Louis van Gaal admitted Manchester United's away form was becoming a concern as the club's injury crisis deepened yesterday (Thursday).
Despite Radamel Falcao extending United's unbeaten run to 10 games, Van Gaal is growing increasingly frustrated by his squad's failure to win on the road. This was their third successive away draw and the Dutchman was forced to admit, for the first time since his appointment, that their opponents should have won.
His team may have taken a point from a difficult examination against Stoke but this was further proof of how far short they are of a title bid.
Van Gaal said: "I'm not interested in a period of unbeaten, because I'm in a process - we have to win away games and we didn't do that.
"I think Stoke City deserved more the victory but at the end a draw, I think, is good. I cannot say that we were the better team today - and I've said that many, many times. But today I cannot say that.
"We have to play much better in away games because in my opinion there is no difference in away or at home. It was a draw and I think we don't deserve more. We have seen for us the difficulties to defend long balls that we have also seen in the home match against Stoke.
"We started very badly, you concede a goal from a set play - what you have prepared [for] - and they scored the same way, so that's then a big disappointment. But the players did continue giving the team spirit and we scored also at last out of a set play."
Ashley Young is the latest addition to United's injury list after limping off the field in clear discomfort late in the second half. The England international was forced out of the game in the 74th minute after pulling a hamstring as he attempted to collect a pass from Juan Mata.
Van Gaal's first season in charge at Old Trafford has been beset by injury problems, with key players such as Robin van Persie, Michael Carrick, Marouane Fellaini, Falcao and Luke Shaw all being ruled out for substantial periods of the campaign.
"It's a hamstring injury so he is four weeks out I think. Wait and see because I'm not a doctor but I can imagine it's like that," Van Gaal said.
Mark Hughes, the Stoke manager, claimed his team should have been awarded two penalties by referee Michael Oliver.
Chris Smalling clearly handled a flick from Peter Crouch early in the second half while Stoke defender Geoff Cameron also appeared to have been fouled after a Crouch header hit a post.
Hughes said: "We could have had two penalties and for the handball incident the referee is standing four or five yards away and why he hasn't given it I don't know. I think everybody saw there was a definite movement to get some part of his body in the way and it was clearly his hand.
"And when Peter's hit the post with his header Geoff Cameron gets taken out.
"I feel we were the better team and to be disappointed after a draw against Manchester United just shows you how far we've come.
"In terms of the game as a whole, our chances were better and more clear cut. Overall, with the chances created and the momentum, we were the better team."