Match Day 4: Manchester United vs Wigan Athletic

When : 15-09-2012, Saturday

What : Manchester United vs Wigan Athletic

Where : Old Trafford

Attendance: 75,142

Referee: Michael Oliver

Result : Manchester United 4 - 0 Wigan

Scorers: Manchester United:  Paul Scholes - 51st  Minute  (Assist : Nani)

                                    Hernandez - 63rd Minute (Assist: Buttner)                                                                             Buttner - 66th Minute  (Assist:   )

 Powell - 82nd Minute (Assist: Hernandez)

The premier league action was back after the international break. Wigan travelled to Old Trafford to take on Manchester United. It was a match of landmarks for Manchester United as Paul Scholes was making his 700th appearance for the Red Devils. The other legend Ryan Giggs was making his 600th Premier league appearance and Rio Ferdinand was making his 400th appearance for the club. It was also Sir Alex Ferguson' s 500th EPL game as manager at Old Trafford. Anders Lindergaard started between the posts for United. Vidic and Rio partnership was intact from the last game and Rafael was at RB. Alexander Buttner made his debut for United, starting at LB in the place of Evra. Giggs was handed his first start of the season playing on the left of a midfield that had Scholes and Carrick in the centre and Nani on the right. Hernandez was also given his first start of the season alongside Danny Wellback. 

United started on the front foot right from Kick off and had a penalty as early as the 3rd Minute of the match. Danny Wellback charged into the box and when Al Habsi came charging out to get the ball, Wellback went down under the challenge and the referee pointed to the spot. The replays were inconclusive about whether Habsi made contact with Wellback. Hernandez stepped up to take the penalty and his low shot to the right was blocked by Habsi. United continued to apply pressure and Wellback volleyed a measured lob from Nani that just missed the target. Wellback had another shot deflected wide by Gary Caldwell. Wigan tried to play on the counter and had their chance when a counter attack led to Beausejour floating a cross into the box but Kone was put off by the deflection from Rio's foot and ended hitting the side netting. The scores were level at half time and there were a few doubters popping up their heads in the crowd. 

Wigan started off the second half well with Kone heading the ball just over the bar. But it was United who seized the initiative. Carrick split the Wigan defence with a brilliant pass to Nani who selfishly took a shot at goal. Al Habsi deflected the shot but ended up pushing it back into the box, and Scholes tapped the ball in to the net for his 155th United goal. It was one of those runs that Scholes is so brilliant at. Having taken the lead United looked sharper and did not take much time to extend their lead. Buttner, who was playing in place of Evra looked sharp all through the evening and when he had a misdirected shot at goal, Hernandez was on the spot to turn it into the net. Two minutes later Buttner made his debut match even memorable. He went on a brilliant run and beat two players before shooting from a tight angle and the ball deflected of Al habsi into the net and Buttner had his first goal for Manchester United.  

United's old guard Giggs and Scholes delivered yet again and were substituted. Van Persie was brought on for Scholes and Nick Powell replaced Giggs for his first premier league match for the Red Devils. 5 minutes later Vidic was replaced by Evans making a comeback from injury. United were not done though. Hernandez held the ball up and passed it into the path of Powell, who side stepped a Wigan player and  unleashed a shot from outside the 18 yard box to score his first goal for Manchester United and announce himself to the Old Trafford faithful. 

United ran the clock down and in the end had three points from a very comfortable outing against a Wigan side who barely looked threatening.The afternoon was marred by anti Liverpool chants from a very small section of the crowd. With the Hillsborough report made public and the much anticipated Liverpool United clash coming Sunday, the chants would have left  the administrators a bit worried. 

                                             Man Of The Match: Paul Scholes

Next Fixture: UEFA Champions League Match day 1

Manchester United  vs Galatasaray 

When : 19-09-12

Where : Old Trafford

Sources:guardian.co.uk/football

football365.com