Man Utd 2
Fellaini 21′ Mata 59′
Team badge of Stoke City
Stoke 1
N'Zonzi 39′
FT 90 +5
HT 1-1
Home side earn fourth straight victory
Stoke suffer third consecutive defeat
Ex-United man Diouf nearly nicks late point
Injured United skipper Rooney misses out
Manchester United continued their revival with a fourth successive win that strengthens their place in the Premier League top four.
The home side led when Marouane Fellaini headed in Ander Herrera's left-wing cross at the far post.
Stoke equalised through Steven N'Zonzi's low shot, but they slipped to a third straight loss when Juan Mata's free-kick from the right sneaked in.
Stoke's Mame Biram Diouf was twice denied an injury-time equaliser.
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Man Utd fought to the end - Van Gaal
The 26-year-old Stoke forward, who had an undistinguished spell at Old Trafford earlier in his career, saw United keeper David De Gea claw out his header before emergency full-back Ashley Young cleared another effort off the line seconds later.
Diouf was left mystified by his failure to earn a point for the visitors, shaking his head in disbelief as he slowly trudged off the pitch at the final whistle.
A draw would have been harsh on United, who controlled the game throughout but had to rely on a piece of fortune for the winner.
Mata's set-piece evaded every player waiting in the penalty area before finding the net, although team-mate Marcos Rojo claimed he got the final touch with his head.
United boss Louis van Gaal will not be too bothered who scored. The Dutchman's team continue to build momentum, despite failing to turn almost 65% of possession into more goals.
Match facts
The Red Devils have won four consecutive Premier League games for just the second time since Sir Alex Ferguson retired. They achieved the same feat in December 2013.
The Potters have lost four of their last five away from home in the Premier League, their only success coming in a 2-1 win at Tottenham on 9 November.
Marouane Fellaini's two league goals for Manchester United this season have come in evening kick-offs.
Stoke scored with their only shot of the first half against Manchester United.
Skipper Wayne Rooney and Angel Di Maria were both missing from United's squad through injuries sustained against Hull on Saturday.
And for long periods, the home side missed the pair's attacking guile.
Stoke rarely looked like ending a dismal run of 11 successive Old Trafford defeats, though, until Diouf and substitute Marko Arnautovic went close in the final moments.
Old Trafford lost some of its famed 'fear factor' last season as United slumped to seven home Premier League defeats in a terrible first campaign following Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement.
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Stoke threw everything at Man Utd - Hughes
That aura of invincibility appears to have returned under Van Gaal, whose team have taken 19 home points from a possible 21 since defeat by Swansea on the opening day.
Potters boss Mark Hughes indicated his side would not be afraid to "have a go" at United, but they rarely looked like carving open a makeshift home defence until stoppage time.
United controlled the tempo and deservedly led when Herrera was allowed too much time and space to pick out Fellaini, who outjumped Erik Pieters to powerfully nod in.
Hughes was furious with the space that his side allowed Herrera, but his demeanour changed when N'Zonzi calmly guided a 20-yard shot past De Gea with Stoke's first attempt on goal.
But then Mata's intervention moved United within two points of second-placed Manchester City, who travel to Sunderland on Wednesday, while 13th-placed Stoke remain four points above the relegation zone.
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal:
"It was not our best performance. We were not aggressive enough in the first half, we didn't keep our position on the pitch. I was not pleased at half-time - and I told them (the players). The second half was better, we created more chances but we need to score more goals.
"Then Peter Crouch comes on, you know the long balls are coming and it is always difficult. But I'm pleased we held this result. The last few moments were not necessary, but it is always like that. We have struggled until the end in the Premier League. It is common.
"I'm happy with the result. Tomorrow we have a Christmas party and it's important we enjoy that."
Stoke manager Mark Hughes:
"On the balance of play, we were very much in the game, especially in the first half. It was a really good performance and we picked ourselves up from the disappointment of conceding early on.
"We are disappointed with the award of the second goal. We clearly think it is offside. It doesn't matter if he (Rojo) touches it, he is clearly offside and interfering with play.
"He was ahead of the ball in an offside position. The referee and assistant should have cancelled that out. We didn't allow that to affect us but the episodes at the end... it was unbelievable, demonstrating the sort of luck we are having at the moment."
Manchester United v Stoke
Marouane Fellaini scored his first Old Trafford goal for United to put the hosts ahead
Manchester United v Stoke
Steven N'Zonzi equalised with his first league goal of the season - and only his fifth strike in 85 top-flight appearances for Stoke
Manchester United v Stoke
Stoke striker Mame Biram Diouf, who scored one goal in a three-year spell at United, cannot believe he is denied an equaliser
Lineup, Bookings (6) & Substitutions (5)
Manchester United
01 de Gea
25 A Valencia
12 Smalling
05 Rojo
18 Young Booked
16 Carrick
31 Fellaini
08 Mata (Januzaj - 92' )
21 Herrera Booked (Fletcher - 86' )
49 Wilson (Falcao - 78' )
20 van Persie
Substitutes
09 Falcao
11 Januzaj
13 Lindegaard
24 Fletcher
33 McNair
42 Blackett
48 Keane
Stoke City
01 Begovic
02 Bardsley Booked
17 Shawcross
12 Wilson Booked
03 Pieters Booked
15 N'Zonzi
20 Cameron
07 Ireland Booked (Arnautovic - 82' )
27 Krkic
24 Assaidi (Crouch - 77' )
18 Diouf
Substitutes
05 Muniesa
08 Palacios
10 Arnautovic
16 Adam
22 Butland
25 Crouch
34 Shenton
Ref: Jonathan Moss
Att: 75,388
Source:bbc
Man Utd 2
Fellaini 21′ Mata 59′
Team badge of Stoke City
Stoke 1
N'Zonzi 39′
FT 90 +5
HT 1-1
Home side earn fourth straight victory
Stoke suffer third consecutive defeat
Ex-United man Diouf nearly nicks late point
Injured United skipper Rooney misses out
Manchester United continued their revival with a fourth successive win that strengthens their place in the Premier League top four.
