STOKE have already beaten Manchester United once on November 15 when, during their historic League Cup campaign, they ousted the Reds in a fourth-round replay in the Potteries.

That was one of six wins in their 11 fixtures thus far on this date in Stoke's post-war history.

Stoke's first acquaintance with November 15 came in 1947 with a 4-1 walloping at Stamford Bridge, while fortunes fared little better five years later when City were beaten 2-1 at home by Wolves after a solitary goal from Ulsterman Sammy Smyth.

It wasn't until 1958 that Stoke could lay claim to victory on this date after banging three past Rotherham in a Second Division fixture at the Victoria Ground, courtesy of Scot Bobby Howitt (2) and Harry Oscroft.

It was League Cup action on the menu in 1967 as goals from Bill Bentley and Calvin Palmer ensured a 2-1 success in a fourth-round replay.

Sadly, the League Cup campaign soon hit the buffers in the next round with a 2-0 defeat at Leeds.

History was repeated in the league two years later as John Ritchie and Jimmy Greenhoff, above, bagged the goals that mattered in a 2-0 win over Wednesday.

Stoke were on the march to Wembley on November 15, 1971 as more than 42,000 crammed into the Victoria Ground to celebrate strikes from Peter Dobing and Ritchie in that 2-1 fourth-round replay win over Manchester United.

Ian Moores scored against the club he would later join to ensure Stoke returned from White Hart Lane with a share of the spoils in 1975.

Lee Chapman was the star of the show five years later after cracking a hat-trick in a 3-0 stroll at home to John Bond's Norwich.

Sheffield United succeeded where Sheffield Wednesday failed by dismissing Stoke on this date in 1986 after Keith Bertschin's solitary goal was no more than consolation in a 3-1 loss.

Six years later it was the Anglo-Italian Cup occupying Stoke's thoughts as they trounced Piacenza 4-0 at the Vic thanks to John Butler, Martin Carruthers (2) and Nigel Gleghorn.

Richard Forsyth was the man on the mark three years further on to bring home a point from a 1-1 draw at QPR.

1947: Chelsea 4, Stoke 1.

1952: Stoke 1, Wolves 2.

1958: Stoke 3, Rotherham 0.

1967: Stoke 2, Sheff Wed 1.

1969: Stoke 2, Sheff Wed 0.

1971: Stoke 2, Man Utd 1.

1975: Tottenham 1, Stoke 1.

1980: Stoke 3, Norwich 1.

1986: Sheff Utd 3, Stoke 1.

1994: Stoke 4, Piacenza 0.

1997: QPR 1, Stoke 1.