stoke-city

Sir Alex Ferguson has backed his squad to recover from FA Cup defeat at Anfield just three days ago, with the Scot’s Manchester United side facing Stoke City at Old Trafford on Tuesday night. The fixture offers Ferguson’s side a rapid opportunity to put the loss in Liverpool to one side and continue the pursuit of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League. Yet, with 11 players likely to be on the sidelines for Tuesday’s fixture, Ferguson’s side must recover the hard way against a typically committed Stoke outfit.

United’s record against Stoke at Old Trafford – eight wins in a row dating back to 1981 – suggests a routine three points. But with Ferguson’s players once again bruised by crushing defeat at the weekend, the Scot will do well to raise his troop’s spirits. Indeed, it is a season in which ‘recovery’ has been discussed far too often for some supporters’ liking: after heavy defeat to Manchester City in the league, when United crashed out of Europe, and now FA Cup disappointment.

Yet, Stoke, says Ferguson are unlikely to give United an easy ride at Old Trafford despite the poor record over the past 30 years in the Reds’ back yard.

“You know what Tony Pulis’ teams are like, they’re always the same with one hundred per cent commitment,” Ferguson told ManUtd.com.

“They all get stuck in and you have to cope with that. I quite enjoy that. When we used to play Wimbledon, at the beginning when they first came into our division, nobody enjoyed playing against them. But then I started and my team started to enjoy it because it was a challenge, a physical challenge in the way they played and a physical challenge in terms of trying to take control of the possessions and play your football.

“Stoke are a different team altogether from Wimbledon, obviously, but they still have the same quality of never giving in; they keep going, so it’s a good challenge for us.”

Ferguson is again without half a squad’s worth of injured players. Long-term injury victims Tom Cleverley, Michael Owen, Darren Fletcher, Fábio da Silva and Nemanja Vidic are definitely out. Meanwhile, United will also be missing Ashley Young, Nani, and Rio Ferdinand, while Wayne Rooney and Phil Jones are unlikely to be risked.

Uncertainty also surrounds Ferguson’s choice of goalkeeper. While the much criticised David de Gea phoned in sick this week, Anders Lindegaard left training  in a protective boot on Monday. The crisis may mean a recall to the squad for the long forgotten Pole Tomasz Kuszazck, who had been widely expected to leave the club this transfer window. Reserve Ben Amos could start.

Despite the ongoing injury crisis Ferguson maintained an upbeat mood this week, backing his players – especially the club’s much maligned midfield – to drive United towards a 20th domestic title come May. Indeed, in Tom Cleverley significant strategic hope is being placed, with United having failed to sign a midfielder of note for the past four seasons.

“Cleverley is doing a lot of running. He’s nowhere near the first team at the moment but he’s doing a lot of running,” confirmed Ferguson of the midfielder who has played just 58 minutes football since 10 September.

“Michael Carrick’s form has been unbelievable – he’s been playing fantastic – and we’ll also have Giggs, Scholes, Cleverley and Anderson, so that’s a great group of midfield players that will definitely help us. He’ll be a terrific boost. It will be great to get the boy back because I think he’s special.

“I expect (Young) to start training in the middle of the week, so he’s on his way back. Cleverley is two weeks behind that. Anderson will be ready this week, too. He’ll start training with us on Monday or Tuesday and then it gives me a collection of midfield players that should cope with anything that happens in the run-in.”

Meanwhile, Stoke arrive in decent form, some 12 points beyond the relegation zone, safety already assured for another season. But Pullis may be without winger Matthew Etherington who has a groin injury. Cameron Jerome could make his first start of the year after scoring last week.

Yet, for all Stoke’s progress the focus is squarely on whether United can remain in touch at the top of the Premier League. With Manchester City away at Everton there is a realistic chance that Ferguson’s men will gained ground on the Blues. But to do that, United must overcome both mass injury and the obvious disappointment of the past week.

“Every player at this club knows what’s expected. When you’re at Manchester United you know defeats like that aren’t acceptable. We don’t need anybody else to tell us that. We know it deep down,” adds defender Jonny Evans.

