Article by Mark Graham, Editor, Record Keeper & Official Reporter @ MUFCINFO.COM.

Rooney (56 mins), Berbatov (58 mins), Rooney (65 mins), Owen (85 mins), Nani (90+2 mins),

fa premiership, Matchday 03

DW Stadium, Wigan, 15.00pm GMT, Saturday 22nd August 2009.

Attendance: 18,164

 Match Review

After the disappointing result in midweek against Burnley, United destroyed Wigan helping themselves to 5 goals in the process.

A brace from Wayne Rooney coupled with Dimitar Berbatov, Michael Owen opening his goal account & a late free kick from Nani, brushed the home side away with devastating effect after the Latics resisted until the second half.

After several players who MUFCINFO.COM scored in our match report very low marks in the Wednesday night defeat, it was no surprise that SAF dropped many, making seven changes.

In came the brilliant Darren Fletcher, Nemanja Vidic made a return as well as starts for Paul Scholes, Nani, Antonio Valencia, Gary Neville & Dimitar Berbatov.

United found the going tough in the 1st half with Darren Fletcher taking control of midfield, seeing his team have plenty of the ball but no end product.

United almost took the lead instantly after Antonio Valencia, who was in for some firm treatment by his ex team mates, tackled Figueroa with the ball finding Wayne Rooney, Rooney fed Berbatov who linked play brilliantly holding off Scharner to play a ball into the path of Nani.

The Portuguese winger crossed for Darren Fletcher only for Titus Bramble to block Fletcher's shot on the line.

Paul Scholes then was then guilty of awful miss as he was teed up by combination of a an excellent pass by Fletcher followed by a  remarkable flick by Dimitar Berbatov, if Scholes had have indeed scored instead of blazing over, the goal may easily have been the goal of the season.

It was all United until a mistake by Gary Neville allowed Wigan to break in numbers & at high speed.

Neville's heavy touch allowed the ball to be directed to Rodallega who exchanged passes with Koumas and upon bearing on goal forced Ben Foster into a world class save as the England keeper parried the shot wide for a corner.

United kept on top as Jonny Evans set a long ball down field upon spotting Rooney's run into the Wigan area, the White Pele plucked Evans's pass out of the air & struck a firm shot at Kirkland which the Wigan keeper saved with his leg.

A clever Darren Fletcher pass sent Berbatov through on goal as United pressured Wigan, but a last ditch tackle by Titus Bramble foiled the Bulgarian at the last minute.

It has also to be said that Scholes can count himself lucky to be on the pitch after being booked for a rash tackle before in the build up to Fletchers pass to Berbatov, he then raise his arms & pushed Gomez in the face. (Lucky Boy!!!!)

United saw a second player receive a yellow when Patrice Evra scathed down Charles N'Zogbia & from Evra's unnecessary foul, Scharner almost scored with a header when he met the ball 1st, seeing his effort deflect of a team mate.

The half finished much like the midweek Burnley game with United dictating play & possession but with nothing to show for it in the goal column.

The deadlock was finally broken on 56 minutes when Antonio Valencia having earlier been booed & jeered be his ex adoring public, whipped in a cross for Wayne Rooney to nod home for his 100th Manchester United goal making him the 20th player to reach this milestone.

At 1-0 and the game far from over, United's keeper Ben Foster was forced into another excellent save when Rodallega met a Koumas cross with a looping header only to see Foster back pedalling on his line save brilliantly.

The lead was double when Nani, Rooney & Scholes combined to provide Berbatov with a chance, with still plenty of work to be done Berbatov ran onto Scholes's delicate chip & looped the ball over Kirkland before volleying his shot over the line despite the efforts of Figueroa.

Rooney later made it 3-0 after his shot deflected off Ex Chelsea defender Mario Melchiot wrong footing Chris Kirkland.

SAF then brought on Owen, O'Shea & Gibson to freshen thing up & Owen didn't take long before he was heavily involved.

A moment of drama before United increased their lead saw Vidic visibly smack Rodallega in the face and as the Columbian striker hit the ground as if a Sniper had shot him, it does in no way condone what Vidic did and the Serb can find himself very lucky to not take an early bath, however after realising he wasn't going to gain a penalty or any sort of advantage, Rodallega almost laid out referee Howard Webb with his elbow when he sought retribution on Vidic.

A handbags at 10 paces ensued before Howard Webb gained control of the situation using a display of strong refereeing.

Owen then opened his account after Berbatov had tracked back & won possession ala Carlos Tevez and upon finding Nani who impressed throughout, Owen peeled away from his marker before Nani slipped a pass to the left, leaving Owen to dink a perfect shot in off the post.  Take that LFC!!!!

United's last goal came after more graft from Berbatov who after out muscling Scharner was hauled down deep in injury time & the Wigan half, Nani stepped up to take the free kick & proceeded to beat a statuesque Kirkland as United routed the Latics.

Special Thanks to Scotch Davey for my Ticket & Niffy for sorting it out and a hello to...........

Niffy	Peter	Craig	Grant	Neal	Paul	Lee	Toddy	Kev	Ryan	Trevor	Steve
			Prison Issue Hammer Belts				high quality based Corn Snacks	Point me in the direction of the White Magnum
Tanner, Patty   Routledges Travel & Susan Graham, Jacko & Mr Murphy.

 Milestones

 MUFCINFO's MAN OF THE MATCH

Without the industry this performance wouldn't have been half as good, Darren Fletcher provided tackling, closing down, driving the team when collecting possession from Foster, excellent passing, narrowly missed out of scoring, a mature excellent midfield display.

 United's Next Match

Saturday 29th August 2009 v Arsenal (H) in the Premiership, Matchday 4 with a 17.30pm K.O. G.M.T.

Player Ratings

foster

8.5

NEVILLE

7

VIDIC

8

evans

7

evra

7

Valencia

7

fletcher

9

scholeS

7

nani

8

Berbatov

9

rooney
9

Subs Used

OWEN

7.5

for Rooney(71 mins)

o'shea

7

for Evans

(72 mins)

GIBSON

7

for Scholes

(72 mins)

 Subs not used

KUSZCZAK

GIGGS

WELBECK

FABIO