Manchester United are not back to their brilliant best but showed a swagger worthy of Old Trafford in their 3-0 win over Stoke

The tone of the groan might well be what pleases Louis van Gaal most. On a night Manchester United re-found their mojo, the atmospheric difference was obvious from the very first minute.
Any supporter sighs derived from disappointment at attacking ingenuity not quite coming off rather than the distinct disapproval those who often frequent Old Trafford are now accustomed to. And quite right too - there have not been too many evenings more fluid than this in recent times.
United are not back, far from it, but it is a shock of charge to a stuttering season. Van Gaal’s side played with verve, the sort of swagger associated with this club and this stadium.
The crowd played its part - up as soon as Juan Mata’s shot was deflected over Jack Butland’s bar in the opening moments - but that was down to the tempo dictated in front of them.
They were not given an opportunity to vent frustration spilling over from that Southampton nightmare, United on the front foot and insistent on scoring goals.
What this win over a relatively hapless Stoke City team - undoubtedly up there with their worst 90 minutes of the campaign - does for the manager is stem the tide of criticism.
Given the intent on display here Van Gaal has himself more than a bit of breathing space. The evidence is clearly he can conjure rousing displays from this fortune of a squad. Now it has to be every week, home and away.
The Dutchman has a foothold with which to climb - now the test is to capitalise and clamber up to the next.
So much easier with the Stretford End on side. They started a moving Munich Air Disaster tribute - with all four sides of the arena rightly on their feet as families of the victims attended ahead of Saturday’s 58th anniversary - before further encouraging their side. Intent is rewarded around these parts - perhaps the management team were a little slow on the uptake.

Manchester United players celebrate the goal of Martial, who was given a standing ovation when replaced
There were also knowing vocal nods to club legends Nemanja Vidic and Eric Cantona - a sure sign of home supporters relaxed and enjoying what lay before them.
Some day they may well sing of Anthony Martial memories too who, if he carries on a similar trajectory, will become a real favourite.
The 20-year-old was frightening on Tuesday night, bamboozling Glen Johnson earlier in the piece before also dealing substitute Phil Bardsley some treatment.
He was afforded a standing ovation on coming off with 11 minutes to play; the way his goal - the second of the night - was taken was a thing of beauty, sweeping beyond Butland and finishing a wondrous move to involve Mata, Matteo Darmian and Wayne Rooney.
No wonder the locals were chuffed. The key for Van Gaal now is to unlock Martial’s blistering speed blessed with youthful naivety each week, because that could be United’s trump card when chips are down.
They were certainly facing up on Tuesday, the only audible home annoyance directed at referee Roger East. 
Already two-nil up at half-time, one United staff member asked with a wide grin, ‘Are we at the right stadium here?’ Many thousands shared similar questions. Best not to delve too deeply into that for now and enjoy this for what it was: a night when the word 'attack' was not followed by another couple in anger.