“We’ve played really well against Stoke in the last few games, both at home and away. I think we’ve dealt particularly well with their long throw-ins. There isn’t much of a run-up at Old Trafford on the side of the pitch, which will probably help us. We’ve beaten them comfortably over the last few seasons but they’re improving all the time and nobody ever looks forward to playing against Stoke.

“They have a different approach to the way most teams play. People have this preconception of them and think that because they’re a big side they’re a dirty side. But that’s not the case at all. I think they’re hard but fair and Tony Pulis goes out of his way to make sure they don’t cross that line.”

And that may well be a relief to the few remaining United players not yet injured! Yet, there is no doubt the fixture is pivotal to United’s hopes of silverware this season. Indeed, it is the first time in the Premier League era that United has been out of the Champions League and FA Cup by this stage of the season. Anything less than a comfortable win tonight is unthinkable.

Match Facts
Manchester United versus Stoke City, Premier League, Old Trafford, Tuesday 31 January 2012, 8pm.

Potential Line-ups
United (4-4-1-1): Amos; Rafael, Smalling, Evans, Evra; Valencia, Scholes, Carrick, Park; Hernández, Welbeck. Subs from: Kuszazck, Fryers, Cole, Giggs, Lingard, Pogba, Keane, Berbatov.

Stoke (4-5-1): Sorensen; Wilkinson, Huth, Shawcross, Wilson; Pennant, Palacios , Whitehead, Delap, Walters; Crouch. Subs from: Begovic, Wilkinson, Whelan, Jones, Fuller, Etherington, Jerome.

Performance Stats

• United kept pace with league leaders City with a 2-1 victory over Arsenal in the last Premier League game at the Emirates;
• Michael Carrick covered the most ground for United in that game with 6.06 miles, while Antonio Valencia and Danny Welbeck scored for the Reds;
• Valencia’s goal was just his second of the season, but the winger has also contributed an impressive eight assists;
• Valencia has the joint second highest number of assists and the fourth best minutes per assist in the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, with one every 139 minutes;
• Ryan Giggs has the best minutes per assist rate in the league, with an assist every 117 minutes (seven in total);
• Welbeck’s goal was his sixth of the season in the Premier League from 34 attempts. He has achieved 74 per cent of shots on target, the third best percentage on target (among players who have had more than twenty efforts at goal);
• Nani has now delivered over 100 crosses for United (105), topping the Index, 28 crosses ahead of second place Sebastian Larsson;
• Meanwhile, Stoke’s last Premier League outing was a 2-1 defeat at the hands of West Bromwich Albion;
• Peter Crouch covered the most ground for Stoke in that game with 5.8 miles;
• Cameron Jerome scored Stoke’s goal in that game – just his second Premier League strike of the campaign.

Form
United: LLWWWL
Stoke: DWWDLW

Officials
Referee: Mike Jones (Chester)
Assistants: P Kirkup, A Garratt
Fourth Official: C Foy

The Britannia Stadium, they say, is a cauldron of hostility and Tony Pullis’ Stoke City team the most aggressively direct of any in the Premier League. And while Stoke’s supporters continue to live with the bizarre notion that there is a local rivalry with United to maintain, Pullis’ team is a far better footballing outfit than the pervading popular opinion.

Manchester United head to the Britannia Saturday afternoon seeking a sixth straight Premier League win, in what is the Reds’ best start to a season since 1985. Sir Alex Ferguson’s men face a stern test of that record but, boasting a flawless record against the Potters in recent times, travel South in confident mood.

Ron Atkinson’s ’85 team won 10 straight in the old First Division before old failings were exposed and United finished a disappointing fourth. Atkinson would have only a year left in the job by the his side dropped its first points. With games against Liverpool at Anfield and the derby with Manchester City to come the odds are firmly in favour of Atkinson retaining one of the few records Ferguson has not broken in the 25 years since the Scot took over at Old Trafford.

In any case, chasing records is a notion to which Ferguson gives short shrift, preferring to concentrate on the here-and-now and another examination of his team’s title credentials.

“There is no point analysing our start in terms of previous years,” said Ferguson on Friday.

“I am just enjoying the moment and hope it lasts longer than normal. You know somewhere along the line we will lose a game or drop a point. That is a fact. That is the league we are in. Does it matter if you win the league? No it doesn’t. You deal with the situations as they come along. If we have a defeat, the next week you try to win.”

