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Man Utd 3-1 Wigan | Man Utd 3-1 Wigan |
(20 minutes later) | |
Substitute Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice in four minutes as Manchester United extended their lead at the top of the Premiership to four points. | Substitute Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice in four minutes as Manchester United extended their lead at the top of the Premiership to four points. |
Ronaldo came on at the break and headed United in front with his first touch before scoring a rebound after Chris Kirkland parried his penalty. | Ronaldo came on at the break and headed United in front with his first touch before scoring a rebound after Chris Kirkland parried his penalty. |
The spot-kick was awarded after Gary Teale fouled Ji-Sung Park. | The spot-kick was awarded after Gary Teale fouled Ji-Sung Park. |
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer then finished with his right foot before Leighton Baines scored a late penalty for Wigan. | Ole Gunnar Solskjaer then finished with his right foot before Leighton Baines scored a late penalty for Wigan. |
United took to the field for the match shortly after rivals Chelsea had been held at home to Reading. | United took to the field for the match shortly after rivals Chelsea had been held at home to Reading. |
It was a very different United side to that which defeated Aston Villa on Saturday - with Ronaldo, Rio Ferdinand, Louis Saha, Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs either omitted completely or relegated to the bench. | It was a very different United side to that which defeated Aston Villa on Saturday - with Ronaldo, Rio Ferdinand, Louis Saha, Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs either omitted completely or relegated to the bench. |
606: DEBATE United still need another defensive midfielder but it's looking good for them PC 606: Have your say | 606: DEBATE United still need another defensive midfielder but it's looking good for them PC 606: Have your say |
Nonetheless, the home team set about their work with great intensity and were soon peppering Kirkland's goal. | Nonetheless, the home team set about their work with great intensity and were soon peppering Kirkland's goal. |
Park cut inside from the left flank and shot narrowly wide after three minutes, while Rooney came within inches of scoring shortly afterwards. | Park cut inside from the left flank and shot narrowly wide after three minutes, while Rooney came within inches of scoring shortly afterwards. |
The striker seemed certain to convert Wes Brown's low, powerful cross but the ball struck Kirkland and slowly dribbled goalwards. | The striker seemed certain to convert Wes Brown's low, powerful cross but the ball struck Kirkland and slowly dribbled goalwards. |
Kirkland scrambled after the ball and eventually cleared the danger while a disbelieving Rooney appealed in vain that it had crossed the line. | Kirkland scrambled after the ball and eventually cleared the danger while a disbelieving Rooney appealed in vain that it had crossed the line. |
The Latics keeper later saved from Mikael Silvestre and saw a Rooney strike flash just wide of his goal. | The Latics keeper later saved from Mikael Silvestre and saw a Rooney strike flash just wide of his goal. |
Rooney, who played with great conviction, collected a Darren Fletcher through ball just after the half-hour mark and shot across goal on the turn - his effort missing by inches. | Rooney, who played with great conviction, collected a Darren Fletcher through ball just after the half-hour mark and shot across goal on the turn - his effort missing by inches. |
But United's play had become increasingly fractured as Wigan did a reasonable job of stymieing their opponents - and the home crowd fell silent as the first half wore on. | But United's play had become increasingly fractured as Wigan did a reasonable job of stymieing their opponents - and the home crowd fell silent as the first half wore on. |
They almost had something to cheer just before the break but Kirkland held on to Solskjaer's diving header. | They almost had something to cheer just before the break but Kirkland held on to Solskjaer's diving header. |
Ferguson's decision to introduce Ronaldo for Fletcher paid dividends within two minutes of the restart when the Portugal international headed home Paul Scholes' corner. | Ferguson's decision to introduce Ronaldo for Fletcher paid dividends within two minutes of the restart when the Portugal international headed home Paul Scholes' corner. |
Ronaldo was left completely unmarked to score his ninth goal of the season. | Ronaldo was left completely unmarked to score his ninth goal of the season. |
And Ronaldo struck again four minutes later, stroking the ball home after Kirkland parried his initial penalty kick. | And Ronaldo struck again four minutes later, stroking the ball home after Kirkland parried his initial penalty kick. |
Teale, guilty of the crude hack that led to the penalty, was withdrawn minutes later as Old Trafford found its voice - the United supporters celebrating an extension of United's lead at the top of the Premiership. | Teale, guilty of the crude hack that led to the penalty, was withdrawn minutes later as Old Trafford found its voice - the United supporters celebrating an extension of United's lead at the top of the Premiership. |
Solskjaer latched on to a Rooney header and tucked the ball across goal and into the bottom corner to further add to the party atmosphere. | Solskjaer latched on to a Rooney header and tucked the ball across goal and into the bottom corner to further add to the party atmosphere. |
Matt Jackson almost pulled a goal back for Wigan but directed his header straight at Edwin van der Sar before the luckless Rooney hit the crossbar at the other end from 12 yards. | Matt Jackson almost pulled a goal back for Wigan but directed his header straight at Edwin van der Sar before the luckless Rooney hit the crossbar at the other end from 12 yards. |
Wigan scored their consolation goal with virtually the last kick of the game, Baines drilling his penalty down the middle of the goal after Silvestre had fouled David Wright. | Wigan scored their consolation goal with virtually the last kick of the game, Baines drilling his penalty down the middle of the goal after Silvestre had fouled David Wright. |
Man Utd: Van der Sar, Brown, Vidic, Silvestre, Evra (Heinze 70), Fletcher (Ronaldo 46), O'Shea, Scholes (Richardson 62), Park, Solskjaer, Rooney.Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Saha. | |
Goals: Ronaldo 47, 51, Solskjaer 59. | |
Wigan: Kirkland, Boyce, Jackson, Hall (Skoko 60), Baines,Teale (Cotterill 52), Johansson, Wright, Kilbane, Todorov,Heskey.Subs Not Used: Pollitt, Landzaat, Cywka. | |
Goals: Baines 90 pen. | |
Att: 76,018. | |
Ref: M Riley (W Yorkshire). |