Manchester United 4 - 0 Wigan

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Saturday Oct 06 2007 12:45

There is nothing quite like refreshing Manchester United's scoring parts than the appearance of Wigan Athletic as opponents.

This latest Old Trafford drubbing for their Lancashire neighbours brought United's goal tally against Wigan to 23 in their last six games and took them to the top of the Premier League table for the first time this season.

Yet this match did live up to that old footballing cliche, a game of two halves. Wigan, crowding midfield, with only Marcus Bent up front, frustrated United in the first period when nothing went right for the hosts.

They lost Louis Saha as a substitute through injury during the warm-up and within the first half-hour saw Nemanja Vidic and John O'Shea join the Frenchman on the sidelines.

United also had a good appeal for a penalty turned down in the fifth minute when Michael Brown barged over Cristiano Ronaldo in the Wigan box, only to see referee Mike Riley wave play on.

The Portuguese winger had been trying to capitalise on the situation after Wigan's Salomon Olembe had deflected Carlos Tevez's right-wing cross goalwards with shot-stopper Chris Kirkland producing a tremendous acrobatic save to keep the ball out.

But it was a different United after the interval.

Anderson started to impress after replacing the injured Vidic, and, up front, Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Tevez began to buzz.

United served notice of their resurgence in the 52nd minute when Ryan Giggs hit the Wigan bar with a 15-yard shot after the visitors had only partially cleared Ronaldo's cross.

United had only two minutes to wait before breaking the deadlock.Rio Ferdinand found Rooney, whose glorious lay-off enabled Anderson to pick out Teves on the right side of the Wigan box.

The Argentinian brushed off challenges from Paul Scharner and Jason Koumas before rounding Kirkland and crashing his left-foot shot into the net from 12 yards.

United doubled their lead five minutes later. Giggs drilled his corner to Rooney on the right side of the Wigan penalty area. Rooney returned the ball to Giggs and, although his cross was superbly kept out by Kirkland after brushing off Kevin Kilbane's head, Ronaldo was free at the far post to nod home from close range.

Ronaldo made it 3-0 after 76 minutes with a goal as simple as it was special.Gerard Pique released Rooney down the left and his inch-perfect low cross was nonchalantly swept in by Ronaldo from eight yards.

United completed the scoring eight minutes from time when Paul Scholes found substitute Danny Simpson marauding down the right and the young full-back's cross was majestically headed in by Rooney on the edge of the six-yard box at the far post.

Wigan's best chance of the game came when United goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak produced a magnificent one-handed save to keep out Wigan substitute Luis Antonio Valencia's shot in the 66th minute.

Live Commentary

90
FULLTIME: MAN UNITED 4-0 WIGAN: A stunning second half display from United as they smash in four goals and could have got more had two penalties been awarded. It's also six clean sheets in a row as United sit top of the Premier League.

90
Danny Simpson charges into the area and is denied by Chris Kirkland on a tight angle when Wayne Rooney was waiting for a simple tap in.

88
Rio Ferdinand dives in to make a great block tackle and denies Paul Scharner a scoring chance as United look to keep a sixth straight clean sheet.

86
Wigan seem happy to play keep ball inside their own half as probably not to risk conceding any more goals.

84
It has been a stunning second half show from United and the threat that a team could be given a real hiding soon has been delivered against Wigan.

82
MAN UNITED 4-0 WIGAN: WAYNE ROONEY gets his name on the scoresheet as he is unmarked in the area to power in a lovely cross from Danny Simpson.

81
Carlos Tevez is taken off to huge applause after a great game with Luis Carlos Nani replacing him.

80
Carlos Tevez now bursts into the area from the right but his cross towards the back post can't be turned in by Wayne Rooney.

78
Cristiano Ronaldo should be celebrating his hat-trick now but he blazes his close-range effort from an angle high over the Wigan bar.

76
MAN UNITED 3-0 WIGAN: It's all over now as Wayne Rooney goes running down the left side of the area before laying a pass across for CRISTIANO RONALDO to simply side-foot in.

75
A decent passage of play by Wigan but Jason Koumas' effort is well over and fails to trouble Tomasz Kuszczak.

73
Cristiano Ronaldo is thwarted by Chris Kirkland in the Wigan box and the keeper does well to recover and deny Carlos Tevez from getting the follow up.

