- Rooney (28), Carrick (32), Rafael (45), Berbatov (50), Valencia (75)
- Date:2009-12-30
- Kick-off:20:00
- Venue:Old Trafford
- Attendance:74560
- Referee:Mason, L
Live Commentary
90mins
The referee brings an end to the game
87mins
Welbeck, who has looked bright in these last few minutes, gives away a free kick for a foul on Edman
86mins
Anderson's powerful shot goes a couple of yards over. Decent chance to add another goal to United's tally
84mins
Pollitt makes a fantastic save from close range after the ball took a wicked deflection off a Wigan player following good work from Welbeck
83mins
Rooney lines up a free kick. Wigan look worried but he makes a bit of a mess of it in the end
80mins
Rooney's curled effort goes just over the bar. Excellent from the United man
80mins
This has been a masterclass from United, and Rooney in particular. Chelsea should be worried after watching this
78mins
Edman's shot is blocked by Anderson, who has been quiet since coming on
74mins
United win back possession well in midfield. Rooney plays Valencia in with a great ball for him to score with a cool finish
73mins
Rodallega has a great chance to score after a fantastic pass from Bramble but Rafael comes across well to clear the ball to Anderson
72mins
Sinclair has had a few good early touches and he nearly plays in Cho but the ball gets away from him at the last minute
68mins
Gomez does well to block a cross from Rooney
66mins
Erik Edman is on for Thomas
66mins
Evra comes off for Fabio Da Silva
66mins
Luis de Abreu Anderson comes on for Vidic
66mins
Danny Welbeck comes on for Berbatov
66mins
Scott Sinclair comes on for N'Zogbia
66mins
Berbatov's shot is saved by Pollitt. The United striker looks like he's enjoying himself out there
63mins
Wigan are seeing a lot of the ball at the moment. Rodallega runs into the box but the ball is won well by Rafael and United can break. Rooney and Berbatov combine well up front for United but Pollitt does well to stop Rooney playing in Berbatov
61mins
Rodallega's shot is drilled straight at Kuszczak. This is better from Wigan
61mins
N'Zogbia flashes the ball across the front of goal. Brilliant work from Rodallega and Cho on the wing and that was a great chance for Wigan to score
60mins
Gomez finds Scharner, who plays the ball to N'Zogbia. Rodallega and N'Zogbia attack for Wigan but it's far too predictable and United have no trouble coping
57mins
Charles N'Zogbia is booked for dissent after kicking the ball away. Pure frustration from the Wigan man
56mins
Scharner's shot is blocked by Brown. United looking very comfortable at the moment
54mins
The problem for Wigan is a lack of movement when they have the ball, combined with the sheer brilliance of this United performance
53mins
Carrick finds Fletcher, who plays the ball to Park. Wigan look very disheartened at the moment as United keep possession well
51mins
Berbatov has another chance to score but he tries to be a little too flash and the attempt is wasted
49mins
Berbatov scores from six yards out after Thomas slipped and gave away the ball just yards from goal. Awful from Wigan
46mins
A first time shot from Rooney is saved well by Pollitt. United starting the second half as they ended the first
45mins
The second half is underway
45mins
Mike Pollitt comes on for Kirkland
45mins
It's half time at Old Trafford
44mins
Rafael shows good determination to score United's third, bending the ball away from Kirkland brilliantly
43mins
Bramble closes Valencia down well before he can cross the ball in a dangerous position. Boyce clears the resulting corner
41mins
Scharner lays the ball off to Rodallega. He cuts inside and finds Gomez, who plays the ball to Cho. Cho takes a shot but it fails to trouble Kuszczak
38mins
Vidic runs into plenty of space before finding Valencia. Valencia finds Berbatov but his shot looks more like a cross in the end and goes into the stands
36mins
Rooney's shot is blocked by Boyce. It's all one-way traffic at the moment
35mins
Berbatov is challenged unfairly by Thomas. Wes Brown takes the free kick but Wigan manage to break up United's attack
33mins
Thomas tries his luck from range. The ball goes about a foot over the bar, with Kuszczak stretching
31mins
Carrick scores United's second goal after sloppy play from Wigan, stroking the ball into the back of the net
27mins
Wigan give the ball away in midfield. Valencia sends the ball in and Rooney pounces to send the ball past Kirkland with a nice finish
26mins
Fletcher finds Berbatov on the edge of the box as Wigan switch off in defence. Emmerson Boyce comes out to make a challenge before the striker can get his shot away
24mins
Wigan are playing long balls up front whenever they win back possession at the back. Not really working for them at the moment
20mins
Berbatov has a great chance to score but he tries to dink the ball over Kirkland and makes a mess of his attempt
19mins
Rooney's attempt hits the post after a great piece of skill. United unlucky not to be leading here
19mins
Nemanja Vidic has an attempt cleared off the line. United really piling on the pressure now
18mins
Rooney's shot is on target but met comfortably by Kirkland. The United striker was left in far too much space there
17mins
Berbatov is through on goal. Bramble's tackle leads to calls for a penalty from the United players but on first look it appears to be an honest challenge
16mins
