Manchester United are beginning to resemble the juggernaut of old. This was a fourth consecutive league win under Louis van Gaal, as the side continues to settle as the manager predicted they would on becoming familiar with his methods.

These remain early days, yet before Monday’s visit to Southampton there can only be optimism regarding United’s consistent form. At the close they rode their luck but had earned this fortune due to a display that left players and fans content, though Van Gaal less so.

“I’m happy with the result – tomorrow we have a Christmas party and it’s important we can enjoy that. I am not happy with the performance. I wasnot pleased with the first half. We were not so aggressive as in the last match and we want to play in the same style. I think we don’t keep our positions on the pitch, so we don’t create so many chances in the first half. Only the chance from [Ander] Herrera and then we have to finish that of course,” he said before hailing Marouane Fellaini’s header. “OK, the goal was a very nice goal also.”

The team news consisted of Wayne Rooney being unfit due to a knee problem suffered in Saturday’s 3-0 win over Hull City. This meant James Wilson was named ahead of Radamel Falcao for only a second Premier League start of his career. The other change from the weekend was Herrera for Ángel di María, who had suffered a hamstring injury.

Of Rooney Van Gaal said: “It is his knee but we have to wait for tomorrow to say anything about it because you never know with a knee. In my opinion it is not so heavy but I am not a doctor.

“We have to wait a scan and we will know more. Di María is not so heavy but, of course, he shall not play against Southampton but you never know.”

United should have taken the lead when Asmir Begovic’s mistake handed possession to Robin van Persie inside the goalkeeper’s area. Yet despite Wilson being available, the Dutch striker chose to pass to Herrera, who skied over from close in.

Herrera was about to make amends. The No21 lined up in the middle of United’s advanced midfield trident, yet was using much of the turf. When Juan Mata moved along the left, it was Herrera who provided the overlap to run on to the ball and swing in a perfect left-foot cross that had Fellaini rising to head home in the 21st minute.

Stoke had barely threatened the home side and, as the half went on, there was a sense that only United could undo themselves. And so it proved six minutes before the interval. When Herrera passed to Fellaini, the midfielder suddenly went down holding his neck. From the ensuing move the ball ricocheted off Chris Smalling, following a Bojan Krkic run, and into Steven Nzonzi’s path. The midfielder emphatically beat David de Gea and it was one apiece.

Before this the home support had been singing their favourite carol. This is the one that goes to the tune of Twelve Days of Christmas and that starts with “Five Cantonas”. When the referee, Jon Moss, blew for half-time this festive cheer had dissipated.

Fellaini had walked off having missed a chance to register his and the team’s second while holding the troublesome neck. However, he was fit to resume after the break and was soon linking up with Herrera and Antonio Valencia along United’s right.

As on Saturday Herrera was involved in much of his team’s smart play. The next time came when he appeared down Valencia’s flank and with a smart soft-shoe shuffle won a free-kick with which Mata should have done better than hit straight at Begovic.

United were pouring forward. Fellaini, Van Persie, Herrera and Wilson were all involved as the 20-times champions threatened to retake the lead only to be repelled by stiff Stoke resistance.

This was about to crumple. From the right Mata again curved in a high ball and this time, with Marcos Rojo in attendance, a host of Stoke players, including Ryan Shawcross, merely watched as it bounced past Begovic and in to give United the advantage again in the 59th minute.

Rojo’s girlfriend later posted a photograph online to prove he had got the final touch but by the close no one in red cared. Wilson provided the contest’s exhilarating moment. Receiving the ball near halfway, a burst of pace swept him through and, though the shot was wide, here was an impressive marker from the 18-year-old. After Mame Diouf twice had efforts repelled off the United line, including a memorable save from De Gea and an Ashley Young clearance, the same could be said of United.

Van Gaal added: “In the second half we played much better, more aggressive but then you have to finish it. Wilson could have finished it, Fellaini could have finished it. We knew in advance it is difficult to defend long balls and [we had] a great save from De Gea and a little bit of luck from Ashley Young. You have to see the whole match and say there is one team that deserved it and that is Manchester United.”

He was not wrong.