Source: Manchester_EveningNews
United 5 Wigan 0
MANCHESTER United crushed Wigan at Old Trafford thanks to goals from Wayne Rooney, Michael Carrick, Rafael Da Silva, Dimitar Berbatov and Antonio Valencia. The win leaves United just two points behind leaders Chelsea going into the new year, and if anything the margin of victory could have been greater with Rooney twice hitting the woodwork. It is the second time United have beaten Wigan 5-0 this season after their August clash at the DW Stadium. Whether the team of the decade with six league crowns added to their history books since the millennium will began the new decade with yet another Premier League trophy is still very much in the air. But this was just about where Fergie wanted to be as he celebrated his 68th birthday on Thursday and Chelsea will know, despite some roller-coaster form from the Reds in the first half of the season, they'll never shake the champions off. It hasn't been a comfortable nor typically barnstorming campaign for the Reds in truth but games like this prove that they can still do clinical savagery when allowed to - and boy did Wigan allow them to! Ferguson praised his side's goal stats this term in the pre-match press conference but lamented that at Old Trafford they haven't been tearing up the ground in front of goal. Only Everton and Wolves been put to the sword by three clear goals and only the derby against City yielding four. For almost half an hour though the match had the hallmarks of one of those frustrating games when it was going to be a story of squandered chances as Rooney had one effort saved, saw another hit the post, Nemanja Vidic had an effort blocked and Berbatov clipped a shot wide. But Wigan were so poor there were no concerns for the Reds that they might get caught out. The attacks just kept coming freely and unopposed and Rooney finally opened the scoring after 28 minutes. Rafael goal Wes Brown was so inactive in defence he chanced a break forward and slipped a pass to Valencia on the right. Rafael was equally free to leave his defensive post and charged past the Ecuadorian picked up the move and crossed for Rooney to touch in his 15th of the season. United's second was as flowing with Berbatov brilliantly finding another Valencia run and the ex-Wigan flank man cut his cross back intelligently for the hovering Carrick to sidefoot home. The Reds were strolling and Brazilian full back Rafael netted his first ever Old Trafford goal when he picked up a Darren Fletcher pass and jinked into a shooting position before firing past Chris Kirkland. The injured Wigan keeper was unable to make the second half and ex-United reserve Mike Pollitt probably dreaded what he was about to face. He lasted five minutes before conceding his first. His woeful defenders, who'd let down Kirkland, allowed Valencia's cross to dribble through to Berbatov and the Bulgarian scored his first back-to-back goals since last January by following his Hull hit with a jab from 10 yards. It continued to be just a case of how many United could get and by how many they would eat into Chelsea's superior goal difference. The Londoners had started the evening with a seven-goal advantage and that was whittled down to two by the time Valencia added further embarrassment to his former club. The £16m import from Wigan was hailed by Fergie pre-match for helping to fill the Cristiano Ronaldo vacancy on the right flank. His £80m predecessor couldn't have done much more than help set up three and Valencia's smooth finish from Rooney's pass after 75 minutes was of Ronaldo quality as well. Happy Birthday for Thursday Fergie and a Happy New Year too. What is your verdict on the action? Have your say. [LNB]
