Statistics & Post-Match Quotes | Manchester United 4-2 Stoke City

TEAM STATISTICS

MUFC PLAYER STATISTICS

* David de Gea (goalkeeper): 11/15 passing (73%), 2 goals conceded, 1 save

* Rio Ferdinand (right-center-back): 62/66 passing (94%), 5/6 long balls, 2 tackles, 0 interceptions, 9 clearances (4 effective), 0 shots blocked, 1 foul

* Jonny Evans (left-center-back): 63/67 passing (94%), 6/8 long balls, 0 tackles, 0 interceptions 11 clearances (4 effective), 1 shot blocked, 0 fouls

* Rafael (right-back): 47/51 passing (92%), 0 chances created, 2/4 crosses, 3/3 long balls, 0 successful dribbles, 2 fouls won, 2 tackles, 2 interceptions, 8 clearances (4 effective), 1 shot blocked, 3 fouls

* Patrice Evra (left-back): 42/44 passing (95%), 2 chances created, 1/2 crosses, 4/4 long balls, 2 successful dribbles, 2 fouls won, 1 tackle, 1 interception, 5 clearances (3 effective), 1 shot blocked, 0 fouls

* Michael Carrick (central-midfield): 82/94 passing (87%), 1 chance created, 0/0 crosses, 9/13 long balls, 0/1 through balls, 1 tackle, 0 interceptions, 0 shots

* Paul Scholes (central-midfield | substituted off 70'): 57/61 passing (93%), 0 chances created, 0/0 crosses, 9/11 long balls, 0/1 through balls, 0 tackles, 0 interceptions, 2 shots (0 on target)

* Antonio Valencia (right-winger | substituted off 75'): 28/31 passing (90%), 3 chances created, 3/4 crosses, 0/0 long balls, 0/0 through balls, 0 successful dribbles, 1 foul won, 3 tackles, 0 interceptions, 1 shot (1 on target), 1 assist

* Danny Welbeck (left-winger | substituted off 78'): 35/37 passing (95%), 2 chances created, 1/1 crosses, 0/1 long balls, 0/0 through balls, 2 successful dribbles, 1 foul won, 1 tackle, 1 interception, 4 shots (1 on target), 1 goal, 1 assist

* Wayne Rooney (secondary striker): 57/67 passing (85%), 3 chances created, 2/5 crosses, 3/4 long balls, 0/1 through balls, 0 successful dribbles, 1 foul won, 3 shots (3 on target), 2 goals, 1 assist

* Robin van Persie (striker): 44/51 passing (86%), 3 chances created, 1/5 crosses, 2/2 long balls, 1/2 through balls, 0 successful dribbles, 1 foul won, 2 shots (1 on target), 1 goal, 1 assist

* Andeson (central-midfield | substituted on 70'): 24/25 passing (96%), 0 chances created, 0/0 crosses, 3/3 long balls, 0/0 through balls, 0 tackles, 1 interceptions, 0 shots

* Nani (right-winger | substituted on 75'): 8/9 passing (89%), 0 chances created, 0/0 crosses, 0/0 long balls, 0/0 through balls, 0 successful dribbles, 0 fouls won, 0 tackles, 1 interception, 0 shots

* Javier Hernandez (striker | substituted on 78'): 5/7 passing (71%), 0 chances created, 0/0 crosses, 1/1 long balls, 0/0 through balls, 0 successful dribbles, 0 fouls won, 0 shots

POST-MATCH QUOTES

Sir Alex Ferguson | MUFC manager (courtesy of MUTV)

(On conceding another early goal...) "We keep starting badly in games, in the first 20 minutes. We conceded an early goal against Fulham, an early goal against Tottenham, an early goal today – we’re giving ourselves uphill fights. But there’s a goal threat about us, that has to be said, and some of the movement from the forwards was excellent. You don’t want it to happen [going behind] but the forwards are digging us out of a hole at times. Hopefully we’ll get it sorted. It was an own goal, the first goal, and you obviously can’t account for that. The second goal was a really slack goal for us to lose. There’s no doubt our attacking play has been the strongest part of our game [thsi season]. But we’re letting in goals at home and that’s disappointing."

(On the forwards...) "The more games Wayne gets, the better he's going to become and I am pleased he’s off the mark with his two goals and Danny's off the mark too. I think that’s about 15 [different] goalscorers already this season so that’s good. We saw that flexible movement we have up front where Robin ended up wide left and put in a great cross for Wayne to score [the first goal] with a fantastic header. That kind of movement does bother teams and I’m glad they have started to gel quite well that way."

(On Rio Ferdinands's 'Kick It Out' protest...) "I’m disappointed because I said in the press conference yesterday that all the players would be wearing the T-shirt. We did that in support of the PFA and every player in the country should have adhered to that. We’re all wearing the badges and he goes and lets us all down. We’ll deal with it, don’t worry."

Wayne Rooney | MUFC striker (courtesy of MUTV)

(On his early own-goal...) "It was my first own goal but thankfully we came back from that and managed to go in at the break in the lead, that was great for us."

(Overall thoughts about the match...) "I think it was a good performance from us. Stoke put a lot of high balls into the box and in the main we dealt with it well. There was just that one slip when I’ve scored the own goal. I was marking Ryan Shawcross and he ran me in there, there were bodies in the way and it [Charlie Adam's free-kick] just hit me."I think it was important that I moved on from it quickly and didn’t let it affect the rest of my game. I think overall we deserved the three points."

(On his first goals of the season...) "I think as long as I’m playing well it doesn’t really concern me that much if I’m not scoring for United. Obviously as a forward you want to score. I’m delighted to get off the mark and to get amongst the goals. Hopefully there’s more to come but if I can keep up my performances, playing well and working well with the team, I’ll be happy with that."

(On his partnership with van Persie...) "I think when you’ve got quality like that, someone who can deliver a ball into the box, then you know if you make a run you’ve got a chance of getting on the end of it. Thankfully it’s a great ball and I’ve managed to head it home. I think it was a great goal. That’s the first game we’ve started together up front and we’ve both scored. I’m sure it will get better and better, we have to keep working on that – not just the attacking but the defending side of it as well. We’re both pleased with the way it’s going and when we’ve also got Danny who’s also scored today and Chicharito came on, we’ve got great attacking options. It’s down to the manager to pick from them."

(On his 200th club goal...) "I didn’t know I’d reached 200 club goals until after the game. I’m obviously delighted with that."