Manchester United look likely to lose ground on the Premier League's top two after battling to a draw at Stoke.
A third draw in four games leaves United nine points behind leaders Chelsea, who play later on Thursday.
Radamel Falcao swept in from a corner to equalise for United after Ryan Shawcross had given Stoke an early lead with a close-range volley.
Stoke were denied a penalty when Chris Smalling appeared to handle, while a Peter Crouch header hit the post.
A point was the least Stoke deserved, with the home side coping better with the blustery conditions and looking more likely to carve an opportunity from open play.
Balls delivered into the box caused problems for United's three centre-halves, who at times were reduced to arguing amongst themselves.
Former Manchester United defender Phil Neville on BBC Radio 5 live |
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"The disappointment for United is that over the last three away games they have not been clinical enough. They have had all the possession, but sometimes I would like them to be a bit more direct rather than take the extra pass. Both teams went for victory in horrendous conditions. I think a draw was a fair result in the end."
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United had much of the possession, but lacked the guile to break down an organised Stoke defence and now face the prospect of falling 12 points behind Chelsea.
Six successive victories had led United boss Louis van Gaal to talk of a title challenge, but dropping six points over the Christmas period leaves cementing a top-four place as the more realistic ambition.
Stoke had enjoyed their own period of consistency in December, a run of three wins and a draw only interrupted by a 2-0 defeat by Chelsea.
The Potters lost the influential Bojan to a hamstring injury in their latestwin against West Brom, but that mantle was picked up by Marko Arnautovic.
It was his corner in the second minute that was delivered deep to Crouch, who nodded down for the unmarked Shawcross to score against his former club.
Another Arnautovic ball should have led to Mame Biram Diouf putting Stoke further ahead, but he fired wide when given a clear sight of goal and, soon after, United were level.
A corner from the left was helped on by Michael Carrick, with Falcao finishing from inside the six-yard box.
However, that did not provide United with the inspiration to improve, with their best chance of the second half coming when the ineffective Robin van Persie poked a volley wide.
Instead, it was Stoke who came closest to winning it, with Crouch hitting the woodwork and Diouf firing over, both from deliveries into the United area.
And the hosts were aggrieved - perhaps justifiably - when Crouch's header into the raised arm of Smalling did not result in a penalty.
LINEUP, BOOKINGS (0) & SUBSTITUTIONS (4)
Stoke City
- 01 Begovic
- 20 Cameron
- 17 Shawcross
- 05 Muniesa
- 03 Pieters
- 19 Walters
- 15 N'Zonzi
- 06 Whelan
- 10 Arnautovic (Assaidi - 81' )
- 25 Crouch
- 18 Diouf
Substitutes
- 02 Bardsley
- 04 Huth
- 12 Wilson
- 16 Adam
- 22 Butland
- 24 Assaidi
- 34 Shenton
Manchester United
- 01 de Gea
- 06 Evans
- 12 Smalling
- 04 Jones
- 10 Rooney
- 18 Young (Rafael - 75' )
- 08 Mata
- 03 Shaw (Januzaj - 64' )
- 16 Carrick
- 20 van Persie
- 09 Falcao (Herrera - 64' )
Substitutes
- 02 Rafael
- 11 Januzaj
- 13 Lindegaard
- 21 Herrera
- 24 Fletcher
- 42 Blackett
- 49 Wilson
Ref: Michael Oliver
Att: 27,203
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