Ferguson will be without a trio of injured stars – Nemanja Vidic, Rafael da Silva, and potentially Chris Smalling, who has a minor calf problem. Captain Vidic’s return could again be delayed, with the giant Serbian suffering with an ongoing shoulder problem that has failed to clear. But United should welcome back defender Rio Ferdinand for the fixture. The former England captain has missed games against Benfica and Chelsea with a hamstring strain, but is likely to start at the Britannia.

“He has not done any training and just been having treatment,” Ferguson said of the 32-year-old defender.

“Calves can be troublesome that way. When Bryan Robson did his, it kept him out for three months. Rio’s [injury] record is fact. We wish it was better but we use him to our advantage when we have him available because you cannot dismiss the experience he brings. He missed a couple [of matches] after Bolton and one after West Brom, but I don’t mind that because with the squad we have got we utilise him the way we want to.

“We’re delighted with [Chris] Smalling, [Jonny] Evans and [Phil] Jones because the three of them have been magnificent and no doubt they’re the long-term future, but there are occasions when you bring in the bit of experience that Rio offers and it does make a difference. You saw at Bolton, he absolutely walked through the game.”

Elsewhere, Ferguson is likely to persist with the attacking quartet that began against Chelsea, with Javier Hernández having recovered from the bruised shin suffered after Ashley Cole’s brutal assault last week. While Wayne Rooney is rightly taking the plaudits, with 10 goals in all competitions this season, Ashley Young and Nani have nine assists between them in the league alone.

The game is also likely to be a major test for goalkeeper David de Gea, the Spaniard who has visibly grown in confidence as the season progressed, from the early mistakes against City and West Bromwich Albion, to the excellent display in last week’s match with Chelsea that prompted the Manchester Evening News to award the 20-year-old it’s man-of-the-match gong.

Indeed, de Gea has been put through a rigorous training regimen at Carrington this week in preparation for Rory Delap’s long-throw missile that proffers Stoke both chances and territorial advantage.

“It’s an eye-opener for any goalkeeper,” added Ferguson.

“I remember discussing with Edwin what his position would be in terms of the long throw-ins and where he was most comfortable dealing with the situation. We got it right then and we are doing the same with David. All the work this week has been on his position and where he should be.”

Despite United’s strong record against Stoke in recent seasons – a 100 per cent win rate since the Potters’ promotion in 2008 – Ferguson warns against any complacency, with Liverpool losing in the city last week and Chelsea held to a draw. Yet the Scot refuses to join in the chorus of critics about Stoke’s style of play.

“It’s never been a problem for us,” adds the United boss.

“Everyone plays to their strengths. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. You see the progress the team is making. They have signed two or three players, they are playing European football and having a right go. They have a great attitude and their support is brilliant.”

Meanwhile, Pullis will be without striker Kenwyne Jones who is out after picking up a hamstring injury in the Potters midweek Carling Cup tie. But Matthew Upson could retain his place after a strong performance against Tottenham Hotspur this week.

Atkinson’s first dropped points 26 years ago came in a 1-1 draw at Luton Town. The Hatters now play in the Blue Square Premier. The smart money says Stoke is unlikely to repeat the feat this weekend.

Match Facts
Stoke City versus Manchester United, Premier League, Britannia Stadium, 5.30pm, 24 September 2011.

Likely Line-ups
United (4-4-1-1): de Gea; Jones, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra; Nani, Carrick, Anderson, Young; Rooney; Hernandez. Subs from: Lindegaard, Fabio, Evans, Giggs, Evans, Fletcher, Pogba, Park, Diouf, Owen, Berbatov, Welbeck.

