Just days after the derby day defeat a visit to the potteries always looked a troublesome game as Stoke are fighting for there lives but United put in a professional performance and earned 3 more points towards title number 20.
Vidic and Rio were reunited in the central defence department and Phil Jones at right back to help combat the Aeriel threat of Stoke. Kagawa was reinstated to the midfield and Hernandez made a rare start up front with RVP. The biggest change was Rooney starting in Midfield with Carrick. Sir Alex felt Rooney needed some confidence and a suggestion of dropping back seemed to work a treat.
United got the lead on four minutes when a corner was not cleared and the ball fell to Carrick who toe poked it into the net and United were up and running. Rooney was rampant in the midfield and he unleashed a long range shot which Begovic managed to deal with. Big Robert Huth had a chance for Stoke but his header cleared De Gea post.
Hernandez was causing problems for Stoke with his pace and Huth and Shawcross were struggling to keep up but managed to see half time without any further issues. The second half saw Stoke make a fist of it but really they did not test De Gea enough to trouble the scoreboard. The second goal duly came and showed United passing strength when Phil Jones calmly played the ball out from right back and 5 passes later and a 110 yards RVP was in the box and fouled by Wilkinson and a penalty given. Begovic guessed right but the shot was too strong. Cue RVP celebrations with Sir Alex not quite in the Di Canio mould but relief was evident. Moments later Kenwyne Jones fell over Vidic in the box but no penalty given.
Stoke gave an outing to old United striker Michael Owen but he made no impression due to lack of service and another England Striker Peter Crouch came on but the big man again made no affect on the outcome.
A routine win and Rooney and Carrick looked strong in midfield with Rooney getting the nod as man of the match. 7 more points to guarantee the title and a trip to East London on Wednesday against West Ham should again prove a difficult game but the you get the sense that United want to wrap this up and get the record number of points for a season.
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