Berbatov 62, O’Shea 77

The second-half introduction of Ryan Giggs helped break down some stubborn Stoke resistance to set up a Manchester United victory which saw them return to the top of the EPL.

Tony Pulis’s men employed stifling tactics which ultimately limited them to just one shot in the entire match and left them with nowhere to go after United breached their well-organised defence.

The visitors dominated proceedings and should have taken the lead on seven minutes, only for Antonio Valencia to dink his shot wide after dispossessing Ryan Shawcross and bearing down on goal.

A curate’s egg of a display by Nani, which eventually saw him replaced by Giggs, frustrated United as much as the opposition did in the opening half.

But he did produce one fine right-foot shot just before the interval which keeper Thomas Sorenson had to turn aside.

Giggs appeared on 56 minutes. And United were ahead six minutes later when Dimitar Berbatov side-footed Giggs’ left-wing cross into the net from a couple of yards.

Berbatov immediately drew the crowd’s attention to Giggs’ role in the goal.

But Darren Fletcher’s sliderule pass to the Welshman opened up Stoke’s defence, and the goal was straightforward after that.

There was no doubting Giggs’ contribution to United’s second goal, on 77 minutes, however, when John O’Shea headed home his fine, inswinging free-kick from the right flank.

Surprisingly, when Giggs himself had the goal at his mercy, his first touch let him down and he could only sky his shot from ten yards over the crossbar.

Stoke boss Pulis admitted straight away that “the best team won” but highlighted Paul Scholes’ display as pivotal: “He was the best player on the pitch by a country mile.”

An unusually diplomatic Sir Alex Ferguson commented: “Nani did well but Ryan (Giggs) gives you something else.”