Wigan Athletic 1 v 3 Manchester United
14th October 2006
Wigan Athletic failed to put Manchester United to the sword, despite having a 1-0 advantage and having played the best football as they took their half time break. This defeat leaves the Blues in17th place in the Premiership, just one place above the relegation trap door.
Things could not have got off to a brighter start as Leighton Baines scored yet another wonder goal after just five minutes at a packed JJB Stadium. United defender, Patrice Evra, carelessly handled in a dangerous position and Baines struck the resultant 25 yard free kick past a stunned United defence. From that moment on, until the final 15 minutes of the first half, Latics tore into Manchester United at will with Henri Camara missing a couple of chances whilst England defender Rio Ferdinand had to resort to fouling Emile Heskey to keep the live wire forward from causing United even more damage. However, the League leaders gradually began to string their passes together and had the rub of the green as Latics started to falter and lose advantage of the ball far too easily as the half wore on.
In an attempt to counter these problems manager Paul Jewell reverted to a 4-5-1 formation in the 30th minute, dropping Camara into midfield and this unfamiliar formation worked more against Latics than for them. Both Wayne Rooney and Ole Gunnar Solskjear wasted opportunities to draw United level before the break and Latics went in for their half time break with a sense of relief.
Sir Alex Ferguson must have dusted off the famous 'hair dryer' during the interval break, because United started the second half like a whirlwind. Wes Brown had been replaced by Ryan Giggs and the Welshman was desperately unlucky not to bring United level in the 47th minute.
In the 56th minute the normally reliable Arjan De Zeeuw failed to pick up Luis Saha on the edge of the box, but fortunately for the Blues the Frenchman hit his shot just wide. Three minutes later, Lee McCulloch replaced Camara who was looking very short of confidence during the United onslaught and soon enough United were indeed level.
From a corner conceded by Baines in the 62nd minute, Nemanja Vidic climbed highest in a packed Latics penalty area and headed the ball past Chris Kirkland to send the United fans wild, whilst the Blue three quarters of the stadium hung their heads in despair. The goal had been coming and they knew it.
The Red Devils now had their tails up and it came as no surprise when they snatched the lead in the 66th minute, Luis Saha latching onto a Rooney cross and drilling the ball into the Latics net. There were shades of Cardiff all over again as everyone in Blue, including the team, feared a very harsh drubbing.
Latics had no option but to replace the ineffective Gary Teale and Kevin Kilbane for Antonio Luis Valencia and Svetoslav Todorov as they tried desperately to claw something back from the game. But the closest they came to an equaliser was a Lee McCulloch shot that Edwin Van Der Sar dealt with comfortably in the 73rd minute.
Latics just could not get hold of the ball long enough to nullify the United team, all of whom were passing the ball beautifully all over the park. Goal shy Rooney even had two attempts on goal and in the 86th minute Saha should have scored United's third. As it was that honour went to Solskjear who scored with virtually the last kick of the match.
Latics looked a well beaten team as the final whistle sounded and it looks like the winter months are going to be long and hard as Latics attempt to stay in the Premiership.
WIGAN ATHLETIC, Chris Kirkland, Emmerson Boyce, Arjan De Zeeuw, Fitz Hall, Leighton Baines, Gary Teale, (Luis Antonio Valencia 69), Paul Scharner, Denny Landzaat, Kevin Kilbane, (Svetoslav Todorov 69), Emile Heskey, Henri Camara, (Lee McCulloch 60). Subs not used, Mike Pollitt, Matt Jackson.
Goalscorer, Leighton Baines 5mins
MANCHESTER UNITED, Edwin Van Der Sar, Wes Brown, (Ryan Giggs 46), Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra, Michael Carrick, John O'Shea, Paul Scholes, Wayne Rooney, Luis Saha, Ole Gunnar Solskjear. Subs not used, Tomasz Kuszczak, David Jones, Kieran Richardson, Alan Smith.
Goalscorers, Nemanja Vidic 62 mins, Luis Saha 66 mins, Ole Gunnar Solskjear 90 mins
Booked, Rio Ferdinand 28 mins, John O'Shea 40 mins
Referee, Steve Bennett (Kent)
Attendance, 20,631
Wigan Athletic failed to put Manchester United to the sword, despite having a 1-0 advantage and having played the best football as they took their half time break. This defeat leaves the Blues in17th place in the Premiership, just one place above the relegation trap door.