72
It is looking comfortable now for United and it could be a question of them going for more goals or settling for the two having won a lot of matches 1-0 recently.

70
Wigan are still operating with just Marcus Bent in attack which is surprising given that they are two-down with 20 minutes remaining.

68
Fitz Hall has taken a knock to his ankle and the game is held up while he tries to recover from it.

66
Luis Antonio Valencia almost scores with his first touch from an acute angle but Tomasz Kuszczak does well to push the shot away for a first Wigan corner which comes to nothing.

66
Another change for Wigan as Salomon Olembe makes way with Luis Antonio Valencia coming on to replace him.

65
Wayne Rooney gets down the right and chips the ball into the middle but Cristiano Ronaldo can't get any power on his header and Chris Kirkland gathers.

62
Michael Brown attempts to get Wigan back into the game but his effort from 30 yards does not trouble Tomasz Kuszczak.

60
Wayne Rooney gets in and looks like making it three but he is flagged offside and the resulting shot goes just wide of the far post.

59
MAN UNITED 2-0 WIGAN: Ryan Giggs' corner is knocked back out to him and his fierce drive is parried into the air by Chris Kirkland and CRISTIANO RONALDO is on hand to head home from close range.

57
Wigan go up the other end and Jason Koumas lets fly with an effort which is just wide of the United goal.

57
Patrice Evra goes falling to the ground in the area under a tackle from Paul Scharner but it looked like a slip and nothing is given.

54
MAN UNITED 1-0 WIGAN: A great break from United as Wayne Rooney gets Anderson going and he plays in CARLOS TEVEZ who holds off Kevin Kilbane before going round Chris Kirkland and firing the ball int the net.

52
Cristiano Ronaldo's cross into the Wigan area is knocked to Ryan Giggs on the edge of the box and his drive hits the bar and goes over the top.

51
Wigan make a change as Mario Melchiot limps off with a recurrence of a thigh problem to be replaced by Fitz Hall in defence.

50
Josip Skoko goes into the book for a lunging foul on Ryan Giggs.

49
Another corner conceded by Kevin Kilbane but Gerard Pique cannot connect with Ryan Giggs' cross and Carlos Tevez's shot is knocked behind for an 11th corner which again comes to nothing.

48
Another corner is wasted by United after it came courtesy of a great break involving Anderson, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez.

47
An early corner for United after Mario Melchiot got a tackle in on Wayne Rooney. Gerard Pique heads Ryan Giggs' cross down but Wigan hack it clear.

45
The second half is underway at Old Trafford with United looking to turn possession into goals while Wigan boss Chris Hutchings will want more of the same from his players.

45
HALF-TIME: MAN UNITED 0-0 WIGAN: A frustrating half for United who have dominated possession but failed to break down a well organised Wigan defence. The loss of Vidic and O'Shea to injuries have not helped their cause.

45
A good chance for Carlos Tevez as he picks up the ball in the box and gets in a shot which is deflected over the bar off Mario Melchiot but no corner is given.

45
Wayne Rooney picks up the ball on the edge of the area and tries to weave his way into the box but his eventual shot is blocked by Emmerson Boyce.

44
Titus Bramble concedes a seventh corner of the game but the ball into the area is again knocked clear of danger this time by Kevin Kilbane.

42
United continue to work the ball around the Wigan area but a cross into the area is just too high for Carlos Tevez to reach and get in a header.

40
Wigan will be delighted with this first half showing as they have looked fairly comfortable in thwarting United's attacks.

38
Cristiano Ronaldo makes room for himself and his stinging 30 yard drive is pushed round the post by Chris Kirkland.

37
Great defending from Patrice Evra as he recovers well to hack the ball away from Paul Scharner has he was about to shoot on goal in the United area.

36
Another penalty appeal as Patrice Evra goes down in the area after a tackle from Michael Brown but it would have been harsh to award it.

34
Wayne Rooney goes flying in for the ball and it deflects to Ryan Giggs on the left side of the area but his volley is comfortably gathered by Chris Kirkland.

