All the facts and figures ahead of Stoke City's Premier League match at Manchester United

PREVIOUS MEETING

October 6, 1993

Man Utd 2  (Sharpe 47, McClair 85)

Stoke City 0

ONE look at United's line-up tells you Sir Alex was taking no chances with this second round Coca Cola Cup tie after losing the first leg 2-1 at the Victoria Ground.

Stoke defended stoically enough to reach the break scoreless at Old Trafford. Lee Sharpe nosed United in front on the night, levelling the tie 2-2 on aggregate, and it wasn't until the closing stages that Brian McClair struck to end City's hopes.

But it was still a proud night for thousands of travelling fans and manager Lou Macari on his return to a familiar old stamping ground.

Man Utd: Schmeichel, Irwin, Martin, Bruce, Pallister, Sharpe, Robson, Keane, Kanchelskis, McClair, Hughes.

Stoke: Muggleton, Clarkson, Cowan, Cranson, Overson, Orlygsson, Gynn, Foley, Gleghorn, Stein, Sturridge.

Attendance: 41,387.

FORM GUIDE

Man Utd: WWDLW

Stoke: LWWDW

WHO WE'D LIKE TO SIGN

Rooney, Ronaldo and Berbatov would all look good on the Stoke bench.

WHO TO BOO

A toss up between Rooney and Ronaldo, you feel, depending on who moans first to the referee.

MAN IN THE MIDDLE

Mark Halsey (Lancs): Fresh from officiating in Stoke's Carling Cup clash this week, he is curiously chosen to referee them again just four days later. Surely some administrative error?

PROBABLE TEAMS

Man Utd: Van der Sar, Neville, O'Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Carrick, Anderson, Fletcher, Ronaldo, Rooney, Berbatov.

Stoke: Sorensen, Griffin, Higginbotham, Shawcross, Ab Faye, Olofinjana, Diao, Am Faye, Delap, Sidibe, Fuller.

PREDICTION

Stoke defend valiantly and miss a couple of opening themselves before Ronaldo's wayward shot is deflected home past Thomas Sorensen to inflict late heartbreak on City.