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PETER CROUCH stunned Manchester United to seal a shock point for Stoke. The England striker headed home a 52nd-minute effort as the Potters ended United's 100 per cent start the season. Nani had fired Alex Ferguson's men into the lead but Crouch's goal pegged them back. And the lanky star, who joined from Tottenham for �10million in the summer, should have grabbed the victory as he fluffed late chances. United made a late change to their team after Jonny Evans had to pull out, Antonio Valencia the man coming in at the back. Stoke were always going to test keeper David de Gea's ability under the high ball. And he looked insecure in the opening seconds, flapping at Rory Delap's first long throw into the box before the danger passed. Moments later the Potters survived a scare of their own as Hernandez found himself through on goal. Jonathan Woodgate made a challenge from behind which sent the Mexican sprawling into the onrushing Asmir Begovic. But while Hernandez stayed down hurt and United boss Ferguson cried out for a penalty, referee Peter Walton waved for play to continue. Glenn Whelan was then booked for upending Patrice Evra before Phil Jones saw his header from Anderson's free-kick cleared by Delap. Hernandez was unable to continue and in the 11th minute came off for Michael Owen. Another Delap throw led to Stoke winning a corner and De Gea looked stranded when it came in from Matthew Etherington. Crouch missed with his back-post header but penalised for climbing over Jones. At the other end, Dimitar Berbatov - making his first start of the season - nodded Anderson's corner wide. The deadlock was broken just before the half-hour mark when Nani linked up with Darren Fletcher, burst into the area and fired past Begovic. Within seconds, Stoke nearly equalised as De Gea did superbly to tip Andy Wilkinson's fierce drive on to the woodwork. Ponderous play from Begovic almost let in Nani to make it 2-0 but he put his effort over the bar. Back came Stoke, and after Delap had cracked a shot wide from distance De Gea produced another fantastic save to turn Jon Walters' shot around the post. Woodgate headed over from the resulting corner with De Gea failing to convince in another aerial situation. Crouch and Jermaine Pennant then both slid in to no avail in an attempt to get on the end of Walters' cross. Having finished the first half strongly, Stoke picked up where they left off after the restart and seven minutes in, were level. Etherington swung in a corner and, with De Gea stood on his line, Crouch rose to head home his first Potters goal. Berbatov sent a shot into Begovic's arms, but it was Stoke who had all the momentum. Crouch looked set to score again when he brought down Pennant's chip in front of goal, only for De Gea to deflect over. Begovic then got down to save a low effort from Anderson and De Gea punched away Marc Wilson's firm free-kick. After Ashley Young's strike had been batted away by Begovic, the former Aston Villa winger came off for Ryan Giggs while Danny Welbeck replaced Berbatov. Giggs delivered a ball into the six-yard box but Ryan Shawcross was on hand to get there ahead of Owen, who then looped a header over the bar. Both sides had chances to win it towards the end, with Crouch sending a header and volley wide before Giggs fired over in stoppage time. Stoke: Begovic, Wilkinson (Huth 83), Shawcross, Woodgate, Wilson, Pennant (Jerome 90), Delap (Whitehead 85), Whelan, Etherington, Walters, Crouch. Subs Not Used: Sorensen, Upson, Shotton, Palacios. Booked: Whelan. Goals: Crouch 52. Man Utd: De Gea, Valencia, Ferdinand, Jones, Evra, Nani, Anderson, Fletcher, Young (Giggs 70), Berbatov (Welbeck 70), Hernandez (Owen 11). Subs Not Used: Lindegaard, Park, Fabio Da Silva, Macheda. Goals: Nani 27. Att: 27,582 Ref: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).