Joe Allen, deployed as a No 10 for Stoke, has now scored in successive games, including the equaliser at Manchester United. Russell Cheyne / Reuters
Joe Allen, deployed as a No 10 for Stoke, has now scored in successive games, including the equaliser at Manchester United. Russell Cheyne / Reuters

Man United ‘should have fat result’, instead Stoke scrap for draw and Mourinho the diverts blame



Manchester United 1 Stoke City 1

Manchester United: Martial (69')

Stoke City: Allen (82')

Man of the Match: Lee Grant (Stoke City)

MANCHESTER // Echoes of Alex Ferguson's reign remain around Old Trafford, and not merely the stand that bears the great manager's time. There was one of the Scot's former players on the touchline, in Stoke City manager Mark Hughes, and, when Paul Pogba headed against the bar in the 89th minute, there seemed the prospect of Fergie Time.

But instead of a late winner, Manchester United suffered a damaging draw and Jose Mourinho revived another of Ferguson's traditions: the diversionary tactic. United's wastefulness afforded Stoke an opening and a moment of poor goalkeeping allowed the league's basement side to equalise.

Nevertheless, the Portuguese pronounced this a better display than the 4-1 thrashing of champions Leicester City.

More from the Premier League:

• Richard Jolly on Chelsea: A case of mistaken identity despite victory over Hull City

• Predictions: Chelsea bounce back; Tottenham v Manchester City to be a close one

• Talking points: West Ham need to climb the table to have any hope of keeping Payet

“I think this was our best performance,” Mourinho said. “From minute one, everything was beautiful.”

That ignored a distinctly ugly challenge by Ander Herrera on the Stoke scorer Joe Allen, which could have earned the Spaniard a red card, and a rather scrappy leveller which nonetheless contained a beauty for a winless Stoke side.

Mourinho felt a sense of injustice. “We should have a fat result,” he said. “It should be 5-0 or 6-0. Then by magic they crossed the halfway line, they scored a goal which is very unfair for us.”

It was a slight at a Stoke team he deemed overly defensive, though Hughes noted that Pogba has a propensity to leave space behind him — “sometimes talented players just want to go forwards and not backwards” — and the intelligent Allen exploited it. It amounted to a triumph of a midfielder who was a flagship summer signing; just not Pogba.

“Joe was immense again,” Hughes said. “Sometimes you don’t understand how good a player is until you work with him every day.”

An infrequent scorer, Allen has struck twice in as many games as a No 10, pouncing when David De Gea spilt Glen Johnson’s shot and Jonathan Walters struck the crossbar with a rebound.

Walters was the third substitute to make a telling effect. United led thanks to two. Theirs was a goal that, like Anthony Martial’s first for United against Liverpool 13 months earlier, brought back memories of Thierry Henry. The injection of pace on the left flank, the capacity to curl a shot into the far corner: both were hallmarks of Arsenal’s record scorer. Three minutes after his introduction, 10 United games without a goal, Martial’s goal was both quick and a long time coming. It was his first strike for Mourinho. “Amazing goal,” the Portuguese said.

After Martial started a move, the ball came back to him via Wayne Rooney as he was tackled by Geoff Cameron. The dropped captain appears to have acquired a new role, that of the superb-sub who fashions goals accidentally. It is chaos theory, Rooney style. He retains the ability to get into good positions, if not to do precisely what he intends there.

Others showed more craft, but insufficient accuracy. Pogba was particularly profligate. Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Jesse Lingard were thwarted by Lee Grant, the 33-year-old goalkeeper borrowed from Derby County and making just his second top-flight appearance.

“Match-defining saves,” Hughes said. “But that is what he is paid to do.”

And United, by failing to defeat Stoke, did not accomplish what they are rewarded so handsomely to achieve.

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The Sand Castle

Director: Matty Brown

Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea

Rating: 2.5/5

TO A LAND UNKNOWN

Director: Mahdi Fleifel

Starring: Mahmoud Bakri, Aram Sabbah, Mohammad Alsurafa

Rating: 4.5/5

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Scorebox

Sharjah Wanderers 20-25 Dubai Tigers (After extra-time)

Wanderers

Tries Gormley, Penalty

Cons Flaherty

Pens Flaherty 2

Tigers

Tries O’Donnell, Gibbons, Kelly

Cons Caldwell 2

Pens Caldwell, Cross

From Zero

Artist: Linkin Park

Label: Warner Records

Number of tracks: 11

Rating: 4/5

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
Total funding: Self funded
Number of employees: 4
Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
Rating: 2/5
 
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.

When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.

How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
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Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants

ENGLAND SQUAD

Goalkeepers Henderson, Pickford, Pope.

Defenders Alexander-Arnold, Chilwell, Coady, Dier, Gomez, Keane, Maguire, Maitland-Niles, Mings, Saka, Trippier, Walker.

Midfielders Henderson, Mount, Phillips, Rice, Ward-Prowse, Winks.

Forwards Abraham, Barnes, Calvert-Lewin, Grealish, Ings, Kane, Rashford, Sancho, Sterling.

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How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

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The specs: 2019 BMW X4

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Engine: 3.0-litre turbocharged in-line six-cylinder

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RESULTS

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Winner: Brraq, Adrie de Vries (jockey), Jean-Claude Pecout (trainer)

7.05pm: Handicap (TB) Dh102,500 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Taamol, Connor Beasley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.

7.40pm: Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (Turf) 1,800m
Winner: Eqtiraan, Connor Beasley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.

8.15pm: UAE 1000 Guineas Trial (TB) Dh183,650 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Soft Whisper, Pat Cosgrave, Saeed bin Suroor.

9.50pm: Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Hypothetical, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer.

9.25pm: Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 1,000m
Winner: Etisalat, Sando Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe

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Your Guide to the Home
  • Level 1 has a valet service if you choose not to park in the basement level. This level houses all the kitchenware, including covetable brand French Bull, along with a wide array of outdoor furnishings, lamps and lighting solutions, textiles like curtains, towels, cushions and bedding, and plenty of other home accessories.
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The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol

Power: 154bhp

Torque: 250Nm

Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option 

Price: From Dh79,600

On sale: Now

The specs: 2018 Ford Mustang GT

Price, base / as tested: Dh204,750 / Dh241,500
Engine: 5.0-litre V8
Gearbox: 10-speed automatic
Power: 460hp @ 7,000rpm
Torque: 569Nm @ 4,600rpm​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​Fuel economy, combined: 10.3L / 100km

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
 
Started: 2020
 
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
 
Based: Dubai, UAE
 
Sector: Entertainment 
 
Number of staff: 210 
 
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners

Electoral College Victory

Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate. 

 

Popular Vote Tally

The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.

If you go...

Etihad Airways flies from Abu Dhabi to Kuala Lumpur, from about Dh3,600. Air Asia currently flies from Kuala Lumpur to Terengganu, with Berjaya Hotels & Resorts planning to launch direct chartered flights to Redang Island in the near future. Rooms at The Taaras Beach and Spa Resort start from 680RM (Dh597).

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League, last-16 second leg
Paris Saint-Germain (1) v Borussia Dortmund (2)
Kick-off: Midnight, Thursday, March 12
Stadium: Parc des Princes
Live: On beIN Sports HD