Things could not have got off to a brighter start as Leighton Baines scored yet another wonder goal after just five minutes at a packed JJB Stadium. United defender, Patrice Evra, carelessly handled in a dangerous position and Baines struck the resultant 25 yard free kick past a stunned United defence. From that moment on, until the final 15 minutes of the first half, Latics tore into Manchester United at will with Henri Camara missing a couple of chances whilst England defender Rio Ferdinand had to resort to fouling Emile Heskey to keep the live wire forward from causing United even more damage. However, the League leaders gradually began to string their passes together and had the rub of the green as Latics started to falter and lose advantage of the ball far too easily as the half wore on.
In an attempt to counter these problems manager Paul Jewell reverted to a 4-5-1 formation in the 30th minute, dropping Camara into midfield and this unfamiliar formation worked more against Latics than for them. Both Wayne Rooney and Ole Gunnar Solskjear wasted opportunities to draw United level before the break and Latics went in for their half time break with a sense of relief.
Sir Alex Ferguson must have dusted off the famous 'hair dryer' during the interval break, because United started the second half like a whirlwind. Wes Brown had been replaced by Ryan Giggs and the Welshman was desperately unlucky not to bring United level in the 47th minute.
In the 56th minute the normally reliable Arjan De Zeeuw failed to pick up Luis Saha on the edge of the box, but fortunately for the Blues the Frenchman hit his shot just wide. Three minutes later, Lee McCulloch replaced Camara who was looking very short of confidence during the United onslaught and soon enough United were indeed level.
From a corner conceded by Baines in the 62nd minute, Nemanja Vidic climbed highest in a packed Latics penalty area and headed the ball past Chris Kirkland to send the United fans wild, whilst the Blue three quarters of the stadium hung their heads in despair. The goal had been coming and they knew it.
The Red Devils now had their tails up and it came as no surprise when they snatched the lead in the 66th minute, Luis Saha latching onto a Rooney cross and drilling the ball into the Latics net. There were shades of Cardiff all over again as everyone in Blue, including the team, feared a very harsh drubbing.
Latics had no option but to replace the ineffective Gary Teale and Kevin Kilbane for Antonio Luis Valencia and Svetoslav Todorov as they tried desperately to claw something back from the game. But the closest they came to an equaliser was a Lee McCulloch shot that Edwin Van Der Sar dealt with comfortably in the 73rd minute.
Latics just could not get hold of the ball long enough to nullify the United team, all of whom were passing the ball beautifully all over the park. Goal shy Rooney even had two attempts on goal and in the 86th minute Saha should have scored United's third. As it was that honour went to Solskjear who scored with virtually the last kick of the match.
Latics looked a well beaten team as the final whistle sounded and it looks like the winter months are going to be long and hard as Latics attempt to stay in the Premiership.
WIGAN ATHLETIC, Chris Kirkland, Emmerson Boyce, Arjan De Zeeuw, Fitz Hall, Leighton Baines, Gary Teale, (Luis Antonio Valencia 69), Paul Scharner, Denny Landzaat, Kevin Kilbane, (Svetoslav Todorov 69), Emile Heskey, Henri Camara, (Lee McCulloch 60). Subs not used, Mike Pollitt, Matt Jackson.
Goalscorer, Leighton Baines 5mins
MANCHESTER UNITED, Edwin Van Der Sar, Wes Brown, (Ryan Giggs 46), Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra, Michael Carrick, John O'Shea, Paul Scholes, Wayne Rooney, Luis Saha, Ole Gunnar Solskjear. Subs not used, Tomasz Kuszczak, David Jones, Kieran Richardson, Alan Smith.
Goalscorers, Nemanja Vidic 62 mins, Luis Saha 66 mins, Ole Gunnar Solskjear 90 mins
Booked, Rio Ferdinand 28 mins, John O'Shea 40 mins
Referee, Steve Bennett (Kent)
Attendance, 20,631
Labels: Wigan vrs United
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