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Page last updated at 21:52 GMT, Tuesday, 4 January 2011   E-mail this to a friend  Printable version  Hernandez's superb flick means he has now scored three times against Stoke By Jonathan Stevenson  **Manchester United moved three points clear at the top of the Premier League after seeing off Stoke at Old Trafford thanks to a stunning Nani strike.**Dimitar Berbatov prodded United's first real chance wide but they went ahead when Nani crossed and Javier Hernandez brilliantly flicked the ball home. Stoke started the second half superbly and after Tuncay headed wide he turned creator for Dean Whitehead to nod in. But Nani won it with a wonderful left-foot strike to earn United the victory. It puts United three points clear of neighbours Man City, who they have a game in hand over, and five ahead of Arsenal having played the same number of matches. Pulis hails 'special' Nani strike With the Gunners entertaining City at the Emirates on Wednesday, the pressure is now on the chasing pack to try and keep up with Sir Alex Ferguson's pacesetters. United are now 20 games unbeaten in the division - the second longest run without defeat in a single Premier League season after the Arsenal Invincibles of 2003-04 - but as with so many of their previous performances this campaign, they were never totally convincing. Edwin van der Sar, Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney were rested as United, who changed six players from the fortuitous 2-1 win at West Brom on Saturday, including a first league start for defender Chris Smalling, gave a nod to their third round FA Cup tie at home to Liverpool on Sunday.  606: DEBATE Nani is a fantastic player. I think he's a less selfish player than Ronaldo, which is one of the reasons why he's not more prolific Richard Nash With nine wins and a draw from their home games it was no surprise that United enjoyed long spells of dominance in possession, though Stoke did not help themselves by carelessly giving the ball away on the rare occasions they got hold of it. Berbatov was first to threaten as he toe-poked wide after Ryan Giggs's heavily deflected shot fell into his path, but United only had to wait a little longer to score. It was the 27th minute when Berbatov sent Nani away down the right and his low cross into the six-yard box was met by a spark of genius from the Mexican Hernandez, who flicked the ball impudently between his legs and into the corner of the net. Phelan happy as Man Utd extend advantage Hernandez - who scored twice at the Britannia in October in United's 2-1 win - nearly doubled his and United's tally shortly after, but from another Nani cross he saw his goalbound volley superbly deflected over by Huth after the defender threw his body in the way. Stoke would have been grateful for the half-time whistle and whatever manager Tony Pulis said during the break paid immediate dividends as they attacked the United goal with gusto at the start of the second half. Tuncay headed a Huth cross wide before the Turk turned creator, finding space on the left to whip over a pinpoint cross that Whitehead glanced into the bottom corner for his second goal of the season. Perhaps scored too soon, because United flew at the Potters' rearguard with a renewed vigour, roared on by the majority of the 73,401 crowd. Whitehead almost went from hero to villain as his crazy backpass on the halfway line put Berbatov through, but the Bulgarian was denied by a fine Ryan Shawcross recovery tackle, before Huth brilliantly shackled Hernandez in the box with the Mexican sniffing another goal. Smalling happy with performance Just after the hour mark, United once more nudged ahead, again thanks to a moment of individual inspiration. Hernandez crafted a yard to find Nani on the edge of the box and he turned inside on to his left foot, hitting a rocket of a shot that flew past Asmir Begovic's despairing dive. Stoke tried to fight back for a second time, but it was United who looked more likely to score as the game wore on, Hernandez blazing over after great work from the hugely impressive Rafael down the right. Ferguson will expect improved displays as the season wears on, but few could argue that United are now in control of their own destiny. Live text and stats Tuesday, 4 January 2011 