Wigan just could not cope with Wayne Rooney's movement and touch in attack
By Sam Lyon
Manchester United moved back to within two points of league leaders Chelsea with a processional win over Wigan.
Wayne Rooney got the ball rolling with a clipped finish from Rafael da Silva's cross, before Michael Carrick swept in.
Rafael bagged a third before half-time with a left-footed shot and Dimitar Berbatov tapped in after the break.
Antonio Valencia rounded off a terrific display with a fine chipped fifth and, in truth, it could have been more as relegation candidates Wigan crumbled.
Defeat leaves the Latics only a point off the drop zone and their recent run of one win in nine matches has left Roberto Martinez's side nervously looking over their shoulder at the bottom three.
A woeful night out was made all the worse by an injury to keeper Chris Kirkland that meant he had to be withdrawn at half time.
United have won all 10 previous matches against Wigan, and the visitors' performance bore all the hallmarks of a side resigned to defeat before they had even kicked off.
It was barely a month ago that Wigan went down 9-1 at Tottenham - and if it were not for good fortune they might have suffered a similar fate at Old Trafford.
The Latics failed to put pressure on the ball, allowing the home midfield the freedom of the pitch, and with Rooney dropping deep to cause problems at every given opportunity United were able to create goalscoring opportunities at will.
But, as bad as the visitors were, the hosts were good.
Darren Fletcher patrolled the midfield with purpose, Carrick picked passes for fun, Valencia was a constant nuisance down the right-hand side, while Rooney's performance will cause the Wigan defence nightmares for months.
United could have been two or three to the good before Rooney broke the deadlock on 28 minutes.
Dimitar Berbatov had claims for a penalty turned down after going down under Titus Bramble's challenge, Rooney forced Chris Kirkland to tip round the post from 25 yards, Nemanja Vidic had an effort cleared off the line by Paul Sharner, and Rooney - again - curled onto the far post after dancing round Maynor Figueroa on the byline.
Rooney opened the scoring with the deftest of final touches, clipping in Rafael's cross from six yards out.
Carrick doubled that lead minutes later when he swept home Valencia's cut-back, and Rafael made it three before half-time when his left-foot shot from the edge of the squeezed home to give him his first goal at Old Trafford.
The second half was always going to be a case of damage limitation for Wigan - but they fell well short of that.
Berbatov ensured little momentum was lost when he poked home the fourth five minutes after the restart after more good work from Valencia, and the Bulgarian very nearly laid on a fifth soon after when his cross was headed against the bar by Rooney.
Despite being almost totally outplayed, Wigan did occasionally string a move together that ensured the United defence was not completely redundant, and Charles N'Zogbia missed a great chance to reduce the deficit when Won-Hee Cho's pass set him free in the box only for the winger to drift his shot wide, while Hugo Rodallega headed straight at Tomasz Kuszczak from six yards out.
However, they were only brief forays into the opposition half and former Latic Valencia soon added United's fifth of the night, running on to Rooney's slide-rule pass to chip over substitute keeper Mike Pollitt and into the far corner.
There was still time for Anderson to drill over and Pollitt to save well when Emmerson Boyce almost deflected a sixth into his own net, but United happily settled for a second 5-0 defeat of Wigan this season - a win that takes their goal difference to +27, two less than Chelsea.
90:00+2:50 Foul by Rafael Da Silva on Scott Sinclair, free kick awarded. Maynor Figueroa takes the free kick.
90:00+2:36 Antonio Valencia delivers the ball, clearance by Erik Edman.
90:00+0:32 Oliveira Anderson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Erik Edman. Maynor Figueroa takes the free kick.
88:52 The ball is sent over by Maynor Figueroa, clearance made by Fabio Da Silva. Corner taken by Scott Sinclair from the right
by-line to the near post, Darren Fletcher makes a clearance. Shot from just outside the box by Erik Edman misses to the left
of the target.
88:20 Won-Hee Cho fouled by Wes Brown, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Mario Melchiot.
87:18 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Erik Edman by Danny Welbeck. Direct free kick taken by Maynor Figueroa.
86:41 The ball is delivered by Darren Fletcher, Titus Bramble manages to make a clearance.
Correction - 86:04 Effort on goal by Oliveira Anderson from a long way out goes over the bar.
86:04 Shot by Oliveira Anderson from a long way out goes over the crossbar.
85:40 Danny Welbeck takes a shot. Titus Bramble gets a block in.
85:16 Michael Carrick produces a cross, Maynor Figueroa manages to make a clearance.