Stoke (4-4-2): Begovic; Huth, Woodgate, Upson, Shawcross; Pennant, Delap, Palacios, Etherington; Jones, Crouch. Subs from: Sorensen, Whitehead, Wilkinson, Whelan, Walters, Wilson, Shotton, Wilson, Diao, Jerome

Form
Stoke: WLDLD
United: WWDWW

EA performance stats

• The Manchester United team covered a total of 76.59 miles during the 3-1 win at Old Trafford against Chelsea, with Nani covering 7.99 miles, Darren Fletcher 7.65 miles and Wayne Rooney 7.55 miles
• Wayne Rooney scored his ninth Premier League goal in last Sunday’s win. The striker has now, on average, scored a goal every 53 minutes 40 seconds of Premier League action this season. He is also the Premier League player to have had the most total shots (24) this season.
• Rooney remains the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index’s top ranked player. United boasts four more players in the top 10: Ashley Young (2nd), Nani (6th), Anderson (7th) and de Gea (10th)

Officials
Referee: Peter Walton (Long Buckby)
Assistants: M Mullarkey, D C Richards
Fourth Official: C Foy

Manchester United moved three points clear of rivals Manchester City at the head of the Premier League after a narrow win over Stoke City on Tuesday night. Javier Hernández in the opening period and then Nani after the break scored for United as Sir Alex Ferguson’s side laboured to a narrow victory over the Potters at Old Trafford.

Once again this was far from a vintage United performance, although the goals that won the tie were of the highest quality. Perhaps not as fortunate as the win over West Bromwich Albion on Sunday, where United claimed an unlikely victory, but rarely can Ferguson have possessed such as paucity of options in midfield.

Indeed, at times in the second period Stoke threatened what West Brom actually achieved at the weekend and bettered the United in the centre of the park.

This, as so often this season, was just about enough for Ferguson’s outfit, which now leads cross-town rivals Manchester City by three with a game in hand. City visits Arsenal tomorrow in what could prove a pivotal result for either side, with Chelsea now nine points behind United.

Despite the poor showing against the West Brom, Ferguson opted to rest key players for the Potters’ visit. Edwin van der Sar, Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand sat out the tie, in front of a large number of empty seats at Old Trafford – not for the first time this season.

If Ferguson’s decision to rest key players was of little surprise given the visitors’ poor record in Manchester, then picking Darron Gibson ahead of Michael Carrick and Anderson in central midfield was more generous. The Irishman has seen little action of late – and has produced little with what he has – but Ferguson admitted he had one eye on Sunday’s FA Cup third round tie with Liverpool.

“It was a difficult kind of match,” admitted United boss Ferguson.

“Stoke are such a determined bunch of lads nad never give in but we produced some good moments and I was pleased with our own commitment, which was very good.

“We made some changes tonight to keep the squad motivated and also to give some players game time. January is going to be a big month for us. We’ve got Liverpool on Sunday and Tottenham the next week, and the rearranged game with Blackpool.”

Initially, the changes had little effect on United, with Ferguson’s side well on top in the opening exchanges, even if chances came at a premium. Indeed, with the Tony Pullis’ outfit packing midfield and hitting Kenwyne Jones with direct balls, the onus remained on United to control the match tempo.

Gibson, with long-range efforts first from the edge of the area and then even further out, went close for the hosts as Ferguson’s side dominated proceedings during the opening quarter.

Meanwhile, Stoke offered little going forward, with Jones isolated and few runners breaking ahead of the ball.

Yet, for all United’s dominance the home side could not turn pressure into clean strikes at goal during much of the opening half-hour in what threatened to become a frustrating match.

Then Nani, returning from a hip injury that kept the Portuguese winger out of the festive programme, created the opening goal, firing into the near post for Hernández to finish with the deftest of flicks. The goal was typical Hernández, born of the player’s pace over the first 10 yards and ability to improvise a finish with his heel.

But much against the run-of-play Stoke equalised just five minutes into the second half. Dean Whitehead took advantage of lax marking by United captain Nemanja Vidic to head home Sanli Tuncay’s excellent left-wing cross.

Whitehead almost gifted United an instant return, putting Dimitar Berbatov through with a loose backpass only for former Red Ryan Shawcross to recover superbly. His defensive partner Robert Huth then shut out Hernández with the Mexican close to another goal.

The goal brought life to the visitors’ play that had not previously been evident. Suddenly Etherington gave width, Rory Delap threatened more penetrative runs from midfield and Jones offered a genuine target.

Stoke’s hope lasted barely 10 minutes though before Nani demonstrated the increased value he offers to United in the post-Cristiano Ronaldo era. Exchanging smart passes with Hernández, Nani cut inside from 20 yards and fired past Asmir Begovich high into the Stoke ‘keeper’s right-hand corner with half an hour to go

It was enough – just enough – to claim victory as United pressed for a third but failed to deliver.