Barclays Premier League Home Team Score Away Team Time Man Utd 2-1 Stoke FT (HT 1-0) Hernandez 27 Nani 62 Whitehead 50 Man Utd 29 Kuszczak 03 Evra 12 Smalling 15 Vidic 21 Rafael Da Silva 11 Giggs 17 Nani 24 Fletcher 28 Gibson (Carrick 78) 09 Berbatov 14 Hernandez (Owen 78) Substitutes 40 Amos, 20 Fabio Da Silva, 23 Evans, 08 Anderson, 16 Carrick, 07 Owen, 26 Obertan Stoke 01 Begovic 04 Huth 05 Collins 17 Shawcross 28 Wilkinson 12 Wilson 18 Whitehead 20 Sanli 24 Delap (Walters 69) 26 Etherington (Pennant 68) 09 Jones (Fuller 75) Substitutes 29 Sorensen, 03 Higginbotham, 06 Whelan, 14 Pugh, 16 Pennant, 10 Fuller, 19 Walters Ref: ClattenburgAtt: 73,401 MAN UTD STOKE Possession Man Utd 56% Stoke 44% Attempts on target Man Utd 7 Stoke 1 Attempts off target Man Utd 11 Stoke 4 Corners Man Utd 6 Stoke 1 Fouls Man Utd 6 Stoke 11 Final Result Full Time 90:00+3:14 The game is over, as the referee blows his whistle. 90:00+1:29 Luis Nani produces a cross. 90:00+0:09 The ball is swung over by Ricardo Fuller, save by Tomasz Kuszczak. 87:14 Dean Whitehead gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Michael Owen. Direct free kick taken by Darren Fletcher. 85:32 Ryan Giggs takes a outswinging corner from the left by-line played to the near post. The referee blows for offside. Indirect free kick taken by Asmir Begovic. 85:09 Short corner taken by Luis Nani from the right by-line, The ball is crossed by Rafael Da Silva. 84:29 Unfair challenge on Jermaine Pennant by Patrice Evra results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Asmir Begovic. 80:46 Ryan Giggs produces a left-footed shot from inside the area that clears the crossbar. 77:44 Substitution Michael Owen joins the action as a substitute, replacing Javier Hernandez. 77:44 Substitution Michael Carrick comes on in place of Darron Gibson. 74:49 Substitution Ricardo Fuller on for Kenwyne Jones. 73:18 The ball is swung over by Luis Nani, save by Asmir Begovic. 69:15 Shot from deep inside the area by Javier Hernandez goes over the bar. 67:52 Substitution Jonathan Walters on for Rory Delap. 67:52 Substitution Jermaine Pennant on for Matthew Etherington. 66:47 Javier Hernandez is caught offside. Asmir Begovic takes the free kick. 65:51 Javier Hernandez takes a shot. Robert Huth gets a block in. Dimitar Berbatov takes a shot. Dean Whitehead gets a block in. 64:35 Rory Delap concedes a free kick for a foul on Patrice Evra. Free kick taken by Tomasz Kuszczak. 62:50 Danny Collins gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Luis Nani. Free kick taken by Ryan Giggs. 61:03 The assist for the goal came from Javier Hernandez. 61:03 GOAL - Luis Nani:Man Utd 2 - 1 Stoke Luis Nani gets on the score sheet with a goal from just outside the penalty box to the top left corner of the goal. Man Utd 2-1 Stoke. 58:48 Dimitar Berbatov is ruled offside. Asmir Begovic takes the free kick. 57:58 Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Luis Nani, clearance made by Andy Wilkinson. 57:20 Matthew Etherington delivers the ball. 57:09 Matthew Etherington delivers the ball. 55:44 Luis Nani takes a shot. Blocked by Marc Wilson. Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Ryan Giggs played to the near post, Headed effort from inside the area by Chris Smalling misses to the left of the goal. 54:13 A cross is delivered by Rafael Da Silva. 51:41 Darron Gibson takes a shot. Asmir Begovic makes a save. 51:17 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Javier Hernandez by Robert Huth. Darren Fletcher takes the direct free kick. 49:48 Assist on the goal came from Tuncay Sanli. 49:48 GOAL - Dean Whitehead:Man Utd 1 - 1 Stoke Dean Whitehead finds the back of the net with a headed goal from inside the six-yard box. Man Utd 1-1 Stoke. 48:26 Danny Collins challenges Luis Nani unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Luis Nani. 47:47 Free kick awarded for a foul by Marc Wilson on Darren Fletcher. Free kick taken by Chris Smalling. 46:59 The ball is crossed by Robert Huth, Headed effort from inside the area by Tuncay Sanli misses to the left of the target. 46:43 The ball is crossed by Matthew Etherington, clearance by Darren Fletcher. 46:04 Darren Fletcher challenges Tuncay Sanli unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Ryan Shawcross. 