adminLONDON. — David Moyes perhaps thought he had seen most things during his challenging short stay at Manchester United, until he turned up in Staffordshire on a wild winter’s evening on Wednesday.
Not only did the United manager witness a first-half hailstorm severe enough for referee Mark Clattenburg to send both sets of players scampering for the sanctuary of the dressing rooms, he also saw a rare telling contribution from his winger Ashley Young — and a goal from Patrice Evra’s right foot.
Young’s opening goal — driven into the Stoke goal from almost 20 yards in the 62nd minute — was struck so powerfully it threatened to take goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen’s hand off.
Midway through a season more notable for accusations of play- acting, it is not overstating things to say Young owed his manager this.
Earlier on, meanwhile, it had been the weather causing all the fuss as a night of rain and swirling wind turned rather more sinister.
The hailstorm sweeping from behind the Main Stand caused a delay to the game for more than 10 minutes. Some Stoke players, it must be said, didn’t really want to go off. Manager Mark Hughes looked positively affronted. Nevertheless it was hard to question Clattenburg’s decision, given that the elements were, at that time, making it rather difficult to see — and stand up straight.
“It was the right decision,” said Moyes afterwards. — Mailonline/BBC
Online Reporter