The home side led when Marouane Fellaini headed in Ander Herrera's left-wing cross at the far post.
Stoke equalised through Steven N'Zonzi's low shot, but they slipped to a third straight loss when Juan Mata's free-kick from the right sneaked in.
Stoke's Mame Biram Diouf was twice denied an injury-time equaliser.
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Man Utd fought to the end - Van Gaal
The 26-year-old Stoke forward, who had an undistinguished spell at Old Trafford earlier in his career, saw United keeper David De Gea claw out his header before emergency full-back Ashley Young cleared another effort off the line seconds later.
Diouf was left mystified by his failure to earn a point for the visitors, shaking his head in disbelief as he slowly trudged off the pitch at the final whistle.
A draw would have been harsh on United, who controlled the game throughout but had to rely on a piece of fortune for the winner.
Mata's set-piece evaded every player waiting in the penalty area before finding the net, although team-mate Marcos Rojo claimed he got the final touch with his head.
United boss Louis van Gaal will not be too bothered who scored. The Dutchman's team continue to build momentum, despite failing to turn almost 65% of possession into more goals.
Match facts
The Red Devils have won four consecutive Premier League games for just the second time since Sir Alex Ferguson retired. They achieved the same feat in December 2013.
The Potters have lost four of their last five away from home in the Premier League, their only success coming in a 2-1 win at Tottenham on 9 November.
Marouane Fellaini's two league goals for Manchester United this season have come in evening kick-offs.
Stoke scored with their only shot of the first half against Manchester United.
Skipper Wayne Rooney and Angel Di Maria were both missing from United's squad through injuries sustained against Hull on Saturday.
And for long periods, the home side missed the pair's attacking guile.
Stoke rarely looked like ending a dismal run of 11 successive Old Trafford defeats, though, until Diouf and substitute Marko Arnautovic went close in the final moments.
Old Trafford lost some of its famed 'fear factor' last season as United slumped to seven home Premier League defeats in a terrible first campaign following Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement.
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You need to install Flash Player to play this content.
Stoke threw everything at Man Utd - Hughes
That aura of invincibility appears to have returned under Van Gaal, whose team have taken 19 home points from a possible 21 since defeat by Swansea on the opening day.
Potters boss Mark Hughes indicated his side would not be afraid to "have a go" at United, but they rarely looked like carving open a makeshift home defence until stoppage time.
United controlled the tempo and deservedly led when Herrera was allowed too much time and space to pick out Fellaini, who outjumped Erik Pieters to powerfully nod in.
Hughes was furious with the space that his side allowed Herrera, but his demeanour changed when N'Zonzi calmly guided a 20-yard shot past De Gea with Stoke's first attempt on goal.
But then Mata's intervention moved United within two points of second-placed Manchester City, who travel to Sunderland on Wednesday, while 13th-placed Stoke remain four points above the relegation zone.
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal:
"It was not our best performance. We were not aggressive enough in the first half, we didn't keep our position on the pitch. I was not pleased at half-time - and I told them (the players). The second half was better, we created more chances but we need to score more goals.
"Then Peter Crouch comes on, you know the long balls are coming and it is always difficult. But I'm pleased we held this result. The last few moments were not necessary, but it is always like that. We have struggled until the end in the Premier League. It is common.
"I'm happy with the result. Tomorrow we have a Christmas party and it's important we enjoy that."
Stoke manager Mark Hughes:
"On the balance of play, we were very much in the game, especially in the first half. It was a really good performance and we picked ourselves up from the disappointment of conceding early on.
"We are disappointed with the award of the second goal. We clearly think it is offside. It doesn't matter if he (Rojo) touches it, he is clearly offside and interfering with play.
"He was ahead of the ball in an offside position. The referee and assistant should have cancelled that out. We didn't allow that to affect us but the episodes at the end... it was unbelievable, demonstrating the sort of luck we are having at the moment."
Manchester United v Stoke
Marouane Fellaini scored his first Old Trafford goal for United to put the hosts ahead
Manchester United v Stoke
Steven N'Zonzi equalised with his first league goal of the season - and only his fifth strike in 85 top-flight appearances for Stoke
Manchester United v Stoke
Stoke striker Mame Biram Diouf, who scored one goal in a three-year spell at United, cannot believe he is denied an equaliser
Lineup, Bookings (6) & Substitutions (5)
Manchester United
01 de Gea
25 A Valencia
12 Smalling
05 Rojo
18 Young Booked
16 Carrick
31 Fellaini
08 Mata (Januzaj - 92' )
21 Herrera Booked (Fletcher - 86' )
49 Wilson (Falcao - 78' )
20 van Persie
Substitutes
09 Falcao
11 Januzaj
13 Lindegaard
24 Fletcher
33 McNair
42 Blackett
48 Keane
Stoke City
01 Begovic
02 Bardsley Booked
17 Shawcross
12 Wilson Booked
03 Pieters Booked
15 N'Zonzi
20 Cameron
07 Ireland Booked (Arnautovic - 82' )
27 Krkic
24 Assaidi (Crouch - 77' )
18 Diouf
Substitutes
05 Muniesa
08 Palacios
10 Arnautovic
16 Adam
22 Butland
25 Crouch
34 Shenton
Ref: Jonathan Moss
Att: 75,388
Source:bbc
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