“It was a great run from Chicho on the first one. I keep telling strikers to get across that front post and he’s excellent at it and of course Nani’s goal was sensational,” added Ferguson.

Indeed, the positives lie in the result and superb goals, rather than United’s performance, which rarely excelled. Yet, in this season of mediocrity from so many of the leading sides, United remains in pole position to take a 19th domestic title come May.

Match Facts
United – 442 – Kuszczak; Rafael, Smalling, Vidic, Evra; Nani, Gibson (Carrick 78), Fletcher, Giggs; Berbatov, Hernández (Owen 78).

Stoke – 451 – Begovic; Huth, Collins, Shawcross, Wilkinson; Tuncay, Wilson, Whitehead, Delap (Walters 69), Etherington (Pennant 68); Jones (Fuller 75).

Attendance – 73,401
Man of the Match – Nani

Possession: United 58% – 42% Stoke
Attempts: 18 – 5
On Target: 11 – 4
Corners: 6 – 1
Fouls: 6 – 11

Wayne Rooney will miss Stoke City’s visit to Old Trafford on Tuesday with an ankle injury sustained in Manchester United’s fortunate victory over West Bromwich Albion on Saturday. However, the 25-year-old striker, who scored just his third goal of the season against the Baggies, could return for next weekend’s FA Cup Third Round tie with Liverpool.

Rooney twisted his left ankle at the Hawthornes following Chris Brunt’s challenge, although the United star returned for the final few minutes of the game. However, with the player having suffered two serious ankle injures in the past nine months, it seems unlikely Sir Alex Ferguson will take any risks at Old Trafford.

Ferguson may also be without Patrice Evra, who suffered a nasty black-eye at the hands of team-mate Nemanja Vidic this week, while Nani may again miss out with an ongoing hip problem. United will also be without long-term absentees Antonio Valencia, Owen Hargreaves, Paul Scholes, and John O’Shea, while Park Ji-Sung is at the Asia Cup.

Not that United’s manager will be keen to risk too many of his stars against the robust Potters, who have gain a reputation for physicality and ugly football since returning to the Premier League.

“We know what to expect from Stoke,” Fletcher told MUFC.com.

“‘You know you’re in for a battle when you play Stoke and you have to win that battle and earn the right to play. They always have a go. They look at home in the Premier League now and they know what it’s all about.

“They can go direct if they want to but they also have some good footballers up front. You know Stoke will be physical at times because they lump free-kicks and long throw-ins into the box but we can’t neglect the other ways they can cause problems.

“Our defensive performances have been very good and we’ll do our homework and prepare for Stoke’s threat.”

Match-going United supporters will have noted the similarity between Pullis’ side and the club’s supporters, who have gained a deserved reputation for being among the most unpleasant in the Premier League. It is to the eternal mystery of United supporters that Stoke fans genuinely believe the two clubs to be rivals. They’re not. After all, Stoke hasn’t emerged victorious at Old Trafford in 34 years nor, indeed, beaten United in the league at any venue since 1984.

That Stoke supporters spent 90 minutes at Old Trafford in May jubilantly cheering each Chelsea goal in a match taking place 200 miles south is to the club’s eternal shame.

Meanwhile, Stoke defender Robert Huth will play after sitting out the Potters victory over Everton at the weekend through suspension. Manager Tony Pullis may opt to leave out both Jon Walters and Ricardo Fuller, with Kenwyne Jones ploughing a lone furrow.

One striker who may not feature in United’s matchday squad is Federico Macheda, with Sampdoria president Riccardo Garrone claiming a loan deal has been struck for the teenager to spend the next five months in Genoa.

“Macheda has easily filled the void left by Cassano, he will definitely do well,” Garrone told reporters today.

“In these five months we will try to treat him well. With him here, the enthusiasm has increased tenfold.”

Not that United should need the former Lazio striker against Stoke having won 10 of the last 13 league meetings without the Potters scoring. Stoke managed a goal at the Britannia earlier this season, only for United’s Mexican striker Javier Hernández to win the game for the visitors.

