Ryan Giggs celebrates United's second goal with scorer John O'Shea

Stoke City manager Tony Pulis says that veterans Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes turned their 2-0 defeat on Saturday in Manchester United's favour.

Giggs, 35, came off the bench to set up both United goals, while 34-year-old Scholes produced a fine display.

"They're a great team, they keep the ball so well. Scholes was magnificent in midfield," he told BBC Radio Stoke.

"Then Ryan Giggs comes on, and he does things that are just a different class. We gave them the chance to settle."

The Potters managed to keep the champions at bay for 61 minutes, before goals from Dimitar Berbatov and John O'Shea sealed the game for the visitors.

The Stoke players, known for their pressing and passionate style, were strangely subdued throughout the match.

"I thought we were a bit flat and I don't know why," added Pulis. "You can't do that with the top teams.

"Everyone needs to be at their maximum, but we had three or four off their game today."

Stoke midfielder Liam Lawrence, who returned to the starting line-up after two games out, admitted that the team were out of sorts.

"They're world class players and they will find space," Lawrence told BBC Radio Stoke. "It's up to us to get in their faces, and we didn't do that."

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