Hernandez 27       Whitehead 50

                                                                                        Nani 62

A spectacular strike from Portuguese winger Nani was enough to consolidate Manchester United’s position at the top of the EPL, although they should have beaten a determined but limited Stoke side more convincingly.

Mexican striker Javier Hernandez gave United a 27^th-minute lead with a clever back-flick to a near-post cross from the right by Nani.

And the two forwards combined to provide most of United’s better moments throughout the evening, Hernandez firing over another first-half opportunity created by Nani.

Darron Gibson was also off-target with two efforts from outside the box. And United were made to pay for their profligacy five minutes after the half-time interval.

Tuncay was given time and space down United’s right flank to measure a pinpoint cross for the equally-undisturbed Dean Whitehead to head firmly past United keeper Tomasz Kuszczak.

But it was to be Stoke’s only on-target effort on the night and United found the winner on 62 minutes.

Hernandez picked up possession in midfield before neatly setting up Nani, who turned inside his marker and lashed an unstoppable left-foot drive past Stoke keeper Asmir Begovic’s right-hand.

Hernandez and Ryan Giggs could have added a clinching third goal late on, but United had done enough.