Manchester United vs. Stoke City: Winners and Losers from Premier League Game
Manchester United survived two late scares to see off pesky Stoke City and record an important 2-1 win on Tuesday.
Deep into second-half stoppage time, United goalkeeper David De Gea contorted his body to get in the way of Mame Biram Diouf's effort at the far post, and just seconds later, Ashley Young denied the Stoke striker with a goal-line clearance that required technological confirmation.
By then Marouane Fellaini and Juan Mata had found the back of the net for the hosts, with Steven Nzonzi temporarily restoring level terms for the guests.
Overall, there were a handful of standout performances at Old Trafford and others that were rather less impressive.
Following are some of the individual winners and losers from the encounter.
Winner: Ander Herrera, Who Put in Another Good Shift
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After replacing Angel Di Maria in the opening quarter-hour against Hull City at the weekend, Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera proceeded to deliver an impressive performance in a 3-0 win that consolidated the Red Devils' fourth-place position in the standings.
On Tuesday, in a starting role, the Spaniard once again impressed, and in the 21st minute, it was his cross from the left that found the head of Marouane Fellaini, who opened the scoring for the hosts.
But Herrera contributed on the defensive side of the ball as well.
In the 83rd minute, and with Stoke coming on, the 25-year-old tracked back to dispossess Steven Nzonzi deep inside his own half of the pitch. He also made three interceptions before being substituted with four minutes remaining (statistics courtesy of Squawka).
Loser: Mame Biram Diouf, Who Just Couldn't Buy a Late Goal
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Former Manchester United striker Mame Biram Diouf just couldn't deny his one-time club three points at Old Trafford on Tuesday.
In the 92nd minute, the Senegal international, who was on United's books between 2009 and 2012, thought he had scored a late equaliser when he got on the end of a Stoke City corner.
But United goalkeeper David De Gea, who had rarely been called into action during normal time, somehow denied the 26-year-old at the far post.
It was only seconds later that Diouf had his second golden opportunity, although this time, it was Ashley Young making the goal-line clearance.
Incidentally, those were Diouf's only two shots of the match.
Winner: David De Gea, Who Made a Game-Saving Stop
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David De Gea has been saving points for Manchester United all season long.
On Tuesday, however, his heroics came incredibly late in the proceedings as Stoke City pressed for an equaliser in second-half stoppage time.
Seeing Mame Biram Diouf about to take a shot at the far post following a corner, the Spain international twisted his body to shield the goal and deny the guests a share of the points.
Winner: Steven Nzonzi, Who Scored a Thunderous Goal for Stoke
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Thanks to Steven Nzonzi's exceptional strike in the 39th minute, Stoke were level for 20 minutes during the heart of their match against Manchester United.
After Oussama Assaidi had dispossessed Marouane Fellaini and slipped the ball to Bojan Krkic, the latter went on a mazy run before reversing a pass to Nzonzi, who let go a thunderous shot from distance.
It was the guests' first shot on target at Old Trafford, and they wouldn't threaten again until Mame Biram Diouf's pair of missed chances in second-half stoppage time.
Loser: James Wilson, Who Didn't Take His Chance
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Wayne Rooney's absence through injury and Radamel Falcao's continuing recovery from a calf problem opened up a starting space for Manchester United striker James Wilson on Tuesday.
He will have wanted to do more to impress manager Louis van Gaal.
Although the 19-year-old posed the odd problem on the dribble, his movement in the attacking third left something to be desired.
And then there was his one opportunity at goal that he pulled wide of the near post, with Robin van Persie in the clear to his left.
The Dutchman was not pleased.
Winner: Ashley Young, Whose Goal-Line Clearance Left Hearts in Mouths
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Ashley Young hasn't exactly shone as a makeshift left-back, although his deputising role in Luke Shaw's absence has been solid and generally mistake-free.
Throughout Tuesday's match against Stoke, the Manchester United man struggled to deliver an accurate cross, and later on, he seemed to struggle opposite Potters substitute Marko Arnautovic.
But with about a minute remaining in second-half stoppage time, the 29-year-old made one of his most important contributions in a United shirt to date when he sliced Mame Biram Diouf's effort off the goal line.
As Manchester Evening News correspondent Rob Dawson posted on Twitter, it was "one of the best goal-line clearances you'll ever see."
