WITH one sweet swish of his left boot and delicate application of instep to orb, Michael Owen was back. He preened himself before his new clubs supporters and they sang the chorus they had been storing since Sir Alex Ferguson signed him: Are You Watching Merseyside? Manchester United were also back, finding true form for the first time this season.
How inevitable it happened at Wigan. They have faced Fergusons team 10 times since reaching the top flight and lost each time with a ulative goal difference of -26. If this was cricket, they would be known as Uniteds rabbit.
In fairness, Wigan did not do their Flopsy Bobtail act until 11 minutes into the second half, when Wayne Rooney scored his 100th goal for United with a sharp and decisive header, to jolt his team out of their early-campaign lethargy and break his opponents resolve. Until then, Roberto Martinezs men were competing, trading chances with the champions and pressing a United midfield and forward line which — except for Rooney and the industrious Darren Fletcher — seemed worryingly containable.
Rooneys goal woke Dimitar Berbatov, who scored a fine one of his own and helped Rooney notch a second before Owen struck. In stoppage time Nani exposed Chris Kirklands poor positioning with a crafty free kick and suddenly Wigan faced their record Premier League defeat.
While it remained 0-0, doubts created by Wednesdays defeat at Burnley still hung over United. You always look for a response, said Ferguson.
Were not going to kill ourselves because of it but were going to take reminders from it. It shouldnt have happened but it did happen and the players had to do something about it. Owens strike pleased him particularly. The striker, introduced for Rooney, tailored his run expertly to the needs of Nani who required time to manoeuvre into a position from which he could deliver a telling ball, something the Portuguese, in his most mature United performance to date, did with aplomb. The pass found Owen in a pocket of space no bigger than a picnic-rug, with Kirkland fast advancing. His ed finish was instant, sending the ball home via the far post.
Fantastic goal, great run, the movement was excellent, Ferguson slavered. Michael has been Englands best goalscorer over the last decade and he proved that today. It will do him the world of good. Rooney — marvellously for England — is adopting his colleagues predatory mien. Goal No 100 came via a cross by Antonio Valencia. Rooneys next strike went in off Mario Melchiots shins after Berbatov found him in the box.
Berbatov looked typically enervated before scoring and energised thereafter. In a give-and-go with Paul Scholes he reached Scholes chipped pass, flicked it over Kirkland and hooked home the bouncing ball. Their first goal affected us too much psychologically, said Martinez. It was two different games.
Though Berbatov (misdirecting a header), Scholes (miscuing a drive) and Rooney (foiled by Kirkland) missed first-half chances, Wigan also made opportunities. Jason Koumas caught Gary Neville flat-footed in possession and smacked in a swerving shot that Ben Foster, fully extended, pushed away.
Foster made an even better save to repel Hugo Rodallegas looping header immediately after Rooney scored for 1-0. Forget Owen being back, Nemanja Vidic returned and that, fundamentally, is far more significant for United. With him leading their backline, United gained an urance in defence missing while he was out with an ankle injury. Titus Bramble executed a fine interception to stop Berbatov scoring but Vidics tackle on Charles NZogbia, with the midfielder poised to run clear, was just as good.
Rodallega made the mistake of roughing up Foster and appeared to suffer off-the-ball retribution from Vidic and his elbows. Rodallega will bully plenty of defences but not one containing the Serb. For strikers it must be like jousting with a malevolent pair of giant scissors.
WIGAN: Kirkland 6, Melchiot 6, Scharner 6, Bramble 7, Figueroa 7, NZogbia 6 (Scotland 73min), Thomas 5, Diame 5 (McCarthy 74min), Koumas 6 (Sinclair 62min), Gomez 6, Rodallega 6
MAN UTD: Foster 7, Neville 5, Vidic 8, Evans 7 (OShea 72min), Evra 7, Valencia 5, Fletcher 6, Scholes 5 (Gibson 72min), Nani 7, Rooney 8 (Owen 71min), Berbatov 7
ROONEY JOINS UNITED 100 CLUB
Duration : 0:0:39
At The Drive-In Rolodex Propaganda (live) Live in Sydney Australia 23-01-2000 6/12
Wu Tang Clan It’s Yourz, Track 11 off the album Wu-Tang Forever.
ATDI last album was released in 2001 on Grand Royal / Virgin records.
A mixed media art work for my niece and nephew and for their mother, Bridgette. Happy Birthday Bridgette. I love you BTTS. XXOO