Vines: Manchester United get lucky after Stoke City denied stonewall penalty

Stoke City and Manchester United finished 1-1 today, but the home side will feel they should have had a penalty after a clear Chris Smalling handball.

Ryan Shawcross put his side ahead in the second minute with a vintage Stoke City goal. From a corner, Peter Crouch, unmarked by Manchester United's defenders, nodded the ball towards goal, where Shawcross, also unmarked, prodded it into the roof of the net.

53 - Peter Crouch now has 53 Premier League assists, moving him level with Robin van Persie. Trequartista. — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 1, 2015

Stoke should have doubled their lead through another former United player. Mame Biram Diouf  should have capitalised on a defensive slip from Jonny Evans, going one-on-one with goalkeeper David de Gea and with the goal at his mercy, he skied the ball high and wide. United then leveled from a corner of their own. In the 26th minute Radamel Falcao arrived onto a Michael Carrick flick-on to cleverly guide the ball home from six yards.

11 - No team has conceded more goals from set-pieces in the Premier League this season than Stoke. Routine. — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 1, 2015

The pattern of the game continued in the second half, the home side pressed hard for a winner and will feel they definitely should have had a penalty. In the 65th minute, from (another) Stoke corner, Crouch headed the ball against Chris Smalling's flailing arm. Stoke's penalty shout was ignored though and United will perhaps feel fortunate to escape with a point. That's three away draws in a row for Manchester United.