EPL: MANCHESTER UNITED FRUSTRATED BY LOWLY STOKE CITY

World's most expensive footballer Paul Pogba of MAN UTD

Manchester United were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Stoke City on Sunday’s English Premier League early kick-off.

Stoke started the match in the bottom position in the 20 team league table. The draw lifted them one place above Sunderland who are now bottom.

Despite the hosts dominating proceedings from the start, French winger, Anthony Marital, came off the bench to score, but ex-Swansea and Liverpool man Joe Allen bundled in a late equaliser to put a spanner in the works.

And Stoke goalkeeper Lee Grant was the main reason Stoke remained in contention throughout the game, with a string of excellent stops either side of the interval.

Star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic turns 35 on Monday, and he was denied an early birthday gift by the shot-stopper who was playing in only his second top-flight game.

Both sides were deadlocked at the interval, and both will have felt they should have been ahead.

Ibrahimovic and Paul Pobga were the culprits for the hosts, while the visitors sole chance was squandered by Geoff Cameron.

United seemed a little leggy in the second half, and manager Jose Mourinho made a double subsitituon in the 67th minute, sending on Martial and Wayne Rooney as United were desperate for a breakthrough.

Mourinho’s substitution made the difference as Rooney for the second time in as many games, got an united assist. His poor touch came to Martial in the box, and the French forward curled a first-time shot into the net to calm nerves at the Theatre of Dreams.

70 minutes gone, and United looked home and dry.

Except, Stoke City had other ideas, and when David de Gea spilled Glen Johnson’s shot, Joe Allen made sure he was in the right place and the right time to take advantage of the ensuing chaos in the United box to silence the Old Trafford crowd.

Despite their being nine minutes of regulation time remaining, the hosts were unable to breach Grant's goal yet again, with Pogba coming close with a booming header that hit the post in the 89th minute.

Man Utd Manager Jose Mourinho

With the result, United remain in sixth place with 13 points while Stoke, who are still winless are 19th with 3 points.

Mourinho knows his side’s performance was not acceptable and their sloppy finishing cost them maximum points. Up next are arch-rivals Liverpool, who are currently flying high in second place.

The international break comes at the right time, as it gives him time to regroup and reflect on why United are struggling upfront.

Should the Red Devils lose at Anfield, expect the ‘Einsteins’ to turn up the heat for the Portuguese tactician yet again.