Mario Melchiot finds Rodallega, who tries to find Garcia Jordi Gomez. Gomez fails to keep the ball and claims he was fouled by Fletcher but the referee isn't interested
14mins
Valencia crosses into the box and Berbatov heads the ball straight into the arms of Kirkland. Valencia could have sent in the cross a little earlier there
11mins
Darren Fletcher finds Patrice Evra, who plays the ball forward to Michael Carrick. United's attack is broken up by Thomas, who read the play very well
9mins
Rooney gets away from Thomas but Scharner is there to cover for Wigan. United play a game of keep ball before giving the ball away to Wigan. A scrappy opening to the game from both sides
8mins
Won-Hee Cho gives away the ball. Hendry Thomas wins it back but Wigan need to tighten up their play in midfield
6mins
Rooney's curled attempt goes out for a goal kick
5mins
Hugo Rodallega forces Tomasz Kuszczak into action after good pressure from Paul Scharner
3mins
Valencia's shot from the edge of the area sends Chris Kirkland diving down to make a comfortable save
2mins
Ji-Sung Park passes to Dimitar Berbatov after great work from Wayne Rooney. Bramble clears the ball once again for Wigan
1mins
Luis Antonio Valencia attacks with the ball down the right and Titus Bramble does well to come across to clear the ball
0mins
The referee gets the game started at Old Trafford
0mins
Wigan have an awful record against Manchester United and the champions will definitely be up for this one tonight
Match Preview
Manchester United will be hoping to keep up the pressure on leaders Chelsea with a resounding win against Wigan Athletic at Old Trafford on Wednesday evening.
Wigan boss Roberto Martinez may fancy his plucky side's chances though.
United have a debilitating injury list and it is a one that could all but end their title challenge if it is to continue to hinder them into the new year.
Sir Alex Ferguson's beleaguered side have been playing Michael Carrick, Darren Fletcher and youngster Ritchie de Laet in defence lately and his patched up side has struggled.
Nemanja Vidic, Wes Brown and Rafael all returned to face Hull City on Sunday and the 3-1 victory closed the gap on leaders Chelsea to just two points.
However, Rio Ferdinand, Jonny Evans, Gary Neville, John O'Shea, Nani, Edwin van der Sar, Owen Hargreaves and Federico Macheda will all definitely miss the visit of the Latics through injury.
Four games in 11 days will certainly test United's resolve and it will be interesting to see if Ferguson's stricken unit can deal with the rigours in front of them.
One player who will be desperate to shine on Wednesday will be Luis Antonio Valencia following his £16million switch to the Red Devils from Wigan in the summer.
For the visitors, Mohamed Diame is out of their Christmas and new year campaign after injuring knee ligaments in the recent defeat against Liverpool.
Last season, the Latics ran United close at Old Trafford as they fell to a 1-0 defeat. A goal in the second minute was enough for the champions to grab all three points.
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Match Report
Wigan Athletic endured another night of torture at Old Trafford as Manchester United celebrated their best home win of the season.
If there is the ultimate nightmare scenario for Wigan, it is a fixture against United.
The Red Devils have won all 10 of their Premier League fixtures against Wigan, scoring 31 goals and conceding only four.
For good measure, United also beat Wigan 4-0 in the 2006 Carling Cup Final.
United could have been 3-0 up before Wayne Rooney broke the deadlock in the 28th minute.
In two amazing minutes almost midway through the first half, Nemanja Vidic had a shot cleared off the line by Paul Scharner, Rooney hit the inside of a post and Dimitar Berbatov missed a golden opportunity when through one-on-one with goalkeeper Chris Kirkland.
When Wigan were finally cracked, there was no way back for Roberto Martinez's side.
Antonio Valencia, who joined United from Wigan for £17million in the summer, found Rafael de Silva rampaging down the right.
The Brazilian crossed to the near post and Rooney got in before Titus Bramble to hook his shot into the net from six yards.
United doubled their lead four minutes later. Berbatov fed Valencia on the right and he turned the ball back into the centre of the penalty area for Michael Carrick to score with a well-placed low right-foot shot from 15 yards.
United made it 3-0 in the last minute of the first half. Darren Fletcher picked out Rafael on the edge of the Wigan box and he evaded two challenges before scoring with a left-foot shot.
Wigan were 4-0 behind five minutes after the interval. Valencia, who was a constant thorn in the side of his former club, crossed from the right edge of the box and Berbatov stabbed in a right-foot shot from 10 yards.
Rooney hit the bar with a header form close range soon after and it was fitting that Valencia should complete the scoring in the 75th minute.
Rooney's slide-rule pass found the Ecuadorian racing into the box and he scored with a clever chip from 12 yards.
Tomasz Kuszczak made two fine saves to deny Hugo Rodellega, but when it comes to United versus Wigan games there is only ever one winner.
Manchester United Team
Wigan Athletic Team
Manchester United | Wigan Athletic |
Corners
| 7 | 3 |
Fouls
| 7 | 13 |
Goal attempts
| 18 | 8 |
Shots off target
| 7 | 5 |
Offsides
| 3 | 1 |



89mins
Edman takes a shot but the ball flies wide of the target. Worth a try from that position