United's Christmas gift

United's Christmas gift came perhaps a day after christmas by winning away to Stoke City on friday .United broke a stub born defence with only 7 minutes left through Tevez . This should once again will lighten up the title race with United having 2 games in hand . It appeared as United were heading for a draw even though Stoke were reduced to 10 men .It was the perfect return to domestic action for United after they beat LDU Quito in Japan on Sunday to lift the Club World Cup in Japan.


United made five changes to the side that won that trophy in Japan one enforced when defender Rio Ferdinand injured his back in the warm-up and was replaced by Jonny Evans.And Evans was almost caught out in the opening seconds when Fuller got on the end of a long ball into the box but shot wildly over the bar. Wayne Rooney almost opened the scoring after 24 minutes with a neat header from Gary Neville's cross, but Stoke keeper Thomas Sorensen was well-placed to make the save.

United, inevitably, pressed forward straight after the re-start and Sorensen did well to block a stinging drive from Tevez. And Sorensen did even better to deny Paul Scholes, making his first Premier League start for three months after knee surgery, when he fired in a trademark 20-yard drive after 57 minutes.Stoke, having finally built up some momentum, were reduced to 10 men with 20 minutes left when Wilkinson, having already been booked, stupidly clattered into the back of Ronaldo and was deservedly sent off. And United broke the deadlock with seven minutes left as Tevez thrashed home a finish from six yards after Berbatov turned on Neville's cross.

Ronaldo almost made the victory more emphatic with a free-kick that flashed inches wide - but Stoke were unable to mount a late surge and United claimed a crucial three points

Stoke: Sorensen, Wilkinson, Abdoulaye Faye, Shawcross, Higginbotham, Delap (Davies 74), Whelan, Amdy Faye (Olofinjana 89), Pugh, Cresswell (Pericard 90), Fuller.
Subs Not Used: Simonsen, Lawrence, Tonge, Sonko.

Sent Off: Wilkinson (72).

Booked: Cresswell, Wilkinson, Fuller, Whelan.

Man Utd: Van der Sar, Neville, Evans, Vidic, O'Shea (Berbatov 64), Ronaldo, Scholes (Carrick 90), Fletcher, Giggs, Rooney, Tevez.
Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Park, Welbeck, Rafael Da Silva, Gibson.

Booked: Evans, Neville.