By Phillipa Hopwood: Manchester United snatched their first home win in three from the jaws of Stoke City after a hard fought 3-2 win at Old Trafford.
Wayne Rooney, Chicharito and Robin Van Persie gave the red devils the win which keeps the champions comfortable in eighth place.
The Potters were ahead inside four minutes after a cross from Erik Pieters found Peter Crouch, after his shot was parried by David De Gea but Crouch fired the rebound beyond the United keeper to give Stoke the lead at Old Trafford for the first time in The Premier League.
Man United were pressing for the equaliser through Luis Nani but Stoke defended well and had the hosts on the back foot for a lot of the first half.
Rooney tried a shot from range but it was never going to trouble Asmir Begovic in the Stoke goal as the ball drifted wide.
The visitors could have doubled their lead in the 27th minute when Crouch set up Jon Walters but De Gea kept United in it with a fantastic save.
Nani was pressing for the equaliser and decided to go it alone when he unleashed a shot from range but his attempt was well wide.
The hosts finally found their equaliser when Rooney’s header forced an impressive save from Begovic but Van Persie was there to fire home the rebound.
United’s lead lasted just two minutes as The Potters got their noses back in front on the stroke of half time when Marko Arnautovic curled his free kick on target, De Gea got fingertips to the ball but it hit the underside of the crossbar and bounced in.
Man United began the second half with a sense of urgency and Wilson Palacios gifted the champions the chance to equalise when he took down Tom Cleverley on the edge of the area but Van Persie couldn’t take advantage of the opportunity.
Walters could have put the game beyond United when he ran through on goal and De Gea was miles off his line but somehow the goalkeeper managed to keep his team in the game.
Rooney was united saviour as he found another equaliser for the hosts with just 10 minutes to go after Stoke were undone by a set piece, Van Persie’s corner found the head of Rooney who nodded the ball past a helpless Begovic.
Javier Hernández then stole the points in the 80th minute when Chicharito headed home Patrice Evra’s cross.