Manchester United 3-0 Stoke: Wayne Rooney, Jesse Lingard na Anthony Martial watupia!
On the way
to Old Trafford it was tempting to ponder the seemingly ridiculous.
Would this be a night that we saw Stoke City come to Manchester and
actually play the better football?
The
story of the Barclays Premier League season so far suggested it may
just be the case. Memories of Stoke’s 2-0 win over Louis van Gaal’s
pitiful Manchester United on Boxing Day bolstered the rather persistent
thought. Here, though, on a night when United really needed it, Van
Gaal’s team dismissed the notion comprehensively. This was not the
rebirth of United but at least the corpse twitched.
United,
at last, played some terrific football. They scored three memorable
goals and, for one night at least, allowed their supporters to forget
how wretched this season has been. On the Stretford End, the home
support added their own contribution to the football story of the week.
‘You can stick your Guardiola up your a**e’ they sang in reference to
news of managerial change from across town.
Anthony Martial (left) scored a sensational curled effort to double Manchester United's lead in the first half
The young France international cannot contain his excitement as he celebrates doubling United's first-half lead
Captain Wayne Rooney celebrates scoring Manchester United's third goal as the ball nestles on Jack Butland's back
The England international blows kisses to the stands after finishing from close range off Martial's pass
Jesse Lingard (second left) watches his stooped header beat Stoke No1 Jack Butland to hand United the lead on 14 minutes
Lingard wheels away after breaking with tradition this season by scoring a first-half goal at Old Trafford
Under pressure United manager Louis van Gaal was able to leave the field to cheers after an entertaining victory
Manchester Utd:
De Gea 6, Darmian 6.5, Smalling 6.5, Blind 6.5, Borthwick-Jackson 7,
Carrick 6.5, Fellaini 6.5 (Herrera 6), Lingard 6.5, Mata 7.5 (Pereira),
Martial 8.5 (Depay 6), Rooney 7.5.
Subs: Romero, Schneiderlin, Varela, McNair, Pereira.
Goals: Lingard 14', Martial 23', Rooney 53'
Booked: Darmian, Martial
Stoke:
Butland 6, Johnson 6, Wollscheid 6 (Bardsley 6.5), Muniesa 5, Pieters
5.5, Whelan 6, Afellay 5.5, Walters 5.5, Krkic 5 (Ireland 5.5),
Arnautovic 5, Crouch 5.5.
Subs: Odemwingie, Joselu, Diouf, Shaqiri, Haugaard.
Booked: Ireland
Referee: Roger East 7
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