RYAN GIGGS came off the bench to inspire the double that took Manchester United top of the Premier League.
The veteran substitute set up Dimitar Berbatov's tap-in and John O'Shea's header as Alex Ferguson's champions finally came alive in the final half-hour.
But Stoke were at least United's equals before that double burst.
And, in a fierce start, Nani needed treatment after being flattened by Stoke defender Robert Huth, although the Portugal winger got his own back a short time later.
In between, Wayne Rooney was off-target with a speculative overhead free-kick after Nani's cross had looped up off Liam Lawrence.
Paul Scholes thundered a volley into Danny Collins, then, after Huth had conceded a corner, Nani curled an effort just wide after being set up by Rooney.
United should have been in front after nine minutes when Valencia nipped in front of Ryan Shawcross and bore down on the Stoke goal.
With only Thomas Sorensen to beat and Rooney flying up in support, the Ecuador international went for the chipped finish but saw his effort bounce disappointingly wide.
Already sent off once this season, Scholes got a ticking off from referee Howard Webb when he upended Glenn Whelan.
Stoke pushed forward from the free-kick and when Matthew Etherington released Lawrence with a reverse pass, the midfielder was in more space than he thought and smashed a first-time shot across the United goal.
Nani drew a vicious blast from Rooney when he galloped onto the England star's through-ball, then elected to go for goal himself, blazing over when his team-mate was far better placed.
United were in complete control, even if they could not create another opening like the one Valencia wasted earlier.
Valencia's ambitious attempt to find Rooney with a volleyed cross from the right met with predictable failure.
Fletcher was unhappy with a challenge from Rory Delap which brought United a free-kick but earned the Stoke long-throw expert no further punishment.
Huth took the sting out of a Patrice Evra shot before it rolled through to Thomas Sorensen, the goalkeeper coming out to collect an overhit John O'Shea cross after another lengthy spell of possession for the visitors.
Webb decided Huth's tackle on Scholes was worth a booking even though it seemed accidentally standing on the ball rather than any malice caused the Stoke defender to catch his opponent.
Rooney's flicked pass almost sent Dimitar Berbatov through but his effort to do the same with a header shortly afterwards was more wayward.
Nani would have been a huge threat if his final ball came close to matching his pace and balance. Too often though, he let the Stoke defence off with a poor decision.
Dave Kitson needed treatment after catching Valencia on the follow-through of a clearance close to the corner flag.
Delap stuck out a foot to prevent Darren Fletcher getting on the end of Berbatov's through-ball, then Rooney drilled a cross into the six-yard area but O'Shea was unable to get a touch as it flashed past.
Nani finally drew an excellent save from Sorensen with a powerful 20-yard strike two minutes before the break, then Berbatov smashed a shot into Shawcross.
After his travails against Manchester City last week, Ben Foster had been given very little to do but he did come confidently to collect Delap's cross in the opening minute of the second period.
Nani drew another attack of frustration from Rooney when he delayed a pass to the striker.
Poor control from Nani saw the ball run out of play, then Ferdinand over-hit a pass for the winger that sailed into touch.
Ryan Giggs' introduction for the hapless winger 10 minutes after the break was hardly a surprise, although initially United were on the back-foot as Stoke briefly pushed forward.
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Not so unusual was Scholes' clumsy challenge on Lawrence that earned the United man a yellow card.
With Nani now off the field, Rooney turned his ire on the nearside assistant referee, who decided his fall under Collins' challenge was not worthy of a free-kick.
If United supporters were starting to worry their team was not going to get the goal they deserved, they need not have.
With Giggs on the pitch they had an aura of superiority and sure enough, when Fletcher threaded a pass to his left wing station, the veteran Welshman calmly crossed to present Berbatov with a tap-in.
Scholes' heart must had been in his mouth when he jumped to block a Lawrence cross and ended up nearly catching the ball, but instead of showing the red card, Webb merely awarded a free-kick.
But Berbatov touched home United's 62nd minute opener, courtesy of passes from Fletcher and Giggs.
Then 14 minutes later O'Shea nudged home Giggs' inswinging corner.
