Manchester United pulled out their best performance of the season so far on Tuesday night with a commanding 3-0 victory over Stoke City.
It was a great half from United's perspective with early goals from Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial giving them a comfortable advantage. Ibrahim Afellay and Juan Mata had good chances to get goals for their respective clubs as the half drew to close but neither could find the target.
Stroke nearly had one back early in the second period through Marko Arnautovic but Wayne Rooney all but secured the win with United's third after having one disallowed moments earlier.
After they found their third United took their foot off the acceleration with the best opportunity for a fourth falling to substitute Memphis Depay but enough had been done to wrap up the Red Devils' best performance of the campaign.
Out of the traps
Louis van Gaal's came flying out of the traps in the opening stages of the match with their first opportunity coming six minutes in.
Inform captain Rooney did excellently to show close control to get beyond Glenn Whelan and attempt another effort similar to his opening goal against Derby County on Friday but Jack Butland was equal to it.
Prosperous youth
It didn’t take long for United to take the lead and it was an excellently worked opener from two young devils.
Full-back Cameron Borthwick-Jackson had begun to grow the last few weeks and was excellent here as his whipped cross deceived the whole Potters defence and was perfect for Lingard who headed into an empty net.
It could have been two moments later coming from the left-hand side this time in the form of Martial who managed to drop his shoulder to come inside but he blasted his effort into the side-netting.
United doubled their lead in the 23rd minute and it was a strike of pure class. Rooney did excellently to pick out Martial who was in acres of space on the left flank and he calmly placed the curled into the opposite top corner which gave Butland absolutely no chance.
Close chances
Despite finding themselves two behind Mark Hughes' side continued to cause problems and were close to getting one back in the 34th minute when Afellay's effort looking goal bound but a last-ditch block from Chris Smalling took it behind.
Mata had two glorious chances in the 39th minute when his first effort was blocked but the Spaniard was alive to the situation as he looked to turn Matteo Darmian's cross into the net but his header from six yards went wide.
Pulsating second half
Hughes' side wasted no time and nearly had a goal back two minutes after the restart when Whelan picked Arnautovic who did well to take control of the ball but the loss of footing saw him hit well over the crossbar.
It was then the turn of Rooney who looked to have added a third in the 50th minute when it looked like Glen Johnson had gifted him the goal as he rifled it past Butland but the full-back was judged to be fouled.
It only took him three minutes to get his goal and effectively end the contest with a simple but brilliant finish.
Martial was the one causing problems once again after he received the ball from Mata out on the flank and the Frenchman's ball across the face of goal was perfect for the skipper as he simply slid it home from six yards.
Martial nearly had second minutes after providing with Rooney turning provider on this occasion as his ball beat the Stoke backline and found the Frenchman who failed to get it on his favoured right foot which saw him subsequently blaze the effort over the crossbar.
Foot off the gas
The game began to slow down as the game entered its final stages and United having already secured the points but could have had four with seven minutes to play.
United came alive once again on the break this time through substitute Memphis who found space out on the left and the Dutchman managed to get the shot off but it went just agonisingly wide but enough had already been done to claim the three points.