Manchester United 3 Stoke City 0
Manchester United eased past Stoke City last night as they took advantage of Manchester City’s first defeat of the season on Sunday.
Jose Mourinho’s men are now 12 points behind the Premier League leaders. It’s still an intimidating gap, but one that gives a glimmer of hope that all might not yet be lost in the title race.
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Asked for his views on City’s 4-3 defeat, Mourinho refused to get carried away with the result. “I didn’t watch Liverpool beat Manchester City,” he said. “It doesn’t change anything. The distance is an important distance [and] I have been there before. They have their destiny in their hands.”
All that United can do is keep winning and hope that their neighbours come apart at the seams in the second half of the season. The Red Devils certainly stuck to their side of the bargain last night.
Paul Pogba was their inspiration. The Frenchman created first-half goals for Antonio Valencia and Anthony Martial, and caused no end of problems to the visitors throughout.
Romelu Lukaku added a third after the break as United pulled three points clear of Liverpool and Chelsea, who are on 47 points.
“He was moving the ball fantastically well, with long passes changing the direction and creating problems for the opponent,” said Mourinho when asked for his assessment of Pogba’s performance.
“I think he is happy with the way the team is playing, and he’s happy because the team is changing the profile and the profile is going more in his direction.”
For Paul Lambert the result was a sobering experience as he looked on from the directors’ box. Appointed earlier in the day to replace the sacked Mark Hughes, the new manager saw the Potters concede three more league goals to take their tally for the season to 50, more than any other side in Europe’s ‘big five’ divisions.
The 48-year-old Scot, who has been jobless since parting company with Wolves at the end of last season, will start work today with the aim of lifting Stoke out of the relegation zone.
Eddie Niedzwiecki, who was in temporary charge of the team last night, said the club required a “foundation”, adding: “Paul Lambert said a few words to the players in the hotel before the game but he showed me the respect and it was my team today.
“I enjoyed the experience but it has been incredibly difficult personally. I will find out my future in the next 48 hours. I know how the game works.”