Stoke suffered their first defeat in four as Manchester United ran out 4-0 victors at the Michelin Training Ground.

The hosts actually started the game well, neatly passing the ball around, and it was the Potters who had the first chance as Warwick Alexander headed over from Jack Harrison's cross on 6 minutes.

The Potter's early dominance continued as Tom Urwin back heeled into the path of Louis Moult, who spun his marker before unleashing a powerful effort that the keeper could only palm up into the air before holding on at the second attempt as Stoke appealed that the ball had crossed the line.

The visitors then turned it up a gear and it took a world class save from Danzelle St.Louis-Hamilton to keep out James effort from point blank range after he had met Evans' cross at the near post.

Ajose had his first sight of goal for United shortly after but dragged his shot wide from 8 yards.

James forced St.Louis-Hamilton into another fine save moments later as his 25 yard effort had to be tipped round the post.

The Red Devils did break the deadlock on 28 minutes as Norwood was allowed time and space in the midfield to pick out the well timed run of Ajose, who just stroked the ball past the keeper and into the net.

Stoke were soon two goals down as Ajose collected a pass from James and turned Ryan Connor before unleashing an unstoppable shot from 25 yards that flew into the top corner.

The lead was three just a minute later as the visitors ended a mad four minute spell with Curran lashing the ball into the net from distance after cutting in from the wing unchallenged.

Stoke regrouped, and came back into the half, as the two strikers combined but Devlin, in the visitors goal, cut out the ball at the near post as Moult attempted to return the ball to Alexander.

On the stroke of half time Alexander did get on the end of Nathaniel Wedderburn's shot, but only succeeded on ballooning the ball onto the crossbar.

The start of the second half saw Stoke nearly get back into the game as a Connor header from an Urwin corner forced Devlin into a fine one handed save to claw the ball away from goal.

Urwin continued to provide dangerous deliveries and his pin point cross was headed over by Moult as he charged into the box.

Adam Vickers was called to replace Urwin on the hour mark after the pacey winger injured his leg tackling back.

A fine 50 yard pass by Wedderburn put Harrison away down the left but his cross was caught by the keeper under his crossbar.

Louis Moult then produced a fine piece of individual skill to beat two players before putting a dangerous ball across that had to be cleared away for a corner.

The visitors then produced a fantastic break away attack to net a fourth as a quick fire move culminated in Evans playing in Macheda, who calmly picked his spot in the far corner and flashed the ball past the keeper.

The last ten minutes were played out with Ajose twice going close to sealing his hat trick but was denied firstly by a perfect interception by Richard Vauls after the United striker had rounded the keeper and then by a brave block by Connor as Ajose shot from 8 yards.

Stoke(4-4-2): St.Louis-Hamilton, Vauls, Wint, Connor, McDonald, Urwin(Vickers 60), J.Harrison, Wedderburn, Nicholls(Stockhall 78), Moult, Alexander