Wigan 0 Man United 5 Rooney (56, 67), Berbatov (63), Owen (86), Nani (93)
United returned to winning ways in style as Wayne Rooney reached and embellished a century of United goals, while Dimitar Berbatov, Michael Owen - with his maiden Reds strike - and Nani sealed a handsome victory at the DW Stadium.An end-to-end first half failed to yield any goals, but a glut of second half goals sealed a 10th successive victory over Wigan - with the undoubted highlight coming as substitute Owen got off the mark with a sublime finish as United reacted positively to Wednesday's embarrassing defeat at Burnley.After the lacklustre reverse at Turf Moor, Sir Alex Ferguson sought to freshen his side with seven changes of personnel, drafting in Gary Neville and Nemanja Vidic for their first appearances of the season, and putting together a completely new midfield four of Nani, Darren Fletcher, Paul Scholes and former Latic Antonio Valencia. Berbatov replaced Owen as Rooney’s strike partner.
It immediately became apparent that there was more zip and purpose in United than there had been at Turf Moor. Only an heroic goal-line block from Titus Bramble prevented Darren Fletcher from turning home Nani’s neat pull-back after just four minutes.
It took only another four minutes for another good opening to come and go. Fletcher was again involved, slipping the ball through for Berbatov, and the Bulgarian instantly teed up Scholes with a delightful back-heel, only for the veteran midfielder to fire over from just inside the area.
Rooney then chanced his arm twice in a minute, hitting the target with one while the other was deflected wide, but Wigan grew in stature as the half reached its midway point. Vidic and Patrice Evra had to be alert to make blocks deep inside their own box, and Ben Foster was forced into a full-length diving save from a curling Jason Koumas effort.
A long ball from Jonny Evans released Rooney through the centre, but his powerful low shot was well saved by Chris Kirkland. Although there was far greater menace in United than there had been three days earlier, the failing was the same – profligacy in front of goal.Bramble performed more heroics in the latter stages of the half, deflecting a Rooney effort wide and making a superb challenge to rob Berbatov, ensuring that an entertaining first half had ended goalless. Within 15 minutes of the restart, however, the game was buried.Valencia, whose reception from his former fans had switched from respectful applause to ceaseless catcalls after a clash with Maynor Figueroa, played a huge part. The Ecuadorian steered a superb cross into the box, where Rooney was waiting to powerfully head United into the lead.Relief reigned for the 5,000 jubilant travelling supporters, who were quickly cheering events at the opposite end as Foster made a superb back-pedalling save from Hugo Rodallega's looping header. It proved a pivotal moment, as United's lead was doubled within a minute.Neat interplay ended with Scholes lobbing a delightful ball over Wigan's backline for Berbatov, who craftily nicked the ball over Kirkland and completed the finish from close range. The contest seemed over, and three points were sealed by United's third goal on 65 minutes.Another wave of United attack culminated in Rooney picking the ball up on the left edge of opening, but required a large slice of fortune as his shot took a heavy deflection off Mario Melchiot and spun inside Kirkland's near post.Game safe, Sir Alex opted to ring the changes again - sending on Owen, Darron Gibson and John O'Shea for Rooney, Scholes and Jonny Evans - and with four minutes remaining Owen notched his first United goal in style. The England international raced onto Nani's through-ball and sent an unerring left-footed effort in off Kirkland's far post.United's delighted away support hailed their new hero with some gentle ribbing about his affiliation with former club Liverpool, and the upbeat mood was further lifted in injury-time as Nani, a pest all afternoon for the hosts, curled a 25-yard free kick over the wall and past the motionless Kirkland.
United returned to winning ways in style as Wayne Rooney reached and embellished a century of United goals, while Dimitar Berbatov, Michael Owen - with his maiden Reds strike - and Nani sealed a handsome victory at the DW Stadium.An end-to-end first half failed to yield any goals, but a glut of second half goals sealed a 10th successive victory over Wigan - with the undoubted highlight coming as substitute Owen got off the mark with a sublime finish as United reacted positively to Wednesday's embarrassing defeat at Burnley.After the lacklustre reverse at Turf Moor, Sir Alex Ferguson sought to freshen his side with seven changes of personnel, drafting in Gary Neville and Nemanja Vidic for their first appearances of the season, and putting together a completely new midfield four of Nani, Darren Fletcher, Paul Scholes and former Latic Antonio Valencia. Berbatov replaced Owen as Rooney’s strike partner.
It immediately became apparent that there was more zip and purpose in United than there had been at Turf Moor. Only an heroic goal-line block from Titus Bramble prevented Darren Fletcher from turning home Nani’s neat pull-back after just four minutes.
It took only another four minutes for another good opening to come and go. Fletcher was again involved, slipping the ball through for Berbatov, and the Bulgarian instantly teed up Scholes with a delightful back-heel, only for the veteran midfielder to fire over from just inside the area.
Rooney then chanced his arm twice in a minute, hitting the target with one while the other was deflected wide, but Wigan grew in stature as the half reached its midway point. Vidic and Patrice Evra had to be alert to make blocks deep inside their own box, and Ben Foster was forced into a full-length diving save from a curling Jason Koumas effort.
A long ball from Jonny Evans released Rooney through the centre, but his powerful low shot was well saved by Chris Kirkland. Although there was far greater menace in United than there had been three days earlier, the failing was the same – profligacy in front of goal.Bramble performed more heroics in the latter stages of the half, deflecting a Rooney effort wide and making a superb challenge to rob Berbatov, ensuring that an entertaining first half had ended goalless. Within 15 minutes of the restart, however, the game was buried.Valencia, whose reception from his former fans had switched from respectful applause to ceaseless catcalls after a clash with Maynor Figueroa, played a huge part. The Ecuadorian steered a superb cross into the box, where Rooney was waiting to powerfully head United into the lead.Relief reigned for the 5,000 jubilant travelling supporters, who were quickly cheering events at the opposite end as Foster made a superb back-pedalling save from Hugo Rodallega's looping header. It proved a pivotal moment, as United's lead was doubled within a minute.Neat interplay ended with Scholes lobbing a delightful ball over Wigan's backline for Berbatov, who craftily nicked the ball over Kirkland and completed the finish from close range. The contest seemed over, and three points were sealed by United's third goal on 65 minutes.Another wave of United attack culminated in Rooney picking the ball up on the left edge of opening, but required a large slice of fortune as his shot took a heavy deflection off Mario Melchiot and spun inside Kirkland's near post.Game safe, Sir Alex opted to ring the changes again - sending on Owen, Darron Gibson and John O'Shea for Rooney, Scholes and Jonny Evans - and with four minutes remaining Owen notched his first United goal in style. The England international raced onto Nani's through-ball and sent an unerring left-footed effort in off Kirkland's far post.United's delighted away support hailed their new hero with some gentle ribbing about his affiliation with former club Liverpool, and the upbeat mood was further lifted in injury-time as Nani, a pest all afternoon for the hosts, curled a 25-yard free kick over the wall and past the motionless Kirkland.
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