GIFs: United lose to Stoke after this cracker from Charlie Adam

Eight defeats for United so far this season.

Manchester United lost further ground in the race for a Champions League place with a 2-1 defeat to Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium. At the end of a typically bruising first half at the Britannia, Charlie Adam's free-kick took a massive deflection off Michael Carrick and beat 'keeper David de Gea to put Stoke 1-0 ahead. To make matters worse, both Jonny Evans and Phil Jones were forced off for United. Evans took a knock in the 10th minute, with Rafael coming on his place, while Jones suffered what looked like concussion just moments after the goal. With no more defensive reinforcements on the bench, he was replaced by Danny Welbeck and Carrick was moved back into defence. Happily for United, Juan Mata prodded the ball through for Robin van Persie to coolly slot the ball home. Unhappily for United, Adam then grabbed one of the best goals of his career. And that was that.