Opposition
Stoke – 451 – Begovic; Wilkinson, Shawcross, Huth, Higginbotham; Pennnant, Whitehead, Faye, Delap, Etherington; Jones. Subs from: Fuller, Walters, Sorensen, Gudjohnsen, Wilson, Whelan, Collins, Wilson, Tuncay, Diao.

United
United – 442 – van der Sar; Rafael da Silva, Vidic, Ferdinand, Fabio da Silva; Fletcher, Anderson, Carrick, Giggs; Berbatov, Hernández. Subs from: Kuzszazk, Amos, Evans, O’Shea, Brown, Anderson, Bébé, Gibson, Macheda, Owen, Obertan, Smalling.

Officials
Referee: Mark Clattenburg
Assistant referees: Scott Ledger & Glenn Turner
Fourth official: Neil Swarbrick

Form
United – LDWWDW
Stoke – DDLWLW

Relief came at the Britannia but this time it had nothing to do with Wayne Rooney’s ladies of the night. Instead, Sir Alex Ferguson’s side won away from home in the Premier League for the first time this season, breaking a sequence of three successive league draws. Javier Hernandez scored twice, including a late winner, after a week of very public turmoil.

On this evidence Rooney’s biggest challenge may not be regaining the trust of his manager, colleagues and the fans but getting back into the United side. Hernandez’ brilliant double – the first an outrageous back-header, the second a late poacher’s strike – takes the Mexican’s tally to five in five starts this season.

Yet United so nearly threw three points away again, following Sanil Tuncay’s superb 82nd minute equaliser. United, so dominant in the first half, was again careless in letting a lead slip, although the midfield’s now routine wastefulness in possession was evident.

This time, much to Ferguson’s delight, Chicharito came up with the end-product that Rooney has so often lacked this season.

“We got careless with possession,” the United boss told Sky Sports.

“They never gave in and that’s a quality this club has had for many years now.”

“He’s [Hernandez] got a great attitude to the game, he’s got a wonderful demeanour about life and wonderful manners. He speaks the language well, trains really well and he’s coming on great.”

Rooney may have been the central figure in the past week’s drama but the 24-year-old will miss the next four matches with a Paul Scholes-induced ankle injury. It mattered little as United began with Dimitar Berbatov and Hernández in attack. The pair nearly created United’s opening chance, with the Mexican heading back and across the Stoke box with Berbatov unable to latch on to his partner’s centre.

United was ahead inside half an hour though, as Nani and Patrice Evra worked a short corner, with the Portuguese’s cross headed home with the back of his head by Hernández. Brilliant, instinctive and memorable; in the Little Pea, Ferguson may well have pulled off the transfer coup of the summer.

But United ended the half fortunate to retain a full compliment after Gary Neville, on his 600th appearance for the club, espcaped a second yellow. The veteran defender was unlucky to pick up a first caution for a foul on Matthew Etherington, but only good fortune prevented a second for a wild tackle on the Stoke winger.

Tony Pullis naturally focused on the incident in the post-match media round, although the Stoke manager failed to bring up the cast-iron penalty referee Andre Marriner failed to award United for Rory Delap’s crude barge on Evra in the second period.

As the game descended to Stoke’s level in the second period, Pullis’ side clawed its way back into the game. United’s passing and composure faded badly – the third Premier League game in a row that United’s midfield has been culpable.

With the vociferous Britannia support urging its side forward, substitute Tuncay cut inside John O’Shea and smashed a wonderful left-foot drive into Edwin van der Sar’s top corner with 10 minutes to go.

With minutes to go Hernández volley just inches wide as United chased a seemingly unlikely winner. This time, however, United didn’t capitulate and with four minutes to go Hernández stabbed home Evra’s shot from six yards out.

Relief at last; an away win at last.

“We were very happy with the result. We know about Stoke’s style and are delighted,” Hernández told Sky Sports.

“I’m working a lot because I want to stay here a long time and win a lot of tournaments.”

“I jumped and saw the ball behind me and tried to head it towards the goal. I don’t remember doing it in training. It’s a good goal but the most important thing is the result.

“Here there are no heroes, it is about the team. My team-mates trust in me and all the staff too. It’s an unbelievable opportunity for me to play with the biggest team in the world.”