32
Josip Skoko gets a great effort on target for Wigan from 25 yards but his dipping effort is easily heald by Tomasz Kuszczak.

31
A harsh yellow card for Wayne Rooney as he goes into a challenge with Titus Bramble even though it looked like he was trying to pull out of it.

30
John O'Shea is coming off and he will be replaced by young defender Danny Simpson.

29
United win a corner on the right and it's played in by Ryan Giggs but Cristiano Ronaldo heads over unmarked from six yards.

28
It is turning into a nightmare for United on the injury front as John O'Shea is holding his thigh and it looks like he will be coming off now.

26
United are back camped in the Wigan half again but the visitors are all back behind the ball and it's looking difficult to break them down.

24
Nothing to report on the football side as the past five minutes have been disrupted by injury problems and hold ups.

23
The play is again held up again as Patrice Evra has cracked his head going up for a challenge with Paul Scharner. He is okay after a moment and will carry on.

21
It's game over for Vidic who goes off down the tunnel so Luis de Abreu Anderson comes on to replace him with John O'Shea dropping into defence.

20
United have been down to ten men for a few minutes as the club officials and Nemanja Vidic debate whether he should come off or return to the game.

18
Nemanja Vidic is still troubled with that crack to his head earlier and is back on the sidelines. He might have to go off judging by the huge lump on his cheekbone.

16
United are buzzing around the edge of the Wigan area and secure a corner. However Nemanja Vidic's header from Ryan Giggs' kick is blocked.

15
Great play from Cristiano Ronaldo as he exchanges passes with Wayne Rooney but his intended ball into the area for Paul Scholes is too heavy and Chris Kirkland gathers.

13
Apart from one real chance United have not really gone close to scoring themselves, although they have dominated possession in the opening 10 minutes or so.

11
Wigan make their first real foray into the United half with Paul Scharner going down under a challenge from Nemnaja Vidic but it's a clean one.

9
Titus Bramble heads the ball back into the ams of Chris Kirkland as Paul Scholes tries an ambitious ball into the area.

7
United win two quick corners but Wigan manage to clear as the hosts are stepping up a notch here.

5
Nearly an opener here as Chris Kirkland is on hand to prevent Salomon Olembe's attempted clearance from a Carlos Tevez cross looping into the corner of the net. Michael Brown then lunges in on Cristiano Ronaldo in the area but no penalty is given.

4
Nemanja Vidic is on his feet and looks like he will be able to resume the game as the action continues at Old Trafford.

3
Nemanja Vidic is down holding his head after an aerial dual with Marcus Bent it looks a bit nasty but it was an accidental collision.

1
Wayne Rooney tries an early break on the Wigan goal but is yards offside as he picks up Rio Ferdinand's long ball.

0
We are up and running at Old Trafford as United look to continue their excellent recent run of form and clean sheets against a struggling Wigan side. Victory for Sir Alex Ferguson's men will put them top of the Premiership for 24 hours at least.

0
Wigan?s starting XI: Kirkland, Melchiot, Boyce, Bramble, Kilbane, Scharner, Brown, Skoko, Koumas, Olembe, Bent.

0
Wigan boss Chris Hutchings opts for Cameroon defender Salomon Olembe ahead of Julius Aghahowa as the Latics try to end a five-match losing streak against United. Marcus Bent starts up front alone as Antoine Sibierski and Emile Heskey are ruled out.

0
United?s starting XI: Kuszczak, Pique, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo, O'Shea, Scholes, Giggs, Rooney, Tevez.

0
John O?Shea moves into central midfield to partner Paul Scholes as Owen Hargreaves and Michael Carrick are both ruled out. Ryan Giggs and Carlos Tevez start in place of Louis Saha and Nani after starting on the bench for the Roma clash in midweek.

0
Sir Alex Ferguson hands Gerard Pique only his second start at right-back as Manchester United look to go top of he Premiership with a victory against Wigan at Old Trafford.

Statistics

Manchester United

Shots on target	12
Shots off target	4
Shots off bar/post	1
Fouls	12
Offsides	3
Corners	12

Wigan

Shots on target	2
Shots off target	4
Shots off bar/post	0
Fouls	6
Offsides	1
Corners	2

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