Weakened Wigan Thrashed By Ruthless Red Devils

United moved to the top of the Barclays Premier League with an emphatic, irresistable second half display against Wigan Athletic.

Goals from Carlos Tevez, Cristiano Ronaldo (2) and Wayne Rooney after the break brushed off the physical challenge posed by Chris Hutchings' Latics.

United lost Nemanja Vidic and John O'Shea to injuries - concussion and a dead leg respectively - in a bruising first 45 minutes, while Louis Saha was a late withdrawal from the squad after injuring himself in the warm-up.

A patched-up Reds defence saw Gerard Pique and Danny Simpson included alongside Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra, and the two youngster turned in outstanding performances.

They were rarely tested sternly by a Wigan side intent on containing United, a gameplan which worked for the first 45 minutes as the visitors managed to keep the Reds largely at arm's length.

Visiting goalkeeper Chris Kirkland was only required to be at his best once in the first half, and that came in clawing away a header from his own defender, Salomon Olembe, who inadvertently diverted Carlos Tevez’s cross goalwards.

In the ensuing melee, Ronaldo was denied a strong shout for a penalty, as he was seemingly wrestled to the ground by Michael Brown. Referee Mike Riley quickly waved away the claims, however, much to the chagrin of the Portuguese winger.

After 20 minutes Nemanja Vidic, who had earlier been dazed by a clash with Marcus Bent, needed to leave the field of play. After a lengthy touchline discussion with Sir Alex, Carlos Queiroz and club Doctor Steve McNally, the Serbian was eventually replaced by Anderson, who put in a highly promising show.

John O’Shea took the Vidic's place at centre-back, but the big Irishman was one of three defenders to take a knock in the next few minutes. Patrice Evra took a kick to the face, Pique was limping heavily after having his foot trodden on, while O’Shea had to be replaced by Danny Simpson, after picking up a dead leg.

United then had another decent shout for a penalty, with Brown again involved. The former Fulham midfielder appeared to block Evra’s run into a crowded area, but again the Reds’ appeals were in vain.

Ronaldo saw a long-range shot palmed away by Kirkland, but United found clear chances hard to come by, until the final five minutes of the half. First Rooney saw his shot blocked after a winding run, then Tevez fired over after a superb flowing move.

The second half began as the first had ended - with United well on top. Only the woodwork prevented the hosts from taking the lead, when Giggs volleyed Ronaldo’s half-cleared cross against the crossbar.

Moments later, United finally took the lead. Rio Ferdinand carried the ball out of defence and fed Rooney, whose superb clipped pass freed Anderson.

The Brazilian slipped the ball in turn to Tevez, who calmly held off the attentions of Kilbane and Bramble, circumnavigated Kirkland and lashed home a left-footed shot.

Almost immediately Wigan survived another strong penalty claim, as Scharner slipped and took Evra down with him, before Koumas almost produced an equaliser out of nothing, firing just past the post with a long-range effort.

That close-call with parity was long forgotten after 59 minutes when United doubled their lead. Giggs’ cross was headed towards his own goal by Kilbane and, although Kirkland brilliantly kept the ball out, Ronaldo was on hand to head home the rebound.

The two-goal deficit prompted Latics manager Chris Hutchings to introduce Antonio Valencia, and the substitute almost pulled a goal back with his first touch. It took a fine reaction stop from Kuszczak to keep out the Ecuadorian’s fierce shot, as the Pole sought to prolong United’s long run of league clean sheets.

At the other end, only a saving interception from Kilbane stopped Ronaldo from poking home his second, while Kirkland was alert enough to clutch the loose ball before Tevez could double his own tally.

A third goal was forthcoming shortly afterwards, and it was Ronaldo who was on hand to give United added breathing space. Anderson nicked the ball off the toes of Brown, and Pique strode onto the loose ball before releasing Rooney down the left wing.

The England striker slid an inch-perfect ball into the box, and Ronaldo was on hand to apply an emphatic finish.

Three should have been four straight away but Ronaldo, released by a brilliant pass from Anderson, blazed over the bar from close range when Tevez was an unmarked option in the centre. Wigan were comfortably beaten, offering little by way of resistance to United’s incisive attacking play, and it was no surprise when a fourth goal came.

Simpson was released on the right, and the young full-back swung a teasing cross onto the head of Rooney, who powered the ball into Kirkland’s top corner and registered his second goal in successive games, following Tuesday’s strike against Roma.

Substitute Nani spurned the chance to add a fifth, just mis-timing his pass to release Ronaldo, while Simpson was denied a first senior goal by Kirkland's legs.

But four was enough for United, particularly after a period in which goals had been at such a premium. They would come, Sir Alex had assured the media before the Latics' short trip across the North-West, and he was spectacularly validated.

The dam was always going to burst, and in the end it was Wigan who were left torn to shreds as the tension of United's goal-shy start to the season - and a frustrating first 45 minutes against the Latics - was finally released.

Team line-ups

Manchester United: Kuszczak; Pique, Ferdinand, Vidic (Anderson, 21), Evra; Ronaldo, Scholes, O’Shea (Simpson, 28), Giggs; Rooney, Tevez (Nani, 80)

Subs not used: Heaton, Eagles.

Wigan Athletic: Kirkland; Melchiot (Hall, 51), Boyce, Bramble, Kilbane; Skoko, Brown, Koumas, Scharner, Olembe Valencia, 66), Bent.

Subs not used: Pollitt, Landzaat, Aghahowa.

Attendance: 75,300.

Sir Alex Hopeful On Injuries

Sir Alex Ferguson has indicated that United’s injury situation may not be as bad as first feared despite losing Nemanja Vidic, John O’Shea and Louis Saha through injury against Wigan.

Saha aggravated his knee in the warm-up and was forced to withdraw from the squad after initially being down as a substitute.

Vidic lasted 21 minutes before being replaced by Anderson after receiving a bang to the head, while O’Shea, who temporarily took Vidic’s position in the centre of defence, left the fray eight minutes later with a dead leg.

The additions of Saha, Vidic and O’Shea to United’s seemingly ever-growing injury list, means there are now enough players in the stands to field a complete side. But with the international break now upon us, Sir Alex is hopeful things will be looking up when domestic action resumes on 20 October.

“Louis felt his knee in the warm-up and in Louis’ situation we had to withdraw him unfortunately,” the boss revealed on MUTV.

“Nemanja’s been taken to hospital and he has concussion so they’re giving him some tests. John O’Shea has just got a dead leg. He’ll be OK in a couple of weeks I’m sure.”

The United manager also revealed that both Darren Fletcher and Owen Hargreaves are making good progress with their recovery from leg and knee injuries respectively.

“Hopefully Darren will be back soon,” said Sir Alex. “He starts full training on Monday which is good news.

“I hope Owen Hargreaves will be available in two or three weeks time as well.”

Cristiano Ronaldo, who took an elbow in the eye against Roma in midweek, starts for United

Wigan's Josip Skoko keeps a close eye on Carlos Tevez as the Latics defend doggedly in the opening stages at Old Trafford

United suffer a setback when Nemanja Vidic is forced to come off after a 20th-minute clash of heads with Marcus Bent

The deadlock is broken nine minutes into the second half, when Tevez rounds goalkeeper Chris Kirkland to score

United then completely overwhelm the Latics and Ronaldo heads home their second goal

Worse follows for Wigan when Wayne Rooney finds space on the left and crosses for Ronaldo to make it 3-0

And Rooney completes a resounding United victory by heading in substitute Danny Simpson's right-wing cross