United finds scoring punch

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal said an early goal made all the difference after his side beat Stoke City 3-0 in a vastly improved performance on Tuesday.

United had not scored a first-half goal in 11 games at Old Trafford and was booed off after losing 1-0 to Southampton in its previous home match.

But Jesse Lingard's 14th-minute header eased the tension and United went on to score a superb second through Anthony Martial before the break and a third courtesy of captain Wayne Rooney in the second half.