84:41 A cross is delivered by Darren Fletcher. Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Antonio Valencia, clearance made by Paul
Scharner.
83:44 The ball is sent over by Oliveira Anderson.
83:18 Corner taken by Oliveira Anderson from the right by-line, Emmerson Boyce makes a clearance.
82:56 Short corner taken by Antonio Valencia.
81:43 Maynor Figueroa concedes a free kick for a foul on Wayne Rooney. Shot on goal comes in from Wayne Rooney from the free kick.
80:35 Wayne Rooney takes a shot from just outside the penalty area which clears the crossbar.
79:34 Rafael Da Silva produces a cross.
79:02 Maynor Figueroa sends in a cross, Hugo Rodallega takes a shot. Blocked by Tomasz Kuszczak.
78:17 Erik Edman takes a shot. Oliveira Anderson gets a block in.
78:02 Centre by Maynor Figueroa, clearance made by Wes Brown.
74:37 The assist for the goal came from Wayne Rooney.
74:37 GOAL - Antonio Valencia:Man Utd 5 - 0 Wigan Antonio Valencia finds the back of the net with a goal from inside the box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Man Utd
5-0 Wigan.
73:03 Won-Hee Cho takes a shot. Blocked by Rafael Da Silva. Corner taken by Jordi Gomez, Wayne Rooney manages to make a clearance.
68:40 Wayne Rooney delivers the ball, Jordi Gomez gets a block in.
68:19 Hugo Rodallega is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Michael Carrick takes the free kick.
Correction - 68:19 Hugo Rodallega is caught offside. Oliveira Anderson takes the direct free kick.
Correction - 66:53 Substitution Fabio Da Silva joins the action as a substitute, replacing Patrice Evra.
Correction - 66:53 Substitution Danny Welbeck is brought on as a substitute for Dimitar Berbatov.
Correction - 66:53 Substitution Scott Sinclair on for Charles N'Zogbia.
66:53 Substitution Oliveira Anderson is brought on as a substitute for Nemanja Vidic.
66:53 Substitution Erik Edman on for Hendry Thomas.
66:53 Substitution Fabio Da Silva replaces Patrice Evra.
66:53 Substitution Dimitar Berbatov goes off and Danny Welbeck comes on.
66:53 Substitution Charles N'Zogbia goes off and Scott Sinclair comes on.
66:18 Dimitar Berbatov takes a shot. Save by Michael Pollitt.
64:18 The ball is crossed by Wayne Rooney, save by Michael Pollitt.
62:43 The assistant referee flags for offside against Dimitar Berbatov. Free kick taken by Michael Pollitt.
61:37 Hugo Rodallega takes a shot. Save made by Michael Pollitt.
60:59 Shot from close range by Charles N'Zogbia misses to the right of the goal.
58:40 The referee blows for offside against Wayne Rooney. Indirect free kick taken by Michael Pollitt.
57:50 Nemanja Vidic restarts play with the free kick.
57:50 Booking Charles N'Zogbia receives a caution for dissent.
57:44 Charles N'Zogbia challenges Rafael Da Silva unfairly and gives away a free kick.
Correction - 57:07 Centre by Rafael Da Silva, Mario Melchiot makes a clearance. Corner taken right-footed by Antonio Valencia from the left by-line
to the near post, clearance made by Titus Bramble.
57:07 Rafael Da Silva produces a cross, Mario Melchiot makes a clearance. Antonio Valencia takes the inswinging corner, Titus Bramble
manages to make a clearance.
56:10 Paul Scharner takes a shot. Wes Brown gets a block in.
55:16 Hendry Thomas gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Patrice Evra. Direct free kick taken by Darren Fletcher.
52:23 Michael Carrick challenges Won-Hee Cho unfairly and gives away a free kick. Michael Pollitt takes the indirect free kick.
51:51 Wayne Rooney takes a shot.
51:05 Antonio Valencia takes a shot. Michael Pollitt makes a save.
49:48 Assist by Antonio Valencia.
49:48 GOAL - Dimitar Berbatov:Man Utd 4 - 0 Wigan A goal is scored by Dimitar Berbatov from deep inside the penalty area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Man Utd 4-0
Wigan.
49:40 The ball is crossed by Antonio Valencia,
49:21 Charles N'Zogbia gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Rafael Da Silva. Antonio Valencia takes the direct free
kick.
46:39 Wayne Rooney takes a shot. Save by Michael Pollitt.
45:01 The referee starts the second half.
45:01 Substitution Michael Pollitt joins the action as a substitute, replacing Chris Kirkland.
