Possession
Possession
xG, big chances, touches and duels are ESPN's numbers; other sites' models can differ a little.
Possession
Well, that should be that and United's players celebrate as though they've won the title. They battled hard when things went against them early on here and scored two superb goals. All they need is a point on Saturday against Arsenal. Bye for now.
Ronaldo heads away from the corner and that is full time!
The ball nearly fell for Scharner as it dropped. Corner.
Last chance for Wigan as they get a free kick 40 yards out.
Wigan push up and have four in the box but Rodallega shuns crossing in favour of trying to beat three men and score. Needless to say, he can't manage it.
Three minutes added...
Ronaldo's missed a sitter! Giggs does extremely well and Ronaldo skips round Boyce but hammers his shot over the bar from nine yards out!
Last 5 meetings
Possession
Berbatov off and Park on.
Well, how fitting that such a belter of a goal could be the one that seals the title for United. Surely, if they win this game they'll collect one point from their last two games and be crowned Champions. Again.
What a strike! O'Shea got into the penalty area and got the ball across and Carrick has hammered it left footed into the top corner. A quality goal.
GOAL! Carrick!
Very fortuitous corner for United after Berbatov got the last touch. Mido whacks clear though so no harm done.
Ronaldo gets round the side and fires in a low cross and Boyce blocks Tevez's effort, then Kingson claims as the ball spooned up in the air.
Mido is coming on for N'Zogbia.
Tevez tees up Ronaldo after holding the ball up well but his shot flies well, well wide.
Rooney cuts in after Ronaldo's decoy run but hits it right at Kingson.
Giggs tries to play in Ronaldo but Bramble is there to block. United pouring forward now, Wigan hanging on.
Ronaldo has a couple of efforts as United play on after an injury to Paul Scharner put him down.
Ronaldo's effort hits the wall again and Carrick hits the rebound wide with a side-footed effort from the edge of the box.
Paul Scholes comes off and Ryan Giggs comes on as Ronaldo lines up a free kick from 30 yards out.
A quarter of an hour left to find a winner.
Ronaldo starts crying again after being denied a penalty. He got round Boyce and got a clip but went down in a funny way and Styles said no. Now Wigan get a goal kick when it was clearly a corner.
Another opening wasted for Wigan as Valencia's delicate flick gave Scharner space to run into. His return ball was woefully short though and the chance was lost.
Vidic's long ball for Ronaldo looks like its going out but the winger catches it. No-one can connect with his cross though.
Tevez is flagged offside after a ball from Evra.
Valencia wins a corner off Evra after Melchiot's shot was blocked.
Berbatov ambles down the left wing and swings in a poor cross with the outside of his right boot.
"Fergie, sign him up, Fergie, Fergie sign him up," sing the United end.
Rodallega bumps into Vidic and gives away a free kick. Not afraid to put himself about the lad.
Carrick strides into space and drags his shot but Tevez turns it into the net with a brilliant flicked finish. Super sub to the rescue.
GOAL! Tevez!
Too intricate from United as they had lots of space and plenty of men forward. Berbatov found Tevez in the end but his cross was cleared by Melchiot.
Anderson goes off and Tevez is on.
Wigan have wordked tirelessly here. You just wonder if they will run out of puff as the game wears on.
Scholes finds Rooney who takes a touch before lining up to shoot and Scharner is across to block excellently.
Tevez is stripping off...
Good slick passing from Wigan as N'Zogbia releases Rodallega down the left flank but again he tries to shoot from a silly angle and gets nowhere near it.
Vidic is across to nip the ball away from Valenica. Throw in. Vidic gets up under pressure from Rodallega and nods behind. He claims a foul. Again.
United are persisting with Ronaldo and Berbatov up top. Rooney stays wide left.
Berbatov looks too casual in possession as Bramble slides in, then Ronaldo has a punt but drags it wide.
No changes for either side but conditions are exactly the same - i.e terrible.
We're off again...
Now Vidic blasts over the bar as the ball as Rooney's corner fell to his feet. What a good half! Plenty more goal action to come though one feels. See you in 15.
Chance! A brilliant move from Wigan as Valencia and Cattermole swap a one-two before Rodallega scuffs a shot wide.
Great tackle from Melchiot as Evra burst into the area.
Chance! A lovely couple of touches see Anderson finds Ronaldo, who finds Rooney but he blazes over from a slight angle ten yards out.
Looks like United have gone 4-4-2 with Ronaldo and Berbatov up front.
Ronaldo hits the wall again and looks like he might cry.
Carrick wins a free kick off Cattermole, a truly nasty player when he wants to be. Another Ronaldo opportunity.
Ronaldo goes down, the ref tells him to get up, and the game goes on. Not for the first time, Styles struggling to cope with a top flight game, managing to rub both sets of players up the wrong way.
