EPL Game 9 - Man Utd 4 : 0 Wigan Athletic

All these while as United were going through a slew of one-nil victories, lots of people were worried that sooner or later, they might lose they didn't improve. But I was one of those who begged to differ. Because United had not been playing badly at all. If anything, I guess they were struggling to find the right combination which is completely understandable as there have been new arrivals and injuries/suspensions. Yet they'd been failing to get to their top gear in scoring goals. Their form has gradually been improving ever since they lost the Manchester derby. And today's performance was a perfect testament to the fact that they are close to regaining their top form. Four-goal victories that had become their trademark last season, has begun to happen this season too! And it had to be Wigan, their favourite whipping boys, to start it all over again.

It's difficult to imagine that United had a poor first half in a match with such a score line. The fact of the matter is, United seemed to be struggling to come to their own in that half. It was a scary half for United to say the least. Injuries to Vidic and O'Shea, both of whom had to be substituted inside first 30 minutes. Pique and Evra also took nasty knocks as the half progressed. Suddenly things were starting to look worse. Wigan seemed to believe they could get some points at Old Trafford. There were hardly any meaningful chances created.

And how well United came back in the second half was something worth witnessing. After about 55 mins on the clock, United score through a wonderfully constructed goal. Rio to Rooney, Rooney to Anderson and then Anderson to Tevez, who dribbled past couple of defenders, the goal keeper and put the ball into the net past with 3 defenders in front of goal. That surely was a delightful goal. Tevez had been working so hard - running at just about everything, and that goal deserved to come off his foot. That goal seemed to have opened the flood gates for United. They doubled the score around 60th minute, with a well taken corner that lead to Giggs sending in a tricky cross which the Wigan keeper spurned only to gift a waiting Ronaldo an easy tap-in header. The third goal had bit of vision written over it in Pique's beautiful pass for Rooney who sent in a great cross, again to Ronaldo who made no fuss about the finish. That was followed by a much deserved goal for Rooney, when substitute right-back Danny Simpson waded through defenders to put through a neat cross for Rooney to put it into the back of the net.
The scoreline could have been even more embarrassing for Wigan, with multiple chances going begging towards the end. In the end, United were back to their goal-scoring best at Old Trafford. Considering that United had to start with O'Shea in the midfield and then had to re-align their defense with an untested pair of Pique and Simpson, the victory surely is bound to delight all the United fans. For me the biggest plus was the way Anderson filled into the mid-fielder's role. He looks very lively, with a lot of pace and he grabbed the opportunity with both hands. His performance surely has allayed fears about United having a weak midfield in the absence of Carrick and Hargreaves.
My Man err Men of the Match: Tevez, Rooney combined!