Half Time
45:00+1:09 The players leave the pitch at half time.
45:00+0:43 Shot from just outside the penalty area by Jordi Gomez misses to the left of the target.
44:26 Assist by Darren Fletcher.
44:26 GOAL - Rafael Da Silva:Man Utd 3 - 0 Wigan Rafael Da Silva grabs a goal from the edge of the area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Man Utd 3-0 Wigan.
43:20 A cross is delivered by Antonio Valencia.
42:39 Antonio Valencia takes a shot. Blocked by Titus Bramble. Corner taken right-footed by Antonio Valencia to the near post, Emmerson
Boyce manages to make a clearance.
41:45 Unfair challenge on Michael Carrick by Charles N'Zogbia results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Michael Carrick.
41:12 Won-Hee Cho produces a left-footed shot from outside the penalty box and misses left.
40:21 The ball is crossed by Antonio Valencia.
38:30 The ball is crossed by Dimitar Berbatov.
36:49 Darren Fletcher sends in a cross, Mario Melchiot manages to make a clearance.
36:01 Wayne Rooney takes a shot. Titus Bramble gets a block in.
35:18 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Dimitar Berbatov by Hendry Thomas. Wes Brown restarts play with the free kick.
33:25 Hendry Thomas takes a shot from a long way out which goes wide of the right-hand post.
32:45 Jordi Gomez concedes a free kick for a foul on Patrice Evra. Free kick taken by Wes Brown.
31:01 Assist by Antonio Valencia.
31:01 GOAL - Michael Carrick:Man Utd 2 - 0 Wigan Michael Carrick scores a goal from just inside the penalty area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Man Utd 2-0 Wigan.
30:23 Unfair challenge on Rafael Da Silva by Charles N'Zogbia results in a free kick. Michael Carrick takes the indirect free kick.
27:47 Assist by Rafael Da Silva.
27:47 GOAL - Wayne Rooney:Man Utd 1 - 0 Wigan Wayne Rooney scores a goal from close range to the bottom left corner of the goal. Man Utd 1-0 Wigan.
27:41 Rafael Da Silva sends in a cross,
24:28 The ball is swung over by Patrice Evra.
21:20 Paul Scharner challenges Darren Fletcher unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Darren Fletcher.
20:53 Effort from inside the area by Dimitar Berbatov misses to the left of the goal.
20:19 Foul by Hendry Thomas on Darren Fletcher, free kick awarded. Indirect free kick taken by Nemanja Vidic.
19:56 Foul by Wayne Rooney on Chris Kirkland, free kick awarded. Chris Kirkland takes the free kick.
19:29 Wayne Rooney produces a right-footed shot from inside the six-yard box and bounces off the post.
18:51 Nemanja Vidic takes a shot. Blocked by Paul Scharner. Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Antonio Valencia, clearance
by Titus Bramble.
18:17 Wayne Rooney takes a shot. Save made by Chris Kirkland. Antonio Valencia takes a outswinging corner from the right by-line
to the near post, Hendry Thomas manages to make a clearance.
14:06 Wayne Rooney sends in a cross. Dimitar Berbatov takes a shot. Chris Kirkland makes a comfortable save.
13:01 Foul by Maynor Figueroa on Rafael Da Silva, free kick awarded. Indirect free kick taken by Antonio Valencia.
11:10 The referee blows for offside against Dimitar Berbatov. Chris Kirkland restarts play with the free kick.
11:03 Darren Fletcher produces a cross.
9:40 Antonio Valencia produces a cross.
8:21 The ball is delivered by Charles N'Zogbia, Antonio Valencia gets a block in.
7:55 A cross is delivered by Charles N'Zogbia, Nemanja Vidic gets a block in. Charles N'Zogbia takes a short corner.
6:24 Wayne Rooney has an effort at goal from the edge of the area that misses to the right of the target.
5:04 Hugo Rodallega takes a shot. Tomasz Kuszczak makes a save.
4:23 Darren Fletcher challenges Won-Hee Cho unfairly and gives away a free kick. Titus Bramble takes the direct free kick.
3:42 Darren Fletcher produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the goal.
3:27 A cross is delivered by Darren Fletcher, Hendry Thomas makes a clearance.
2:58 Antonio Valencia takes a shot. Chris Kirkland makes a save.
1:15 The ball is sent over by Rafael Da Silva, clearance made by Hendry Thomas.
1:01 Centre by Antonio Valencia, clearance by Titus Bramble.
0:00 The ref blows the whistle to begin the match.
Live text and data provided by The Press Association.
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