45:01 The game restarts for the second half. Half Time 45:00+1:06 The first half comes to an end. 44:12 Darren Fletcher produces a cross. 41:53 The ball is sent over by Rory Delap. 40:45 Shot by Matthew Etherington from outside the box goes high over the crossbar. Correction - 37:03 Javier Hernandez takes a shot. 37:03 Javier Hernandez takes a shot. Blocked by Robert Huth. 36:25 The ball is swung over by Ryan Giggs. 34:53 Luis Nani produces a left-footed shot from outside the penalty box and misses left. 33:13 Unfair challenge on Matthew Etherington by Rafael Da Silva results in a free kick. The free kick is delivered left-footed by Matthew Etherington from left channel. 32:29 Marc Wilson takes a shot. 29:43 Robert Huth gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Dimitar Berbatov. Luis Nani has a direct shot on goal from the free kick. 27:41 A cross is delivered by Andy Wilkinson, save made by Tomasz Kuszczak. 26:15 Assist by Luis Nani. 26:15 GOAL - Javier Hernandez:Man Utd 1 - 0 Stoke Goal scored by Javier Hernandez from inside the six-yard box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Man Utd 1-0 Stoke. 23:40 Danny Collins concedes a free kick for a foul on Luis Nani. Direct effort from the free kick comes in from Ryan Giggs. 23:05 The ball is sent over by Ryan Giggs, clearance by Robert Huth. 21:33 Ryan Giggs takes a shot. Blocked by Ryan Shawcross. Dimitar Berbatov produces a right-footed shot from close range which goes wide of the right-hand upright. 21:18 Rafael Da Silva produces a cross, Robert Huth manages to make a clearance. 20:24 Free kick awarded for a foul by Rory Delap on Nemanja Vidic. Tomasz Kuszczak restarts play with the free kick. 18:10 Inswinging corner taken by Luis Nani from the left by-line. 15:45 The ball is swung over by Darron Gibson, clearance by Andy Wilkinson. 15:07 Foul by Tuncay Sanli on Darren Fletcher, free kick awarded. Darren Fletcher takes the free kick. 13:41 Corner crossed in by Ryan Giggs, save made by Asmir Begovic. 13:21 Darron Gibson takes a shot. Blocked by Rory Delap. 12:11 Danny Collins crosses the ball. 11:20 The offside flag is raised against Javier Hernandez. Asmir Begovic takes the indirect free kick. 9:58 Andy Wilkinson takes a shot. Nemanja Vidic gets a block in. Corner taken by Matthew Etherington from the right by-line played to the near post, Nemanja Vidic makes a clearance. 7:27 Javier Hernandez challenges Dean Whitehead unfairly and gives away a free kick. Matthew Etherington crosses the ball in from the free kick, clearance by Darron Gibson. 6:42 Unfair challenge on Marc Wilson by Rafael Da Silva results in a free kick. Asmir Begovic restarts play with the free kick. 6:36 The ball is delivered by Darren Fletcher, Robert Huth makes a clearance. 5:09 Darron Gibson produces a right-footed shot from long distance which goes wide right of the goal. 4:05 Matthew Etherington concedes a free kick for a foul on Rafael Da Silva. Free kick taken by Luis Nani. 2:51 Foul by Rafael Da Silva on Matthew Etherington, free kick awarded. Danny Collins crosses the ball from the free kick left-footed from left wing. 2:18 Luis Nani crosses the ball. 1:51 Dimitar Berbatov takes a shot. Blocked by Ryan Shawcross. 0:27 A cross is delivered by Javier Hernandez, save by Asmir Begovic. 0:00 The match gets underway. Live text and data provided by The Press Association. Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version Print Sponsor Barclays Premier League results 4 Jan 2011 23:59 UK Blackpool1-2BirminghamFT Fulham3-0West BromFT Man Utd2-1StokeFT Barclays Premier League table snapshot As it stood on 4 Jan 2011 23:59 UK Position Team P GD PTS 1 Man Utd 20 24 44 2 Man City 21 17 41 3 Arsenal 20 20 39 4 Tottenham 20 7 36 5 Chelsea 20 18 35 6 Sunderland 21 2 30 7 Bolton 21 5 29 8 Stoke 21 0 27 9 Liverpool 19 -1 25 10 Newcastle 20 -2 25 11 Blackpool 19 -5 25 12 Blackburn 21 -8 25 13 Fulham 21 -2 22 14 Everton 20 -3 22 15 Birmingham 20 -5 22 16 West Brom 21 -13 22 17 Aston Villa 20 -14 21 18 West Ham 21 -11 20 19 Wigan 20 -15 20 20 Wolves 20 -14 18 see also Tuesday football as it happened 04 Jan 11 | Football Tuesday's football photos 04 Jan 11 |
Football Pulis hails 'special' Nani strike 04 Jan 11 |
Stoke Phelan happy as Man Utd extend advantage 04 Jan 11 |
Man Utd Smalling happy with performance 04 Jan 11 |
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