Man Utd 2-1 Stoke: Red Devils roll along

04.01.11 | Andrew Slevison

READ MORE NEWS ON: Manchester United, Stoke City

Manchester United have taken this season’s unbeaten run to 20 matches with a 2-1 victory over Stoke City at Old Trafford.

The Red Devils moved three points clear at the top of the table with their 12th triumph of the season whilst Stoke remained 8th despite their second loss in their past three matches.

Manchester United: 2 (Javier Hernandez 27’, Nani 62’)
Stoke City: 1 (Dean Whitehead 50’)

Venue: Old Trafford, Manchester
Crowd: 73,401
Referee: Mark Clattenburg
Yellow cards: MU - nil
SC - nil

United were well on top in the early stages with plenty of chances being created and it took them almost half an hour to take the lead.

GOAL Mexican striker Javier Hernandez netted his second in two matches when he supplied a superb finish with his backheel in the 27th minute from a neat Nani ball from the right side of the penalty area.

After that goal, it seemed as if it was going to be a rout as the Red Devils continued to push forward at will but the Potters managed to hold them off until half-time.

GOAL They then grabbed a leveler with the club’s first goal at Old Trafford since 1980 when Dean Whitehead headed home Tuncay’s cross in the 50th minute.

There were a few nervous moments for United after Stoke equalised but as always they stayed strong and managed to go ahead thanks to another piece of Nani brilliance. This time the Portuguese winger received a pass from Hernandez outside the area before turning onto his left and lashing home to give his side the lead.

From then on, the confidence of Alex Ferguson’s men picked up and they were never really going to concede again, eventually recording yet another victory to keep their season rolling along.