SUBSTITUTE Ryan Giggs sparked the double strike that took Manchester United top of the Premier League.
The veteran substitute set up Dimitar Berbatov's tap-in and John O'Shea's headed winner as Alex Ferguson's champions finally came alive in the final half-hour.
But for 55 minutes, Nani occupied without success the left-wing berth Giggs has filled for so long as United struggled to turn dominance into goals.
Nani's display brought mainly groans and growls of frustration from exasperated team-mates as United failed to make the most of their dominance.
Predictably, the response for Giggs was somewhat different.
First English football's most decorated player showed all the composure of his 35 years to provide Dimitar Berbatov with a tap-in.
Fifteen minutes later, Giggs curled over the free-kick that allowed John O'Shea to mark his 350th appearance with a goal as the Irishman guided his header into the far corner.
In both instances, the goalscorer immediately ran to their 35-year-old team-mate to offer their thanks.
After eulogising so often about the Welshman during their 17 years together at the top, Ferguson admitted yesterday that he had run out of things to say about a man who will celebrate his 36th birthday in November.
After creating those chances for others, it would have been nice if Giggs could have taken the one provided by Scholes' through ball.
Instead, with entry into United's exclusive 150 club and a 100th goal in the Premier League waiting, Giggs fired over. Maybe he is not perfect after all.
Stoke: Sorensen, Huth, Abdoulaye Faye, Shawcross, Collins, Lawrence (Pugh 86), Whelan, Delap, Whitehead (Sanli 72), Etherington, Kitson (Beattie 72). Subs Not Used: Simonsen, Higginbotham, Cort, Wilkinson. Booked: Huth.
Man Utd: Foster, O'Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Valencia, Scholes (Carrick 80), Fletcher, Nani (Giggs 55), Berbatov, Rooney (Owen 80). Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Neville, Anderson, Jonathan Evans. Booked: Scholes.
Goals: Berbatov 62, O'Shea 77.
Att: 27,500
Ref: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).
The veteran substitute set up Dimitar Berbatov's tap-in and John O'Shea's headed winner as Alex Ferguson's champions finally came alive in the final half-hour.
But for 55 minutes, Nani occupied without success the left-wing berth Giggs has filled for so long as United struggled to turn dominance into goals.
Nani's display brought mainly groans and growls of frustration from exasperated team-mates as United failed to make the most of their dominance.
Predictably, the response for Giggs was somewhat different.
First English football's most decorated player showed all the composure of his 35 years to provide Dimitar Berbatov with a tap-in.
Fifteen minutes later, Giggs curled over the free-kick that allowed John O'Shea to mark his 350th appearance with a goal as the Irishman guided his header into the far corner.
In both instances, the goalscorer immediately ran to their 35-year-old team-mate to offer their thanks.
After eulogising so often about the Welshman during their 17 years together at the top, Ferguson admitted yesterday that he had run out of things to say about a man who will celebrate his 36th birthday in November.
After creating those chances for others, it would have been nice if Giggs could have taken the one provided by Scholes' through ball.
Instead, with entry into United's exclusive 150 club and a 100th goal in the Premier League waiting, Giggs fired over. Maybe he is not perfect after all.
Stoke: Sorensen, Huth, Abdoulaye Faye, Shawcross, Collins, Lawrence (Pugh 86), Whelan, Delap, Whitehead (Sanli 72), Etherington, Kitson (Beattie 72). Subs Not Used: Simonsen, Higginbotham, Cort, Wilkinson. Booked: Huth.
Man Utd: Foster, O'Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Valencia, Scholes (Carrick 80), Fletcher, Nani (Giggs 55), Berbatov, Rooney (Owen 80). Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Neville, Anderson, Jonathan Evans. Booked: Scholes.
Goals: Berbatov 62, O'Shea 77.
Att: 27,500
Ref: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).
