Manchester United failed to consolidate on third spot on the Premier League standing after coming away from the Britannia Stadium with a 1-1 draw with Stoke City on New Year’s Day.

The result is a third draw in the last four matches for United following a run of six successive wins while Stoke is now unbeaten in three matches.

Ryan Shawcross gave Mark Hughes’s side a second-minute lead from close range but Radamel Falcao equalised for United midway through the first half with his third goal in the Premier League.

Stoke came close to a winner both striker Peter Crouch was denied by the woodwork with 20 minutes to go as both sides settled for a share of the spoils in the first Premier League match of 2015.

The result leaves Man. United with 37 points, four points ahead of Southampton and Arsenal who both meet at St. Mary’s later today while second placed Manchester City can now pull away from their city rivals if they win at home to Sumderland today as well.