A Javier Hernandez double saw Manchester United clinch their first away win of the campaign in a 2-1 victory at Stoke City. After a difficult week off the field for the Reds it was a relief to get back to matters on the pitch and Hernandez gave them a first half lead with a header.
But Stoke, who are so impressive at the Britannia Stadium, clawed their way back into the game and levelled with nine minutes remaining.
Substitute Tuncay curling in a brilliant late equaliser.
At this stage the home side looked good for a winner particularly with United's recent form of dropping points from good positions.
But United it was who pressed and four minutes later Paul Scholes and Patrice Evra combined to set up Hernandez to poke home the winner.
Stoke scorers: Sanli 81 Man Utd scorers: Hernandez 27, 86
Referee: Andre Marriner
Venue: Britannia Stadium Attendance: 27,372
STOKE 29 Sorensen 04 Huth 05 Collins (yellow card) (Higginbotham 57) 17 Shawcross 25 Faye 12 Wilson (yellow card) 16 Pennant (Gudjohnsen 78) 24 Delap 26 Etherington 09 Jones 19 Walters (Sanli 66)
Substitutes 01 Begovic, 03 Higginbotham, 28 Wilkinson, 06 Whelan, 14 Pugh, 20 Sanli, 07 Gudjohnsen
MAN UTD 01 Van der Sar 02 Neville (yellow card) (Brown 46) 03 Evra 05 Ferdinand 15 Vidic 22 O'Shea (Carrick 70) 17 Nani 18 Scholes (yellow card) (Obertan 87) 24 Fletcher 09 Berbatov 14 Hernandez
Substitutes 29 Kuszczak, 06 Brown, 12 Smalling, 16 Carrick, 28 Gibson, 26 Obertan, 27 Macheda
