Wigan Vs. Manchester United Result Report

It was nervous, tense, nail-biting stuff at times, but Manchester United are league champions for the 17th time, after beating Wigan at the JJB Stadium.

Goals in either half from Cristiano Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs sealed the trophy for United, who have now won 10 titles since the inception of the Premier League.

It was only fitting that the goals came from Ronaldo, from the penalty spot for his 41st goal of a prolific season, and Giggs, who joined Sir Bobby Charlton as United’s joint all-time appearance-maker.

The Reds’ victory rendered irrelevant Chelsea’s victory over Bolton, as United’s far superior goal difference saw them pip the Blues despite finishing level on points.

United went into the make-or-break clash buoyed by the return of Nemanja Vidic and Wayne Rooney from injury, as Sir Alex Ferguson fielded a strong attacking side.

For all the attacking intent evident in the Reds’ line-up, however, it was the hosts who showed the most promising early signs, as Jason Koumas twice shot wastefullty off-target from decent positions outside the area.

United were undoubtedly on the back foot, but could have sneaked ahead after 15 minutes if Wayne Rooney’s close-range effort hadn’t been deflected wide. Paul Scholes then lashed comfortably wide of Chris Kirkland’s post from 20 yards, but Wigan should have opened the scoring shortly afterwards, passing up two decent chances from corners.

First, Titus Bramble could only fire over the bar after the loose ball had fallen to him, then Marcus Bent planted a free header over the bar. Wigan, although they had nothing to play for other than pride and prize money, were giving it everything they could. Having been in the media spotlight all week, they knew anything less would be scrutinised endlessly.

Ronaldo mustered United’s first effort on target after 25 minutes, but Kirkland was able to paw away his 30-yard free kick in relative comfort. The England goalkeeper was scrambling four minutes later, however, as Ronaldo lobbed a superb cross into the six-yard box, but Carlos Tevez was unable to apply any sort of finishing touch.

Just after the half-hour mark, Ronaldo was handed the chance to settle United nerves from the penalty spot. Wigan failed to clear a long punt forward and, amid the confusion, Emmerson Boyce fouled Rooney and referee Steve Bennett pointed straight to the penalty spot.

After a lengthy delay, soundtracked by a shrill home support, the Portuguese winger stepped up and side-footed a shot inside Kirkland’s left-hand post, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.

The home contingent were incensed at the penalty’s award and conversion, and they had a further grievance to air shortly afterwards when Scholes, already booked for an earlier poor challenge on Wilson Palacios, escaped with a stern lecture after barging the same player to the ground to end a promising Latics break.

Shortly afterwards, by which point the sun had turned to heavy rain, Nemanja Vidic was required to make a superb back-post clearance, with Heskey waiting for a certain tap-in behind him.

By half-time, thunder and lightning was adding an unnecessary extra touch of drama to proceedings. However, a goal to the good, and with Chelsea being held at home by Bolton, things were going largely to plan for United.

The Reds almost had a two-goal cushion just after the restart, but Kirkland managed to palm Ronaldo’s powerful 25-yard free kick over the bar. The United fans amassed behind Kirkland’s goal were vocally demanding a penalty some five minutes later when Scholes was felled inside the box, but referee Bennett declined to award a second kick. From the resultant corner, Ronaldo powerfully headed past Kirkland, but also past the post.

The Latics goalkeeper then made a superb one-handed save to keep out a low shot from Rooney, as United sought to put the game, and the title race, beyond their rivals. Just before the hour mark, he produced another fine block, this time from Tevez, to keep United nerves jangling.

Any anxiety will not have been helped by the news that Chelsea had taken the lead at Stamford Bridge. Nor that Wigan, who had barely had a touch of the ball in the opening stages of the second half, were suddenly alive again.

Set-pieces continued to be the hosts’ best outlet, and Heskey was terrifyingly close to levelling the score with 22 minutes remaining. The England striker powerfully met Koumas’ inswinging free-kick, only for his header to land on the roof of van der Sar’s net.

That scare was a timely wake-up call for United, who gradually began to re-assert their authority on the game. Ryan Giggs and Owen Hargreaves were introduced for Scholes and Park, allowing Giggs to become United’s joint all-time leading appearance maker.

The veteran Welsh winger struck the telling blow for the Reds with 11 minutes remaining. Rooney cut in from the left wing, advanced and slid a ball through to Giggs, totally unmarked, in the centre of the penalty area.

Totally unflustered, the experienced campaigner simply took a touch, slotted low past Kirkland and sparked scenes of unabashed delirium among the writhing Reds supporters.

“We’re gonna win the league,” they bellowed, as one. Although Wigan did mount a spirited late response, with Giggs clearing off the line, Figueroa striking the post and Heskey passing up countless late headers, they were right.

As ever, United did it the hard way. Now, it’s onwards and upwards to Moscow, where the champions will meet their nearest challengers.

Team Line-ups

WIGAN ATHLETIC: Kirkland; Boyce, Bramble, Scharner, Figueroa; Brown (King 81), Koumas, Palacios, Valencia; Bent (Sibierski 70), Heskey
Subs not used: Pollitt, Taylor, Skoko
Booked: Palacios, Heskey, Valencia

MANCHESTER UNITED: Van der Sar; Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Park (Giggs 68), Scholes (Hargreaves 67), Carrick; Ronaldo, Rooney, Tevez
Subs not used: Kuszczak, Saha, Silvestre
Booked: Scholes, Rooney

Attendance: 25,133 (Stadium record)