Messy the performance may have been but any result at Stoke is truly a team effort. In that, Rooney should take note.

Match facts
United – 442 – Van der Sar; Neville (Brown 46), Evra, Ferdinand, Vidic, O’Shea (Carrick 70); Nani, Scholes (Obertan 87), Fletcher; Berbatov, Hernández.

Stoke – 442 – Sorensen; Huth, Collins (Higginbotham 57), Shawcross, Faye; Wilson, Pennant (Gudjohnsen 78), Delap, Etherington; Jones, Walters (Sanli 66).

Attendance: 27,372
Man-of-the-match: Hernández

Possession: Stoke 47% – 53% United
Attempts: 6 – 12
On target: 2 – 5
Corners: 5 – 6
Fouls: 6 – 13

Sir Alex Ferguson says that keeping Wayne Rooney will kick-start Manchester United’s season after five draws in the first eight Premier League fixtures this season. The United manager is without Rooney for the trip to Stoke City on Sunday but says that his side will now begin chasing Chelsea in earnest, with the Londoners eight points ahead.

Rooney will miss the next three weeks, possibly returning for the Manchester derby on 10 November, so Ferguson is likely to persist with Dimitar Berbatov as a lone striker at the Britannia. Javier Hernández is in contention, although the smart money is on the Mexican starting on the bench against the tough-tackling Midlanders.

Although Rooney questioned United’s “ambition” this week, Ferguson ordered the player to apologise to his team-mates as the Scot attempts to repair his fractured squad.

“We have to start making up ground quickly,” Ferguson admitted.

“We can only do that with everyone on board. With no one jumping ship then we can see the real Manchester United.

“It has been a turbulent few days, we have important issues ahead, starting with Stoke City on Sunday.

“We have been hurt by events but Wayne has apologised to me and the players. He will do so with the supporters too.

“I always feel it is a quality in a person when they say they are sorry and realise they have made a mistake.”

Rooney reportedly clashed with Ferguson over United’s midfield this week, lambasting the manager over his failure to capture Rafael van der Vaart ahead of Tottenham Hotspur.

It’s a mistake Ferguson may yet rectify in the coming window by adding to United’s creative options in midfield. For now Paul Scholes will return despite United being over-run by Sunderland and West Bromwich Albion recently.

One of Michael Carrick, Darron Gibson, and Anderson will join Scholes and Darren Fletcher in United’s engine room. Ryan Giggs, Michael Owen and Jonny Evans miss out through injury.

Despite, or perhaps because of, the spin over the past seven days Ferguson faces one of the most difficult challenges of his managerial career. With fans and players angered by Rooney’s actions, Ferguson must now rally his troops for one of United’s most demanding away fixtures of the season.

But Full-back Patrice Evra, who suggested Rooney should no longer be picked if he cannot trust his team-mates, is confident United will turn a corner in the coming weeks.

“Anyone can talk about Manchester United, but nobody has beaten us. The problem is just Manchester United because no team has played better than us,” said the Frenchman, who has begun the season quietly.

“People may think I am crazy to say that, but it is true. We have played many games and been 2-0 up and then drawn or made things difficult. The problem is just us because when we defend like we can, we show we are a strong team.

“No-one can tell me we have played badly against anyone. I believe that. I think we are playing well. We are just doing some silly mistakes. That is the true problem.”

“We can be the Manchester United everyone wants to see.”

While defensive errors have contributed to United’s problems, the ‘real Manchester United’, the team that attacks with pace and verve, has largely been held in reserve save for Berbatov’s brilliance against Liverpool and Nani’s newly found consistency.

Indeed, it’s hard to see where that might come from against Stoke, with Tony Pullis’ men expert at breaking up the opposition play, although United has claimed victories in five of the last seven league games at the Britannia. Indeed, the Potters’ last league win against United was on Boxing Day 1984.

Still, with “nobody jumping ship” the trip represents a real opportunity to demonstrate a newly united front.

Stoke, meanwhile, will welcome back striker Ricardo Fuller, despite the striker aggravating a shoulder injury at Bolton Wanderers. Midfielder Dean Whitehead is banned.

