MAN UTD 2 EVRA (45), HERNANDEZ (76) V. WIGAN 0
Credit: Manchester United Ltd (http://www.manutd.com)
20 NOVEMBER 2010, OLD TRAFFORD ATTENDANCE 74,181
Report by Ben Hibbs
United leapfrogged Arsenal and moved level on points with Chelsea at the top of the league after a comfortable, if unspectacular, victory over nine-man Wigan Athletic.
Patrice Evra put the Reds in front just before half-time after a first 45 minutes that hardly set pulses racing. But it was a rush of blood to the head for Antolin Alcaraz and Hugo Rodallega – both sent off within three second-half minutes – that ultimately sealed Wigan’s demise.
Substitute Javier Hernandez added a second with a little over ten minutes to go, but if there was to be one complaint on a relatively routine afternoon at Old Trafford, it was that the Reds didn’t make more of the numerical advantage for over half an hour of the game.
United were buoyed before kick-off by news of Tottenham Hotspurs’ dramatic, late 3-2 victory over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. The opportunity therefore presented itself to move above the second-placed Gunners, and later to go level on points with league leaders Chelsea, who lost at Birmingham.
Sir Alex recalled Wayne Rooney to his match squad for the first time in over a month, but the 25-year-old was named on the bench as he is being eased back into action. Instead the boss rewarded Federico Macheda, scorer of the goal the sparked the comeback at Villa Park last weekend, with a start. The Italian teenager’s credentials for a starting berth were enhanced with a midweek brace for his country’s Under-21s.
United’s seemingly first-choice back five of Edwin van der Sar, Rafael, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and Patrce Evra sat behind a midfield four of Nani, Darren Fletcher, Michael Carrick and Ji-sung Park, with Gabriel Obertan seeking to support Macheda in an advanced position.
The Reds made all the early running, a Nani free swirling in from the left and forcing Ali Al Habsi into an important save to prevent Vidic getting the decisive touch at the back post. Meanwhile, at the other end there was a few examples of the danger Wigan pose, particularly with pace on the break. Hugo Rodallega had a powerful run and shot that van der Sar saved comfortably, and later he sent an ambitious overhead kick high and wide.
Nani forced another good save from Al Habsi after 12 minutes when his dipping drive was tipped round the post for a corner. The Portuguese, along with Obertan, was United’s most dangerous attacking outlet, particularly from set-pieces. Sir Alex’s men mostly had Wigan pinned back in their defensive third, but despite a promising opening quarter of an hour, Wigan lived up to their name, with an athletic and physical approach that soon stifled United’s attacking intent.
Apart from a few half chances, United’s openings were few and far between in a largely disappointing first half, that was until right on the stroke of 45 minutes. Just as the home fans seemed to be losing patience with a distinct lack of penetration in attack, Park swung in a deep, inviting cross from the right, and Evra seemed to hang endlessly in the air before directing his header across Al Habsi and into the back of the net. It’s only the Frenchman’s third goal for United.
Rooney was introduced just before the hour mark in a double substitution with Paul Scholes, coming on for Macheda and Park. To those waiting to see the reception Rooney would receive on his return after the uncertainty over his future last month, it was largely positive, although the striker has openly confessed he may have to “rebuild the relationship” with some fans.
Within minutes of the change, Wigan were dealt a double blow when the visitors were shorn of their captain, Antolin, Alcaraz, who received his second yellow card for a late challenge on Fletcher. Then, just two minutes later, Rodallega was dismissed with a straight red card for a two-footed lunge on Rafael.
To be 1-0 behind and down to ten men at Old Trafford with half an hour to play almost deserves pity, but Sir Alex and the Stretford End, beckoning the team to attack, were unprepared to offer it. Opportunities like this to bolster the goals for column do not present themselves very often in a competitive league. Sir Alex duly responded by throwing on Javier Hernandez for Michael Carrick after 65 minutes.
Rooney barely saw the ball for his first seven minutes on the field, but gradually became more involved, and forced a save after 71 minutes from Al Habsi, directing a header goalwards from Rafael’s cross. With space to advance, Rafael was proving a useful outlet in attack, and so it was that one of his crosses that led to the Reds’ second goal, as Chicharito’s diving header on 77 minutes beat Al Habsi.
Nani and Chicharito couldn't get the all-important touch on another Rafael cross, Rooney missed a sitter and Evra fired wide as the Reds couldn't quite add some gloss to the scoreline. Nevertheless the Reds can be satisfied with the outcome of a potentially pivotal weekend in the title race.
Credit: Manchester United Ltd (http://www.manutd.com)
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