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Article by Mark Graham, Editor, Record Keeper & Official
Reporter @ MUFCINFO.COM
Manchester United with a game in hand moved two points clear
of Chelsea & one behind Liverpool in the Premiership League
table after Wayne Rooney's 1st minute goal was enough to
sneak all three points against Steve Bruce's Wigan Athletic
on Wednesday Night @ Old Trafford.
SAF gave starts to "fresh players" Rafael, Scholes, Carrick
& Nani with JOS & Evans more than adequately taking up the
defensive gaps left by Evra & Ferdinand.
With almost his 1st touch Rooney converted a Ronaldo cross
to apply immense pressure on Liverpool & Crazy Rafa.
The game came at cost for United as Wayne Rooney left the
field minutes after Ronaldo on the right was played in by
the usual class ball from Berbatov, after Ronaldo had
slipped in a low cross the England striker found the net for
the early lead before being replaced by Carlos Tevez with
only eight minutes gone.
On the Rooney
subject SAF said "With a hamstring you are looking at a
minimum of three weeks. "Hopefully it is not any longer, but
there is nothing you can do about it."
With United holding Wigan to very little in the way of
Goalscoring opportunities the game was uncomfortable to
watch as Carrick & Scholes were seemingly overrun in
midfield as the visitors enjoyed spells of possession.
Carlos Tevez almost made it 2-0 for United on 25 minutes but
after rounding Kirkland in the visitors goal a heavy touch
from the Argentine allowed Titus Bramble to clear danger.
Mario Melchiot did well to block a rare Paul Scholes shot &
after finding space in United's area Ryan Taylor
spectacularly splayed his shot wide shortly before a quite
lifeless 1st half came to a close with the only highlight
the all important possibly undeserving goal.
After the break
United worsened in the form stakes & the game turned uglier
to watch as sloppy United passing led to unnecessary
pressure & possession from Wigan who in fairness deserved
more.
Yellow cards were flashed by Steve Bennett after poor
tackles by Bramble and Scharner & Egyptian Striker Amr Zaki was
also booked as he was cautioned for
leaving the wall too early.
With the slim
lead of 1-0 Wigan then started to pressure United & a
nervous Old Trafford responded with the chant
"Attack-Attack..Attack-Attack-Attack as possession was being
squandered more often.
After gathering a Wigan attack from a routine throw, EVDS
almost caught himself up in an embarrassing mess as he tried
to emulate his outfield team mates in there surrendering the
ball, capitalizing on the error Maynor Figueroa's volley
forced the Dutchman into an easy save as Wigan warned the
Reds it wasn't over & this was indeed why the Latics were in
the middle of a decent run of form.
Potential United
target Antonio Valencia smashed a climbing powerful shot
above EVDS & United replied when Lee Cattermole could easily
have been adjudged to have handball in the penalty area from
Ronaldo's shot.
United saw
another close drive from Ronaldo before
Berbatov with the outside of his foot curled an effort
narrowly wide still leaving a slim 1-0 lead to the home
side.
The remaining
minutes were owned by Wigan with plenty of possession & a
glancing header going wide, but United hung on to take
another vitally important three points.
Also MUFC would like to thank Grant Thompson of Cockermouth,
Cumbria for the Stat of the Week
The Current Premiership League table reads------------
1st. Liverpool - LOST 1 Game
2nd. MUFC - LOST 2 Games
3rd. Chelsea - LOST 3 games
4th. Aston Villa - LOST 4 games
5th. Arsenal - LOST 5 games
6th. Everton - LOST 6 games
What's your
opinion?.....HAVE YOU'RE SAY BELOW |
Rooney (1 min).
