Late-goal specialist Carlos Tevez made it a merry Christmas for United, giving the champions all three points in the Potteries with an 83rd-minute winner.
The vital breakthrough goal was created by Dimitar Berbatov, sent on as a substitute as Sir Alex Ferguson strived to avoid another costly stalemate.United's first chance was glanced across goal by Nemanja Vidic from an early Ryan Giggs corner. Another ball from a wide area, Gary Neville’s right-wing cross, was volleyed wide by Carlos Tevez with ex-Reds defender Ryan Shawcross in close attendance.
