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Manchester United slumped to their fourth straight defeat and a seventh match without a victory after Stoke secured a 2-0 victory at the Britannia Stadium to deal a further blow to Louis van Gaal’s hopes to remaining manager heading into 2016.
Van Gaal reacted furiously to a week of speculation about his job by walking out of this pre-match press conference after less than five minutes, but if he had hoped to see a response from his players after three straight defeats he was wrong.
United put in one of their worst displays of the season in blustery conditions, but Stoke looked very much the better team as goals from the brilliant Bojan and a stunning effort from Marko Arnautovic secured the victory that lifts Stoke to eighth and deals United another blow in their rapidly diminishing title challenge.
Wayne Rooney was dropped for the match, but he was quickly called upon as Van Gaal hauled off the woeful Memphis Depay at half-time, with the Dutchman gifting Stoke the opening goal after a poor back-pass header.
But Rooney could do nothing to change the game, and Stoke held on to take the three points.
How did the players perform? Click on the gallery below to see our player ratings.
Show all 22 1 /22Stoke 2 Manchester United 0 player ratings Stoke 2 Manchester United 0 player ratings <b>Stoke:</b> Jack Butland - 9 out of 10 Save hands at the back when called upon to stop a close-range effort from Fellaini, and also gathered a dangerous ball from Mata that Herrera failed to connect with. His crowning moment came with an incredible one-handed save from Fellaini as he dived to his right, and he’s rightly in the frame to take Joe Hart’s England place at the moment. Saved neatly from Mata in injury time, although the Spaniard made it easier for him by going for the near post at head-height.
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Stoke 2 Manchester United 0 player ratings Glen Johnson - 6 out of 10 Took full advantage of Memphis’ first-half error to assist Bojan’s effort, and he tried to break down the right to put pressure on Blind who was clearly struggling. Los Martial in the second half but had his captain to thank to bail him out.
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Stoke 2 Manchester United 0 player ratings Ryan Shawcross - 8 out of 10 Looked after Martial well and coped with the introduction of Rooney even better. On hand to clean up an attack when Johnson fell asleep and allowed Martial inside.
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Stoke 2 Manchester United 0 player ratings Philipp Wollscheid - 6 out of 10 Has formed a solid partnership with Shawcross that largely dealt with the threat from United’s lacklustre attack, although there wasn’t much of one to speak off in the first half.
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Stoke 2 Manchester United 0 player ratings Erik Pieters - 6 out of 10 Took a knock in the first-half after an accidental collision with Young. Returned but appeared to be struggling slightly, and did well to see out the match without putting a foot wrong.
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Stoke 2 Manchester United 0 player ratings Glenn Whelan -6 out of 10 Replaced at the break by Marco van Ginkel in what appeared to be an injury-forced substitution.
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Stoke 2 Manchester United 0 player ratings Geoff Cameron - 6 out of 10 Sat back and let those in front of him take the plaudits. Did nothing of note to stand out but that’s what Hughes will have wanted from him, and he was replaced by Charlie Adam with 15 minutes remaining.
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Stoke 2 Manchester United 0 player ratings Ibrahim Afellay - 6 out of 10 Not as prominent as his attacking team-mates, but he had one moment of magic where he jinked through two challenges and laid on a chance for Arnautovic, only to balloon the ball off-target when it came back to him.
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Stoke 2 Manchester United 0 player ratings Xherdan Shaqiri - 7 out of 10 Not as lively as we’ve come to expect this season but he still impressed as he linked up with the two in front of him repeatedly. Makes the Stoke team tick and continues to show just what a coup he is for the Potters.
Stoke 2 Manchester United 0 player ratings Marko Arnautovic - 8 out of 10 Scored a beautiful effort after a free-kick deflected off the wall, but guilty of missing the target when one-on-one with De Gea that could have put the result beyond doubt before the break. Very lively though, and Mark Hughes looks to be getting the best out of him.
