I'm not really sure how to describe this match. All being said, it wasn't much of a match. I think Ian Darke put it best at half time when he said that United had it as "smooth as a ride on Santa's Sleigh." Wigan just looked from the opening whistle like they didn't expect anything from the match, and they certainly didn't play like they did. That's a little odd, Wigan can certainly play with teams when they're up for it, they just obviously weren't up for it.
United dominated the match from the kick off. At one point they had a 97% share of the possession over a 5 minute spell. If that's not a record, I'd be surprised. The Red Devils got the goals going early. In the 8th minute, Patrice Evra slid an easy ball into Ji-Sung Park, who calmly stroked the ball into the net to make it 1-0 to United.
It's really hard to find a bright spot for Wigan. There were a couple of big bumps though. In the 40th minute they were reduced to 10 men as Conor Sammon was hit with a red card for an arm across the face of Michael Carrick. It looked worse than it was, but the ref issued the red card. Then in the 41st minute Dimitar Berbatov scored his first of three to make 2-0 United at the half.
They didn't let up on the 10 man Wigan squad in the second half either. Berbatov again made his presence felt on 58 minutes, blasting a shot into the top shelf of the Wigan goal to make it 3-0. The route was on.
Not to be outdone by Berbatov's searing strike, Antonio Valencia smashed one across the 'keeper in the 74th minute to make it 4-0. It was an absolute laser. Finally the scoring ended in the 78th, as Berbatov easily converted a PK to make it 5-0 and earn his hat trick.
You can't say enough about the way United has responded to their Champions League exit. They've just came out and fought like a rabid, mad animal ever since. If they're not going to be in the running for the European Cup, they damn well want the Premiership. Sorry Man City, I'm not going to bet against them doing it either. Just sayin.
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