Source: Daily_Mail
Stoke 0 Manchester United 2: Timeless Giggs inspires United to top spot
The game was drifting. Manchester United were patiently probing but failing to unpick the massed ranks of a lamentably unambitious Stoke City side and a knowing chant went up from the away support. 'Giggs, Giggs will tear you apart again,' they sang to a classic Joy Division tune.[LNB]United's supporters have, after all, seen the Ryan Giggs effect for half the 35-year-old's life, Sir Alex Ferguson for even longer since marvelling at a schoolboy he once described as resembling 'a wee cocker spaniel chasing a piece of silver paper in the wind'. [LNB] Eye for goal: Dimitar Berbatov scores Manchester United's opener at Stoke[LNB] [LNB]Shaking from his legs the demands of last week's Mancunian derby that meant him starting on the bench, on came the Welshman early in the second half to inject his enduring pace, enthusiasm and quality.[LNB]Within 20 minutes he had created two goals - for Dimitar Berbatov and John O'Shea - that would take the champions to the top of the Premier League for the first time this season.[LNB]'Chelsea have lost, so it was a good three points,' said buoyant manager Ferguson. 'I just wish I was saying that in May, but it's been a good day for us. This is a difficult place to come, with passionate fans, but we gave a good performance.'[LNB] Good but not great, and it may even be a worry to the United manager that it takes a veteran to ride to the rescue.[LNB]United had been found wanting for creativity against a Stoke team who had been set up with a dull hand by manager Tony Pulis. There was just a lone striker in Dave Kitson, and he was inadequately supported by a midfield five more content to contain than to counter.[LNB]On the United flanks, Antonio Valencia and Nani were floundering, Berbatov and Wayne Rooney ill-served as a result, and this despite the constant prompting of Paul Scholes who might have been shown a second yellow card on another day after a hand-ball following a foul.[LNB]The name of Cristiano Ronaldo was being whispered again. Where would the fire come from? The spark came from Darren Fletcher, who supplied Giggs for the flame of the first goal.[LNB]How ironic that Arsene Wenger accused United recently of playing 'anti-football' against his Arsenal side when United were confronted by it yesterday. How ironic that Fletcher, the man allegedly the epitome of the champions' supposed dour approach, should start the move that ensured the spoilers did not prevail. [LNB] Nice one son: John O'Shea is congratulated by his team-mates after scoring the second for United[LNB]United cannot say they were not warned. In his programme notes, Pulis promised a 'frosty welcome', that his side would not be 'bowing and scraping'. The Britannia Stadium, he reckoned, would be the wrong with any of that, and none would expect any side simply to lay down before Manchester United. It is one thing competing and making noisiest in the country for 90 minutes, as he urged home supporters to continue to make it a 'horrible place' for visiting teams. [LNB]Nothing life physically uncomfortable, however, but quite another to persist with ugly unproductiveness - two strikers on the bench until they fell behind - especially at home. In the United goal, Ben Foster did not have one shot to save throughout the match.[LNB]'We were flat today,' admitted Pulis. 'You need everyone right on it to compete against the best teams in the Premier League, but I think that was the first time this year we haven't given it a right good go.' His formation, with a wide player in Matthew Etherington just behind Kitson but more often pinned back, did not help.[LNB]It might have been a different game, with Stoke forced out of their shell, if Valencia had taken an early chance for United. [LNB] The main man: Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson saw his side claim victory at Stoke[LNB] [LNB]When Ryan Shawcross, against his former club, missed a tackle in midfield, the Ecuador winger was left with a run on goal only to clip his shot over goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen but wide of a post.[LNB]Instead, Stoke became even more withdrawn, clinging, cloying and content to let Scholes spray the ball around from deep but closing ranks whenever United got within 30 yards of goal.[LNB]It took until two minutes before the interval for United to seriously threaten the home goal again, with Nani cutting inside from the left and Sorensen diving to push his shot aside.[LNB]After Nani had put another cross into the goalkeeper's arms, Giggs arrived to plough his old left-wing furrow, and a goal soon came, too.[LNB]Fletcher played an exquisite pass inside Robert Huth in the 62nd minute and Giggs - 'marvellous movement,' said Ferguson - ran on to it before crossing low to Berbatov who had a simple tap-in from inside the six-yard area.[LNB]United were now a different team and Giggs was quick to make his mark again. From the right he swung in a wicked 77th-minute freekick and John O'Shea rose to glance home a header into the far corner in celebration of his 350th United appearance. It was job done, along with justice.[LNB]'He's important and he's intelligent,' said Ferguson of evergreen match-winner Giggs. And still vital to United while they adjust and compensate after the departure of you-know-who. [LNB] Stoke City v Manchester United: The action as it happenedDES KELLY: Yes, Gary, you may be worth £60,000 a week, but is Diouf?Fergie dismisses goalie gaffes and insists: Foster is still No1A leap of faith: Nicky Butt jumped off Sugar Loaf with Roy Keane, but now both have new mountains to climb...STOKE CITY FC
