Manchester United returned to winning ways in the Premier League on Tuesday night with a 3-0 home success over Stoke City.
Goals from Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial saw the home team take a two-goal lead into the break, before Wayne Rooney added a third early in the second half to ease the pressure on Louis van Gaal. The result has kept Man United in fifth spot - five points off the top four - while Stoke remain in ninth.
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Man United had a half-chance inside three minutes when in-form Martial set up Juan Mata just outside the Stoke box, but the Spaniard's effort was deflected over the crossbar, before Jack Butland got down to keep out a Rooney effort three minutes later.
The home side continued to impress in the early stages and once again came close through Mata, but it was Lingard that opened the scoring for the Red Devils in the 14th minute.
A corner was worked short into Cameron Borthwick-Jackson and the young left-back delivered towards the far post, where Lingard was waiting to nod into an empty net. Martial almost made it 2-0 just moments later, but the French striker, after beating three defenders, hit the side-netting.
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Martial did not have to wait too long to get on the scoresheet, however, as the striker curled a sensational effort into the top corner in the 23rd minute after a smart pick-out from Rooney.
Stoke had their moments in the opening 30 minutes from a couple of corners and a low Marko Arnautovic strike, but it was the home team that dominated proceedings for long spells of the first period.
Ibrahim Afellay and Jonathan Walters also came close for the Potters in the closing moments of the first half, but it was Man United that took a 2-0 lead into the break courtesy of first-half goals at Old Trafford for the first time since September.
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Man United looked to have their third early in the second period when Rooney knocked Glen Johnson off the ball before firing past Butland, but the referee blew for a foul on the Stoke defender, despite initially waving play on.
Rooney's frustration turned to delight in the 53rd minute, however, when the skipper turned a low Martial cross past Butland to make it 3-0 to the home team after a move which also involved Mata.
The pace of the match slowed from that point forward as both teams exchanged spells of possession, with Man United more than prepared to sit deep and frustrate Stoke's attempts to get back into the match.
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Martial once again worked the ball into Rooney as Man United came close to a fourth 15 minutes from time, but the striker's effort flew over the crossbar during a second period that brought few clear opportunities.
Memphis Depay, who came on as a late substitute, also had a chance for 4-0 late on, but the Dutchman just missed the far post.
Man United will continue their top-four challenge away to Chelsea at the weekend, while Stoke, who are currently struggling with a number of defensive injuries, will return to action at home to Everton on Saturday afternoon.
Matt Law
