Match Review
Manchester United 3 v 1 Wigan Athletic, Old Trafford, 15.00 Tuesday 26th December 2006.
Ronaldo (47), (51), Solskjaer (59) - Baines (pen 90).
Attendance: 76,018.

The Reds took full advantage of Chelsea's slip-up earlier in the day as Wigan Athletic were torn apart by the latest instalment of the Ronaldo show. A brace from the white hot Portuguese star and a brilliant finish from 20LEGEND was enough for the Reds take full points, ensuring a four point gap at the summit of mount Premiership.

Scholes and Vidic were supposed to be suspended only for the paperwork to be held up due to the Football Association being closed for Christmas, sources close to RANT revealed! The suspensions will be carried over to the home game against Reading on Saturday.

SAF rested a host of players with Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand and Ryan Giggs having the day off. Ronaldo and Saha were on the bench while Park, Silvestre and Wesley Brown started. The latter exceptional in the right back role.

With so many changes many expected a tough game but it didn't take the new look Reds long before Chris Kirkland - unlike his former employer's fans - was more than adequately employed.

Ji Sung Park, starting on the left, missed by inches after only three minutes, with Wayne Rooney doing the same after excellent work from Wes Brown. Kirkland saved and then scooped the ball away much to Rooney's disbelief.

Rooney would again be foiled by Kirkland as Brown provided but the striker's shot was pushed onto the post. Darren Fletcher would be the next to impress as the Scot, enjoying his most prolific season as a Red, threaded a pass for Rooney only for the striker to find himself out of luck again as the ball beat Kirkland but slid inches wide.

0-0 at half-time but with Ronaldo on the pitch warming up it wasn't long before United took the lead.

United were awarded a corner and Scholes delivered well for Ronaldo, with his first touch, to hammer a header home. United then stretched their lead as Ji Sung Park was fouled in the box by Gary Teale. Up stepped Ronaldo to prove that, contrary to Old Trafford opinion, he is only human! His poor penalty was saved but with luck on his side the rebound made its way back to his feet where he slotted home.

United's third came after strong running from El Blanco Pele whose flick provided strike partner OGS a chance to slide home an angled shot. The victory allowed SAF the opportunity to rest Evra and Scholes, being replaced by Heinze and Richardson for the final period of the game.

Rooney would again be lucky after Ronaldo slid through only for the scouser to be denied by the crossbar.

The game ended with a usual Easter Island moment as Silvestre needlessly challenged David Wright in the area with the resulting Baines penalty converted with the last kick of the game.

Rant Ratings
(4-4-2): van der Sar (6); Brown (8), Vidic (6), Silvestre (5), Evra (8); Fletcher (8), Scholes (7), O'Shea (6), Park (8), Rooney (8), Solskjaer (6).
Subs: Ronaldo (9) for Fletcher (46 mins), Richardson () for Scholes (62 mins), Heinze (6) for Evra (70 mins).
Subs not used: Kusczak, Saha.

Rant's Man of the Match
Ronaldo came off the bench to score twice, which says it all. However, Wes Brown's delivery was exceptional and Ji Sung Park, Darren Fletcher and Wayne Rooney also played very well.

Rant's Reaction
United had to win, which was made even more important as Chelsea continue to play poorly. The Reds took full advantage of Chelsk's failure to play their get out of jail free card this week.

Was Rant's Prediction Right?
Woo Hoo!!!!!! We said 3-1. United Rant 5 v 24 Wrong Predictions.

Milestones
Cristiano Ronaldo's 27th and 28th Premiership goals of his United career - his 36th and 37th goal overall for the club
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's 89th Premiership goal of his United career - his 122nd goal overall
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is now ranked 15th All Time Top Goal Scorers list with 122 goals, surpassing Andrew Cole who had 121

Miscellaneous Info
United's next match is on Saturday 30th December 2006 at home to Reading in the Premiership with a 15.00 kick off.