live with them.

While defensively they were also vulnerable and Mourinho won't be content with their defending after conceding two soft goals in the match. Phil Jones horribly lost Choupo-Moting at the back post for Stoke's second goal whereas in the first goal Darmian's slow movement and Bailly's inability to cover the striker cost them the earlier one.

2. Butland steals the show

Stoke Keeper again made a quick impression of himself after delivering yet another match winning performance yesterday. The England keeper made some fine save from Rashford's right footed strike in the first half while plunging low to one side and avoiding the ball wide with his fingertips.

Butland pulled off another pivotal save in the dying minutes of the game to keep the ball out of his own net after Zouma wrongly plunged the ball towards his own net from a corner delivery. The 24-year-old also displayed his distribution skills throughout the match in which one of the balls nearly got winger Jese to score a goal.

3. Stoke again a tough venue for visiting team

Following defeating Arsenal at the bet365 Stadium in their first home game of the season, Stoke again maintained their on Saturday after they stopped another potential title challenger at their den. Stoke away is always believed to be tough from any visiting team, however, Mark Hughes' side positioned fourteenth last season in their home win table however after such back to back solid performance it can be said that the Potters are again on their way to make the stadium a fortress.

4. Manchester United need crossers

Manchester United have already scored 12 goals in their last four matches however hardly any of the goals came from a crossing delivery. United's two fullbacks Valencia and Blind, last night Darmian has, again and again, failed to provide a good delivery from both the flank.

Most of the EPL teams now try their trade with a sit back attitude in the big matches just like Stoke did last night and in this matches a good cross can produce an extra edge to the attacking dimension which United lack. For the irony, the Red Devils have the highest squad player in their team, however, due to lack of proper crossing their heading ability is yet to be tested till now.

5. Chupo Moting shows his worth

Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting was doubtful for the match against United after h was subbed out of Cameroon's 4-0 thrashing to Nigeria a week ago with an injury concern. However, Stoke boss took the risk to start him and it clearly paid off.

The forward arrived at Stoke as a free agent in August after three years at Schalke and opened his account in the Potters jersey in the match with a close-range finish under pressure from Eric Bailly. The forward then again doubled the lead heading in intensely at the back post ahead of United defender Jones to grab a point for his side.

The 28-year-old's landing in Stoke did not hype the crowd that much till now however after yesterday's performance his stake will surely be high now.