Title Challenge Hotting Up

Carlos Tevez scored the only goal of the game as United left the Britannia Stadium with a 1-0 win against a Stoke side who had to play the final 18 minutes with ten men after defender Andy Wilkinson had been sent off for a second yellow card.

"I've always said that if we could get to New Year's Day and be a couple of points adrift then we'd be very happy," the boss told Sky Sports.

"We expect to kick on in the second half of the season.

"Stoke are very resilient, determined and gutsy. However there is no question it was a sending off as it was a rash challenge by their player."