THE shackles are off and Manchester United are playing with freedom, pace and style again.
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| Wayne Rooney celebrates after scoring United's third goal of the afternoon |
After sweeping aside Derby with three goals in the FA Cup on Friday, they wrecked old boy Mark Hughes’ 100th Premier League game in charge of Stoke by scoring three more last night.
Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial ended United’s embarrassing home first half duck that stretched by back 11 games with first half goals.
And Wayne Rooney sealed it with the third early in the second half – his seventh goal in seven games in 2016.
Booed off in their last home game, Untied made emphatic amends with their first three-goal home performance since September 26. And it came asa huge relief for under-fire boss Louis Van Gaal who has been criticised for United’s tedious play in most of their home matches this season.
The last two goals, in particular, came as a result of superb passing moves and were a refreshing throwback to United’s attacking traditions – fitting on the night they remembered the Busby Babes who died in the Munich disaster.
Before kick-off tribute was paid to the 23 players, club officials and press men who died on February 6, 1958.
For Stoke it was a familiar sorry Old Trafford story. They have lost on their last 13 visits to the stadium stretching back to 1982 and it was another big setback after exits from the two domestic cup competitions in their previous two games.
Their hopes of completing their first League double over United since 1952-53 season never stood a chance with United in this mood and the Potters were just grateful not to suffer a heavier beating.
United were clearly determined to make amends for their dismal performance in their previous home game against Southampton when they and their manager were booed off at the end of the 1-0 defeat.
Van Gaal admitted in the programme notes that the display “made uncomfortable viewing” but the fans could have few complaints about their team’s upbeat first half.
They continued the pace and positivity they had shown at Derby on Friday and broke their first-half home duck in some style with two goals in the first 23 minutes. Lingard headed the first after 14 minutes, stooping to convert Cameron BorthwickJackson’s superb low cross from the left flank.
They scored again nine minutes later with a box-to-box move involving five players.
Michael Carrick, back in the side after a four-game absence, started it with a ball out to Matteo Darmian, whose pass sent Juan Mata down the right. He fed Rooney, who picked out Martial and the France youngster produced a quality finish. He took a touch before bending his shot into the top corner.
Martial was giving Stoke a torrid time. Every time he got the ball you could sense the nervousness in the Stoke defence.
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| Jesse Lingard gave Man United the lead |
The youngster cut in from the left and shot into the side netting then saw his 25-yard drive kept out by Jack Butland, who was clearly in for a busy night.
It was not all United, though, with Stoke giving them one or two anxious moments. United maintained their attacking momentum with Mata heading a good chance wide from Darmian’s cross and they went in at the break well worth their two-goal lead.
United took only eight minutes of the second half to add a third goal and it followed another superb passing move. Daley Blind’s incisive ball forward picked out Mata, who was clearly relishing playing in his favoured No 10 role.
He played it out wide to danger man Martial and his low cross to the far post left Rooney with an easy tap-in. United were turning on the style for the first time at home in months.
Bardsley angered the crowd when he hacked down Martial but to be fair it was the only way Stoke were going to stop him.
Man Utd (4-2-3-1): De Gea; Darmian, Smalling, Blind, Borthwick-Jackson; Carrick, Fellaini; Lingard, Mata, Martial; Rooney. Goals: Lingard 14, Martial 23. NEXT UP: Chelsea PL (a) Sunday.
Stoke (4-2-3-1): Butland; Johnson, Wollscheid (Bardsley 30), Muniesa, Pieters; Whelan, Afellay; Walters, Bojan, Arnautovic; Crouch. NEXT UP: Everton PL (h) – Saturday.
Referee: R. East (Wiltshire).
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