Vidic is wound right up here. Van der Sar has another word to tell him to calm down. United turn into such sore losers the second things don't go their way sometimes eh?
Now Rodallega goes down after an elbow from Vidic. Hard to tell if it was intentional or not but Rodallega is holding his throat. A painful one.
Rob Styles now denies Ronaldo a free kick after Cattermole slides in. He got a touch on the ball but Ronaldo reacted like he'd been shot, as per usual.
Rob Styles calls Van der Sar over to tell Vidic to stop chuntering on about the goal. He is claiming a foul, but none of us here at soccernet towers could spot one.
Ronaldo wins a corner after a lovely slide rule pass from Rooney found him inside the area.
N'Zogbia embarks on a mazy run and has a go from a tight angle but the ball never looked like hitting the target.
Rooney crosses looking for O'Shea but Kingson claims.
Wigan have got the bit between their teeth here as Valenica comes forward again, looking for Rodallega. O'Shea clears under pressure.
Rodallega is causing bother here, he flicks the ball past Vidic and is clipped but United-mad Styles doesn't give it.
What a strange goal! A long ball is contested by Vidic and Rodallega, the Wigan striker realises where it lands before the defender and smashes it in from close range! Game on!
GOAL! Rodallega!
Decent move from Wigan in reply as Melchiot finds N'Zogbia, who in turn finds Figueroa but his shot was always rising and VDS watches it over the bar.
Great football down the left as Rooney spins inside then releases Evra into the space. His cross is poor though.
More cheers from Wigan as Ronaldo's free kick hits the wall, then Melchiot hacks clear.
Free kick given after Evra ran into Boyce. Ronaldo poised. Soft award from the United-loving Rob Styles.
Wigan's fans express sheer delight when Ronaldo slips and surrenders possession, then exclaim with unconfined joy when Scharner sidesteps him with the ball.
Carrick drags a shot wide when there were many better options.
N'Zogbia swings in a poor cross after a ball wide from Valencia.
Another slip-up from Evans allows Rodallega away with Vidic for company but his shot is right at Van der Sar.
United have definitely found their stride now, some slick passing emerging.
N'Zogbia hits it toward the far post and Van der Sar gets a good touch on it to turn the ball behind for a corner.
Free kick to Wigan after Scholes is adjudged to have handled Melchiot's cross.
Another glaring miss! A super move spreads play to Berbatov, he slips it inside to Ronaldo who squares for Carrick to graze the top of the bar from six yards out. It should be 2-1 United already!
What a miss! Berbatov beats Bramble, swings in a cross and Rooney has headed wide from six yards out with the goal gaping. Incredible miss.
Kingson half-fluffs his clearance, much to the delight of United's fans.
Vidic smashes a ball the length of the field into the arms of Kingson.
Scholes floats one over the top for Rooney but the ginger predator is offside.
Now Scharner nearly nicks it off Vidic and goes clear! SLoppy start from the Champions. Perhaps the soggy conditions have thrown them early doors.
Another decent opening for Wigan as Michael Brown finds spce inside the area before choosing to cut inside and have a pop - Evans blocked his shot. Good start from Wigan.
Well I never. Valencia nicked the ball ahead of Evans and was away. Vidic was in hot pursuit and gave him a nudge just before he went to shoot, ut his chip-choice was incorrect and a wonderful chance goes begging.
What a chance! Valencia streaked clear and was one-on-one with the keeper and stabbed a chipped effort wide of the net! How, I will never know.
We're off...
Fergie pats each member of his team on the shoulder as they leave the dressing room, and we are poised for kick off.
Wigan are in a bad run of form too, only two wins in 15 games and none in the last five. And they are without 'keeper Chris Kirkland, who picked up a back injury in the defeat at West Brom. Richard Kingson deputises.
So, Fergie rings the changes. Out go Rafael, Giggs, Fletcher, Park and Tevez, in come O'Shea, Scholes, Carrick, Anderson and Rooney. Not a bad lot to bring in eh?
Good evening and welcome to live coverage of Wigan v Man Utd. Fergie's men can get one clammy hand on the Premier League trophy tonight with a win, and the omens look good for them, as Wigan haven't even managed to take a point off them in their seven top flight meetings to date.
Man Utd: Van der Sar, O'Shea, Vidic, Evans, Evra, Carrick, Scholes, Anderson, Ronaldo, Berbatov and Rooney. Subs from: Kuszczak, Neville, Giggs, Park, Nani, Rafael Da Silva and Tevez.
Wigan: Kingson, Melchiot, Boyce, Bramble, Figueroa, Valencia, Cattermole, Scharner, Brown, N'Zogbia and Rodallega. Subs from: Pollitt, Edman, Watson, Koumas, De Ridder, Mido and Kapo.
Join us at 1945 BST to see if Manchester United can take a big leap towards the Premier League title by beating Steve Bruce's Wigan at the JJB Stadium.