Opposition
Stoke (4-5-1): Sorensen; Huth, Shawcross, Faye, Collins; Pennant, Delap, Whitehead, Etherington, Walters; Jones. Subs from: Begovic, Higginbotham, Wilson, Wilkinson, Fuller, Gudjohnsen, Whelan.

United squad
Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Amos, Smalling, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, O’Shea, Rafael, Fabio, Brown, Anderson, Nani, Carrick, Gibson, Fletcher, Hernández, Berbatov, Macheda.

Officials
Referee: Andre Marriner
Assistant referees: Mike Cairns & Martin Yerby
Fourth official: Mike Jones

Form
Stoke – WDWWWL
United – WWDWDW

Manchester United’s grip on the Premier League ended 200 miles south in West London as Sir Alex Ferguson’s side finished the season with a routine thrashing of Stoke City. By half-time resignation had already enveloped Old Trafford’s vast bowl. On 90 fans took their frustrations out on the American owners with a shrill whistle-based protest.

In truth there was little tension at Old Trafford, with Stoke fans riotously cheering every event from Stamford Bridge. Schadenfreude is a strange bedfellow, with the visiting supporters seemingly believing they have a credible rivalry with United while singing for their new hero, John Terry.

Better perhaps that Stoke supporters – whose loyalty did not stretch to selling out their ticket allocation – turn a blind eye to events on the pitch, with damage limitation the visitors’ principal aim. Little surprise with the Potters having been thrashed at United’s title rivals Chelsea a fortnight ago.

United opened in positive fashion, with Dimitar Berbatov guilty of missing two good opportunities in the opening 10 minutes. First a header that flew over from six yards and then another that clipped the top of the bar.

Within minutes Stoke fans’ cheer alerted home supporters and players alike to the score from Stamford Bridge.

But what doubt there may have been out United’s ability to brush off the disappointing news from London ended with Darren Fletcher’s close range opening strike following Stoke’s inability to deal with Ryan Giggs’ corner.

By the time Giggs himself turned in Dimitar Berbatov’s pass for United’s second shortly before half-time nobody had any doubt about either result.

It says much about United’s make-up that the player’s drive towards a positive finish to the season did not end there. Goals three and four arrived before the end.

First, former United defender Danny Higginbotham turned Wayne Rooney’s left-wing cross into his own net, before substitute Park Ji-Sung’s diving header ended proceedings with minutes left.

Before the end Rooney substituted himself – the striker’s groin injury flaring up again – although the 34-goal forward took his place with son Kai in the post match lap of honour. The groin worrying only for the little Englander element among the Stoke support who, finally supporting their own team, sang of the Potters’ “Englishness.”

Ferguson refused to start the inquest into United’s failures in the aftermath, while paying tribute to Chelsea whose 103 Premier League goals this season is a remarkable achievement.

“Next season hopefully we can bring back the title to the best place in the world,” Ferguson said afterwards.

“But now we must congratulate Carlo Ancelotti and his team. It is a terrific achievement to beat Manchester United.

“If at the start of the season someone had said the title race would have been taken to the wire we would have been happy knowing that most times we win but not this time.

“When we heard Wigan had gone down to 10 men, hope evaporated then.

“The players and supporters are always magnificent and they have been again. I thinking they can be proud of the challenge for a fourth title in a row.

“I am not going to agonise about where it went wrong. Sometimes you get the breaks, on other occasions you don’t.”

The Scot hinted at summer transfer market activity, although nothing is yet sealed bar the deals for Javier Hernandéz and Chris Smalling. With United’s £716.5 million debt no less a millstone around the manager’s neck than last summer, there is little chance of a major revamp at Old Trafford.

But with seven defeats in the Premier League and twelve in all competitions change is required if Ferguson is to return United to the pinnacle of domestic let alone European football.

“We have got ideas. We are looking at the structure of the club,” added Ferguson.

“There may be one or two things but at the moment nothing is signed. We have a good squad but we have to do one or two things.”

Fans’ frustration is focused on the Glazer family’s ownership rather than Ferguson’s side. Rightly so.

The match began with a light aircraft circling Old Trafford with a “Glazer out” message, while thousands waved green and gold “Go” placards or blew the 50,000 whistles distributed by the Manchester United supporters trust.

By the time football returns to Old Trafford in August most will hope for fresh faces in the boardroom as well as on the pitch.