STOKE  (AFP) – Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson blasted Peter Crouch as a ‘persistent fouler’ after the beanpole striker rescued a point for Stoke in a 1-1 draw against the champions.

Crouch equalised for the home side, his first goal since joining Stoke for a club record £10 million in the summer, cancelling out a first-half strike from Nani as United dropped points for the first time this season.

But Ferguson claimed that the 6ft 7in forward is a persistent fouler.

“Crouch fouls all the time, he gets huffy but he jumps on top of defenders all the time,” said Ferguson.

“He has been doing that for years, referees know that. He maybe caught Phil Jones for the goal but he is a definitely a handful in the air.”