Adam double helps Stoke heap more pain on United

Monday, 3 February 2014 00:32 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Reuters: Charlie Adam scored twice as Stoke City beat Manchester United 2-1 on Saturday to show the flailing Premier League champions it will take more than one big-money signing to improve their fortunes. The optimism created by Juan Mata’s transfer from Chelsea drained away as United were beaten for the third time in their last five league games, losing ground on rivals Everton, who beat Aston Villa 2-1, and Tottenham Hotspur who drew 1-1 at Hull City.

United, who fielded Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney and Mata in a mouth-watering forward line, were again undone at the back. Adam rifled home a spectacular winner in the second half, after Van Persie cancelled out his deflected opener, to leave United seventh on 40 points, five adrift of Everton in fifth and four behind Spurs. Elsewhere, an Adam Johnson-inspired Sunderland recorded a thumping 3-0 win at derby rivals Newcastle United while West Ham United striker Andy Carroll set up both goals but was also sent off in the 2-0 victory over Swansea City. Southampton dished out more misery for Fulham who dropped to the foot of the table after a 3-0 defeat at Craven Cottage while Cardiff City are second from bottom following a 2-1 win over Norwich City. United had Rooney back from injury to make his first start since New Year’s Day, but their attacking talents came up against one of the game’s great levellers. A howling gale made Stoke a hostile environment for their heralded visitors and after an untidy start, the hosts took the lead with a scruffy goal seven minutes before the break. Adam blasted a freekick from distance that hit Michael Carrick on the edge of the area and flew into the net with United keeper David De Gea wrong-footed. Van Persie scored for the second game in succession after 47 minutes to draw them level, steering a tidy finish into the far corner after being picked out by Mata. Yet the expected comeback victory that United fans became used to seeing under former boss Alex Ferguson failed to materialise and five minutes after the equaliser, Adam thundered a terrific shot into the top corner.