Possession
xG, big chances, touches and duels are ESPN's numbers; other sites' models can differ a little.
Well, that should be that and United's players celebrate as though they've won the title. They battled hard when things went against them early on here and scored two superb goals. All they need is a point on Saturday against Arsenal. Bye for now.
Ronaldo heads away from the corner and that is full time!
The ball nearly fell for Scharner as it dropped. Corner.
Last chance for Wigan as they get a free kick 40 yards out.
Wigan push up and have four in the box but Rodallega shuns crossing in favour of trying to beat three men and score. Needless to say, he can't manage it.
Three minutes added...
Ronaldo's missed a sitter! Giggs does extremely well and Ronaldo skips round Boyce but hammers his shot over the bar from nine yards out!
Berbatov off and Park on.
Well, how fitting that such a belter of a goal could be the one that seals the title for United. Surely, if they win this game they'll collect one point from their last two games and be crowned Champions. Again.
What a strike! O'Shea got into the penalty area and got the ball across and Carrick has hammered it left footed into the top corner. A quality goal.
GOAL! Carrick!
Very fortuitous corner for United after Berbatov got the last touch. Mido whacks clear though so no harm done.
Ronaldo gets round the side and fires in a low cross and Boyce blocks Tevez's effort, then Kingson claims as the ball spooned up in the air.
Mido is coming on for N'Zogbia.
Tevez tees up Ronaldo after holding the ball up well but his shot flies well, well wide.
Rooney cuts in after Ronaldo's decoy run but hits it right at Kingson.
Giggs tries to play in Ronaldo but Bramble is there to block. United pouring forward now, Wigan hanging on.
Ronaldo has a couple of efforts as United play on after an injury to Paul Scharner put him down.
Ronaldo's effort hits the wall again and Carrick hits the rebound wide with a side-footed effort from the edge of the box.
Paul Scholes comes off and Ryan Giggs comes on as Ronaldo lines up a free kick from 30 yards out.
A quarter of an hour left to find a winner.
Ronaldo starts crying again after being denied a penalty. He got round Boyce and got a clip but went down in a funny way and Styles said no. Now Wigan get a goal kick when it was clearly a corner.
Another opening wasted for Wigan as Valencia's delicate flick gave Scharner space to run into. His return ball was woefully short though and the chance was lost.
Vidic's long ball for Ronaldo looks like its going out but the winger catches it. No-one can connect with his cross though.
Tevez is flagged offside after a ball from Evra.
Valencia wins a corner off Evra after Melchiot's shot was blocked.
Berbatov ambles down the left wing and swings in a poor cross with the outside of his right boot.
"Fergie, sign him up, Fergie, Fergie sign him up," sing the United end.
Rodallega bumps into Vidic and gives away a free kick. Not afraid to put himself about the lad.
Carrick strides into space and drags his shot but Tevez turns it into the net with a brilliant flicked finish. Super sub to the rescue.
GOAL! Tevez!
Too intricate from United as they had lots of space and plenty of men forward. Berbatov found Tevez in the end but his cross was cleared by Melchiot.
Anderson goes off and Tevez is on.
Wigan have wordked tirelessly here. You just wonder if they will run out of puff as the game wears on.
Scholes finds Rooney who takes a touch before lining up to shoot and Scharner is across to block excellently.
Tevez is stripping off...
Good slick passing from Wigan as N'Zogbia releases Rodallega down the left flank but again he tries to shoot from a silly angle and gets nowhere near it.
Vidic is across to nip the ball away from Valenica. Throw in. Vidic gets up under pressure from Rodallega and nods behind. He claims a foul. Again.
United are persisting with Ronaldo and Berbatov up top. Rooney stays wide left.
Berbatov looks too casual in possession as Bramble slides in, then Ronaldo has a punt but drags it wide.
No changes for either side but conditions are exactly the same - i.e terrible.
We're off again...
Now Vidic blasts over the bar as the ball as Rooney's corner fell to his feet. What a good half! Plenty more goal action to come though one feels. See you in 15.
Chance! A brilliant move from Wigan as Valencia and Cattermole swap a one-two before Rodallega scuffs a shot wide.
Great tackle from Melchiot as Evra burst into the area.
Chance! A lovely couple of touches see Anderson finds Ronaldo, who finds Rooney but he blazes over from a slight angle ten yards out.
Looks like United have gone 4-4-2 with Ronaldo and Berbatov up front.
Ronaldo hits the wall again and looks like he might cry.
Carrick wins a free kick off Cattermole, a truly nasty player when he wants to be. Another Ronaldo opportunity.
Ronaldo goes down, the ref tells him to get up, and the game goes on. Not for the first time, Styles struggling to cope with a top flight game, managing to rub both sets of players up the wrong way.
