Boss Lauds On-song Strikers

Elated enough at a five-goal away victory, Sir Alex Ferguson took extra satisfaction from seeing all three of his senior strikers on the scoresheet in the Reds' romp at Wigan.

Wayne Rooney's brace, allied to strikes from Dimitar Berbatov, Michael Owen and Nani sealed a stunning victory over the Latics, and has the Reds' three most experienced forwards off and running for the season.

"Our strikers have scored the goals today, that's the important thing," Sir Alex told MUTV. "That can only do us the power of good, because you know what strikers are like - when they're not scoring they're not the same people.

"It's important for strikers (to be off the mark). If Dimitar and Michael can weigh in with the goals that we expect of Wayne Rooney, then it will make a difference to our game."Owen and Rooney had particular cause to celebrate their goals; the former registering his first goal in a United shirt, the latter reaching and passing a century - and Sir Alex was delighted for them both.

"It's terrific for a young lad like Wayne to reach that total at that age," he said. "With the years in front of him, it's going to be great for him. We've had players over the years who've taken many years to get to the hundred. For a young lad to do it, it's great.

"Michael's was a fantastic goal. Great run and excellent movement, and a good pass from Nani. Michael Owen has proved himself over the last 10 years to be the best goalscorer in England in that decade, today he showed that again.

"I think it will do him the world of good. Obviously coming to the club and after all the discussion around him joining United after being at Liverpool - it was important to get a goal like that, and the crowd were great with him and that was fantastic."

The United boss also reserved praise for a player at the opposite end of the pitch - goalkeeper Ben Foster, who made two crucial saves before the Reds had run up a huge lead.

"He made two great saves," said Sir Alex. "In the first half from Jason Koumas he made a marvellous save with his left hand. In the second half he was in a position where he had to be agile (to save Hugo Rodallega's header). He managed to knock it out of the way and get the second ball, which was a terrific save.

"Overall I thought they played very well. We had six good chances in the first half, and you'd like to take one or two of them, but the important thing was to be patient, and keep playing the way they were playing."