Wigan vs. Manchester United: Premier League as It Happened
By on December 31, 2012
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Premier League Final Score: Wigan Athletic 0-4 Manchester United, DW Stadium
Goals: 36', 64' Hernandez, 43', 88' van Persie (Man Utd)
Wigan Athletic: Al Habsi; Ramis, Caldwell, Figueroa; Boyce, McCarthy, McArthur, Beausejour; Di Santo, Kone, Maloney. Subs: Pollitt, Stam, Golobart, Jones, Gomez, McManaman, Boselli.
Manchester United: De Gea; Rafael, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra; Young, Carrick, Cleverley, Giggs; van Persie, Hernandez. Subs: Lindegaard, Smalling, Vidic, Valencia, Scholes, Kagawa, Welbeck.
David Rogers/Getty Images
90+2'- The final whistle blows and Manchester United have sealed a convincing 4-0 win at Premier League strugglers Wigan Athletic.
A brace apiece from Robin van Persie and Javier Hernandez sealed matters, as the Red Devils put in one of their best displays of the season to date.
Stay tuned to Bleacher Report for all the reaction to this, and the other games taking place around Britain today.
90'- The fourth official signals only two minutes of added time, as Wigan continue to go in search for that consolation goal.
Who is my man of the match you ask? Could be a number of players, but Javier Hernandez shades it for me.
Chris Brunskill/Getty Images
88'- GOAL UNITED!
If much of the home crowd were leaving at 3-0, the stadium should empty quickly now as Robin van Persie turns in Danny Welbeck's neat pass across goal to make it four.
Wigan Athletic 0-4 Manchester United
87'- Wigan really pressing for a consolatio goal as Jean Beausejour fires a shot well over David de Gea's goal.
The home support are still leaving the stadium in droves though.
Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
85'- Ronnie Stam's cross finds Jonny Evans at the near post. The crowd erupts as the ball looks to have hit the defender's arm, but the referee is unimpressed.
Has Shinji Kagawa gotten a touch of the ball since coming on?
Julian Finney/Getty Images
82'- Chris Smalling wraps his arms around Arouna Kone as the striker tries to chase a long ball, and is a very lucky boy not to be sent off for his efforts.
Jordi Gomez fires the subsequent free kick inches wide of de Gea's goal. The shot grazes the outside of the post, in fact.
Michael Steele/Getty Images
80'- Jordi Gomez tries to run straight through Cleverley, but the youngster is a worthy match for the Spaniard.
Manchester City currently lead 3-0 against Stoke City in another of the Premier League's clashes taking place around Britain.
Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
78'- It's Ashley Young who is the man who departs for Welbeck. He's been good today, much improved from previous performances earlier this term.
77'- Patrice Evra gets to the byline, but his chipped cross can't pick out a fellow red shirt.
Danny Welbeck now being prepared to come on for United, most likely in place of either Hernandez or van Persie.
Michael Regan/Getty Images
75'- Maloney shoots from just outside the area, but his teammate Kone blocks the effort.
It was Shaun Maloney who scored the goal that downed United in the corresponding fixture from last season.
Jamie McDonald/Getty Images
73'- Stam involved immediately as the Dutch full-back cuts inside of Evra, before firing straight at David de Gea.
United purely going for the glossy, goal difference boosting finish to this game now. I'm sure Sir Alex would love a clean sheet though before his players do anything rash.
Chris Brunskill/Getty Images
71'- Wigan try to break down the United defence, but cannot. The Red Devils' back four have been excellent for the second game in a row, today.
Die Hard villain Ronnie Stam is also on for Wigan. He'll most likely play on the right flank for the Latics.
Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
69'- Robin van Persie almost scores a cracker as he beats off several Wigan markers, before firing just over from the edge of Al-Hasbi's area.
Shinji Kagawa and Chris Smalling come on for Michael Carrick and Rio Ferdinand as Sir Alex begins to rest some of his players.
66'- More United pressure as the away side pass the ball around comfortably around the edge of the Wigan area.
Play breaks down when Patrice Evra's pass to Javier Hernandez sees the striker flagged for offside.
Chris Brunskill/Getty Images
64'- GOAL UNITED!
Game over at the DW as Javier Hernandez grabs his second of the game. Robin van Persie's free kick deflects off the wall, falling into the path of Chicharito, who volleys powerfully past Al-Habsi.
Wigan Athletic 0-3 Manchester United
63'- Rafael and Javier Hernandez lead a promising break into the Wigan half, but the former is fouled 25 yards out from goal.
Robin van Persie stands over the free kick...
Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
61'- So close to a third for United as Javier Hernandez can't turn Ashley Young's excellent cross past Al-Habsi.
The ball came to the Mexican in an awkward position, but he'll still be disappointed over not finishing there.
David Rogers/Getty Images
59'- Wigan have a goal disallowed as Kone finishes from Di Santo's cross in an offside position.
The striker naturally looks unhappy, but replays show the linesman made an excellent call. Close, but no cigar for Roberto Martinez's men.
Julian Finney/Getty Images
58'- Di Santo is fouled by Michael Carrick as Wigan attempt a rare foray into the United half.
Coming into today, Michael Carrick has made 3226 passes in the Premier League this season, 577 more than any other player.
David Rogers/Getty Images
55'- United beginning to really have some fun, as Evra and Hernandez pull off audacious back-heels/flicks.
Wigan seem unable to keep possession for more than three passes at the moment as the away side are permanently camped in the Latics' half.
Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
53'- Ashley Young runs at the Wigan defence, before seeing his shot well blocked by Gary Caldwell.
The winger looked to pass through to van Persie, but the Dutchman was in an offside position.
David Rogers/Getty Images
51'- Javier Hernandez is released down the right channel, but the striker can only blast his first time effort wide of Al-Habsi's goal.
Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
50'- Tom Cleverley battles to win back possession for the Red Devils. But play breaks down when Ashley Young misplaces his pass to an advancing Rafael down the right wing.
The young Englishman Cleverley has been terrific so far today. Tenacious in the tackle, and assured with the ball at his feet.
Chris Brunskill/Getty Images
48'- Wigan start the second half on the front foot, but are yet to really get in behind the United back line.
Manchester United have 49 points after 20 games this term, the third highest total at this stage of the year in Premier League history. The form of champions?
Chris Brunskill/Getty Images
46'- The teams are back out for the second half with Wigan to get us back underway.
It was a rather middling first period until Javier Hernandez broke the deadlock, now it seems we could be in for a bit of a goalfest if the home side continue defending the way they did before the break.
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