Vidic is wound right up here. Van der Sar has another word to tell him to calm down. United turn into such sore losers the second things don't go their way sometimes eh?
Now Rodallega goes down after an elbow from Vidic. Hard to tell if it was intentional or not but Rodallega is holding his throat. A painful one.
Rob Styles now denies Ronaldo a free kick after Cattermole slides in. He got a touch on the ball but Ronaldo reacted like he'd been shot, as per usual.
Rob Styles calls Van der Sar over to tell Vidic to stop chuntering on about the goal. He is claiming a foul, but none of us here at soccernet towers could spot one.
Ronaldo wins a corner after a lovely slide rule pass from Rooney found him inside the area.
N'Zogbia embarks on a mazy run and has a go from a tight angle but the ball never looked like hitting the target.
Rooney crosses looking for O'Shea but Kingson claims.
Wigan have got the bit between their teeth here as Valenica comes forward again, looking for Rodallega. O'Shea clears under pressure.
Rodallega is causing bother here, he flicks the ball past Vidic and is clipped but United-mad Styles doesn't give it.
What a strange goal! A long ball is contested by Vidic and Rodallega, the Wigan striker realises where it lands before the defender and smashes it in from close range! Game on!
GOAL! Rodallega!
Decent move from Wigan in reply as Melchiot finds N'Zogbia, who in turn finds Figueroa but his shot was always rising and VDS watches it over the bar.
Great football down the left as Rooney spins inside then releases Evra into the space. His cross is poor though.
More cheers from Wigan as Ronaldo's free kick hits the wall, then Melchiot hacks clear.
Free kick given after Evra ran into Boyce. Ronaldo poised. Soft award from the United-loving Rob Styles.
Wigan's fans express sheer delight when Ronaldo slips and surrenders possession, then exclaim with unconfined joy when Scharner sidesteps him with the ball.
Carrick drags a shot wide when there were many better options.
N'Zogbia swings in a poor cross after a ball wide from Valencia.
Another slip-up from Evans allows Rodallega away with Vidic for company but his shot is right at Van der Sar.
United have definitely found their stride now, some slick passing emerging.
N'Zogbia hits it toward the far post and Van der Sar gets a good touch on it to turn the ball behind for a corner.
Free kick to Wigan after Scholes is adjudged to have handled Melchiot's cross.
Another glaring miss! A super move spreads play to Berbatov, he slips it inside to Ronaldo who squares for Carrick to graze the top of the bar from six yards out. It should be 2-1 United already!
What a miss! Berbatov beats Bramble, swings in a cross and Rooney has headed wide from six yards out with the goal gaping. Incredible miss.
Kingson half-fluffs his clearance, much to the delight of United's fans.
Vidic smashes a ball the length of the field into the arms of Kingson.
Scholes floats one over the top for Rooney but the ginger predator is offside.
Now Scharner nearly nicks it off Vidic and goes clear! SLoppy start from the Champions. Perhaps the soggy conditions have thrown them early doors.
Another decent opening for Wigan as Michael Brown finds spce inside the area before choosing to cut inside and have a pop - Evans blocked his shot. Good start from Wigan.
Well I never. Valencia nicked the ball ahead of Evans and was away. Vidic was in hot pursuit and gave him a nudge just before he went to shoot, ut his chip-choice was incorrect and a wonderful chance goes begging.
What a chance! Valencia streaked clear and was one-on-one with the keeper and stabbed a chipped effort wide of the net! How, I will never know.
We're off...
Fergie pats each member of his team on the shoulder as they leave the dressing room, and we are poised for kick off.
Wigan are in a bad run of form too, only two wins in 15 games and none in the last five. And they are without 'keeper Chris Kirkland, who picked up a back injury in the defeat at West Brom. Richard Kingson deputises.
So, Fergie rings the changes. Out go Rafael, Giggs, Fletcher, Park and Tevez, in come O'Shea, Scholes, Carrick, Anderson and Rooney. Not a bad lot to bring in eh?
Good evening and welcome to live coverage of Wigan v Man Utd. Fergie's men can get one clammy hand on the Premier League trophy tonight with a win, and the omens look good for them, as Wigan haven't even managed to take a point off them in their seven top flight meetings to date.
Man Utd: Van der Sar, O'Shea, Vidic, Evans, Evra, Carrick, Scholes, Anderson, Ronaldo, Berbatov and Rooney. Subs from: Kuszczak, Neville, Giggs, Park, Nani, Rafael Da Silva and Tevez.
Wigan: Kingson, Melchiot, Boyce, Bramble, Figueroa, Valencia, Cattermole, Scharner, Brown, N'Zogbia and Rodallega. Subs from: Pollitt, Edman, Watson, Koumas, De Ridder, Mido and Kapo.
Join us at 1945 BST to see if Manchester United can take a big leap towards the Premier League title by beating Steve Bruce's Wigan at the JJB Stadium.