Source: Telegraph
Manchester United 5 Wigan 0: match report
Manchester United's dishevelled, defeated opponents used two keepers on Wednesday night, Mike Pollitt replacing Chris Kirkland at the break. Wigan Athletic could have fielded both simultaneously and not kept the peerless Wayne Rooney out, giving Sir Alex Ferguson additional cause to celebrate his 68th birthday on Thursday. [LNB]Rooney was as good as Roberto Martinez's visitors, and Charles N'Zogbia in particular, were poor. The England forward struck United's first, Michael Carrick drove in the second and Rafael added another before half-time when Kirkland's bad back finally gave way. Pollitt arrived but had no chance when Dimitar Berbatov and the terrific Antonio Valencia embellished the scoreline. [LNB]Although the goals were spread around, Rooney was key, demonstrating why United and England remain so reliant on him. Rooney was merciless against a Wigan side who revealed a disinclination to tackle; Titus Bramble showed some fight but Martinez needs to sort out N'Zogbia, who looks a transfer waiting to happen. [LNB]As England will hope in 2010, Rooney was in magnificent form, dropping deep to collect passes from Carrick and Darren Fletcher, constantly turning his markers, Emmerson Boyce and Bramble as Ferguson's men cruised to a comfortable win. The champions' No 10 struck fear into Kirkland in the first period and then Pollitt, who played in the United reserves 22 years ago. [LNB]Even before scoring United's first, Rooney had dominated proceedings. [LNB]When Valencia began charging deep into Wigan territory after 14 minutes, Rooney supported diligently, tearing down the right and receiving the pass. His cross to the far-post was perfect, the ball flighted to reach Berbatov, whose header was too weak. The Bulgarian soon woke up after a sluggish start. [LNB]Rooney kept creating, kept the alarm bells ringing in the Wigan area. [LNB]One clever reverse pass from the England striker released Berbatov into the box where he was dispossessed by Bramble's sliding tackle. Rooney was enraged, flinging up in his arms in a clear show of dissent towards the unsympathetic referee, Lee Mason. [LNB]Channelling his anger more constructively, Rooney exchanged passes with Carrick, and then let fly from 25 yards, forcing Kirkland to push the ball into the Stretford End. [LNB]United were getting closer. Even Nemanja Vidic, neatly set up by the excellent Valencia, had a shot cleared off the line by Paul Scharner. Rooney then nutmegged Boyce and thudded in a shot that cannoned back off the post into Kirkland's arms. Berbatov came to life, controlling Fletcher's through-ball, flicking it past Kirkland but wide. [LNB]The goals United deserved soon flowed. Martinez's commitment to an expansive game, moving the ball forward to Hugo Rodallega, left Wigan vulnerable to sudden counters, particularly when players like N'Zogbia showed little inclination to tackle or track back. After 27 minutes, Wes Brown read an attempted pass through to Rodallega, intercepted the ball and released Valencia down the right. As United shifted through the gears rapidly, the ball was instantly with Rafael, who drove a cross towards the near-post. [LNB]It still required a smart piece of deception by Rooney, rocking back on his heels to wrong-foot Bramble, and then dart towards the near-post, meeting Rafael's cross with a firm volley past Kirkland: 1-0. [LNB]If United's first captured the intelligence and technique of Rooney, the second was a simple, quick-fire team goal. Berbatov's pass behind Maynor Figueroa was exquisite, the ball bent to drop into the path of Valencia, who bore the look of a man intent on punishing old friends. Valencia sped into the box, looked up, spotted Carrick moving towards the edge of the area and neatly cut the ball back. Carrick met the ball first time, sweeping it from right to left past Kirkland: 2-0. [LNB]Along with Fletcher, Carrick was by now running midfield and the pair combined just before the break to work the ball through to Rafael, who was lurking within intent in the D. The Brazilian right-back turned, dragged the ball into space and sent a low left-foot shot sliding past Kirkland: 3-0. [LNB]As the ball hit the back of Wigan's net, Rafael did not break stride, simply altering the direction of his run towards the bench where his brother Fabio was sitting, wrapped up snugly against the cold. Resembling a Brazilian teen-band member greeting a throng of admirers, Rafael extravagantly blew kisses to Fabio, emphasising his fraternal bond by beating his right hand against his heart. [LNB]United were certainly showing little compassion towards their visitors. The pressure was maintained after the interval. When Valencia crossed again from the right, Boyce slipped and there was Berbatov flicking the ball home with all the nonchalance of an Edwardian beau lighting a cigar: 4-0. [LNB]As usual, Berbatov was moving at his own leisurely pace but his thought process was a model of alacrity. Progressing through Wigan's defence almost at walking pace, Berbatov turned and lifted in a ball that Rooney headed against the bar. [LNB]Midway through the second half, Ferguson made a treble substitution but it was Martinez removal of N'Zogbia that was most intriguing. N'Zogbia refused to shake the Wigan manager's hand and went straight towards the tunnel, fostering talk that he was also heading out of the club. [LNB]There was more. When Rooney rolled a pass through Wigan's defence, Valencia dinked the ball over Pollitt: 5-0. 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