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Stoke 2 Manchester United 0 player ratings Bojan - 9 out of 10 Lively first half saw him net the opener from close range after a short cross from Johnson. Set Arnautovic up to score a third but the forward missed the target. Correctly booked shortly after half-time for diving.
Stoke 2 Manchester United 0 player ratings <b>Manchester United:</b> David De Gea - 6 out of 10 Could do nothing to save the first goal as he had to cover his front post when Johnson was in behind. However, his position wasn’t the best for the second as he had drifted across the goal-mouth before seeing the ball fired back past him. Stopped a cross from Diouf late on when Arnautovic was ready and waiting to fire in.
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Stoke 2 Manchester United 0 player ratings Ashley Young - 5 out of 10 Good and bad in equal measure, He struggled defensively, although offered more protection on his flank than what was occurring on the opposite side of the pitch. Attacking wise he had one cross of note that nearly gave Rooney a chance to score, though the striker turned out to be in an offside position.
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Stoke 2 Manchester United 0 player ratings Phil Jones - 4 out of 10 A second terrible performance in as many weeks and you have to question why he’s been deployed at centre-back when Smalling and Blind worked well together. Horribly exposed when Arnautovic broke through with the chance he wasn’t able to convert.
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Stoke 2 Manchester United 0 player ratings Chris Smalling - 6 out of 10 Made an important clearance when the ball was pin-balling around the United area. Having to take control of United’s defence where no one else will, but he does not look comfortable with Jones alongside him. Conceded a foul on Diouf that looked harsh as he did get the ball first, but substitute Charlie Adam fired it over.
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Stoke 2 Manchester United 0 player ratings Daley Blind - 4 out of 10 He’s not a left-back, but then it’s hard to identify his natural position given his versatility. Exposed as Arnautovic and Bojan targeted the left side of United’s defence with ample help coming from Johnson, and he summed up United’s performance when he kicked the ball against his standing leg when attempting to cross is seconds before half-time.
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Stoke 2 Manchester United 0 player ratings Michael Carrick - 4 out of 10 Completely anonymous as he failed to protect the back four. Possibly his worst performance under Van Gaal when the Dutchman needed one of his key players to stand up and be counted, Carrick did nothing to write home about and could well have been sacrificed as United pressed on late in the match.
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Stoke 2 Manchester United 0 player ratings Ander Herrera - 5 out of 10 Brought back into the side at the expense if Rooney, but was largely bypassed in midfield ad Stoke were able to work the ball beyond United’s defence with consummate ease. Had a chance to score from Mata’s cross, but heading has never been his strong point.
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Stoke 2 Manchester United 0 player ratings Juan Mata - 6 out of 10 Had a dangerous cross that nearly saw Herrera head in, but otherwise another anonymous outing. His creativity has deserted him, though that may be due to the limited options he has to target in front of him. Wasted a late chance for a consolation as Butland saved from a poor close-range effort.
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Stoke 2 Manchester United 0 player ratings Marouane Fellaini - 4 out of 10 Just why he’s included ahead of Morgan Schneiderlin is yet to be explained, but he continues to sit in limbo of fulfilling a defensive/attacking duty. Had United’s two best chances, but both were saved by Butland – the first an easy one as the ball landed in his hands, the second one of the saves of the season – but otherwise Fellaini looked more of a hindrance than a help.
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Stoke 2 Manchester United 0 player ratings Memphis Depay - 3 out of 10 Completely at fault for the opening goal as his poor header left De Gea exposed. Offered very little going forwards and his free-kick effort was tame. Hauled off at half-time for Wayne Rooney.
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Stoke 2 Manchester United 0 player ratings Anthony Martial - 6 out of 10 His pace was United’s outlet but he lacked the quality to get the better of Shawcross and Johnson, with the Frenchman targeting the left flank. Took a nasty looking blow to the head after falling over, but returned to seer the game out. Very much the unfinished article though, and that £36 payment looks very suspect at this point in the season.
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