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Defence continues to be the best form of attack for Manchester United as a 1-0 win against Wigan ensured a ninth successive Premier League clean sheet and allowed them to move within two points of leaders Liverpool.
Wayne Rooney's first-minute tap-in was enough to beat the Latics, who just about edged the remainder of the contest without being able to break down a stubborn United rearguard which is providing the foundation for this season's title tilt.
There was a cost to the Red Devils as Rooney is now facing three weeks on the sidelines with a hamstring injury that forced him off not long after his ninth goal of the season.
But provided the damage is not too extensive, the Red Devils will not worry, especially if they beat Bolton at the Reebok Stadium on Saturday to take top spot.
What with the fall-out from Rafael Benitez's rant, Chelsea's struggles and the credit-crunch busting attempts of Manchester City to sign Kaka, the fact United are closing in on top spot once more has been relegated to a side-show.
Yet the prize is a big one for a side that has spent virtually all season playing catch-up, both in points and games after a slow start was exacerbated by games missed because of the European Super Cup and Club World Cup.
The arrival of Wigan represented the latter, a game Sir Alex Ferguson billed as harder than the weekend visit of Chelsea.
It certainly seemed that way too given Southend's unexpected opener at Roots Hall as Wigan matched their much-vaunted opponents shot for shot.
Emile Heskey and Wilson Palacios tried their luck and although danger-man Amir Zaki was kept relatively quiet, Paul Scharner might easily have scored with a far-post header he planted into the side-netting.
For United, newly-crowned FIFA World Footballer of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo fizzed a shot at Chris Kirkland and Carlos Tevez actually went round him, only for Titus Bramble to make a tremendous block.
But Wigan largely held their own, as befits a side who have won on five of their last six Premier League outings.
What a pity for Steve Bruce therefore that Rooney had scored before his untimely exit.
The England star had already been flagged offside once as he tried to set up a Red Devils assault. But there was no debate when Michael Carrick nudged a low Ronaldo cross his way.
When Rooney tapped home from three yards, the clock was still to reach 60 seconds.
Unfortunately for Rooney, his meaningful contribution was nearly done as it was not long afterwards that he limped to the sidelines gingerly nursing a hamstring injury that triggered his immediate departure and Tevez's introduction.
It might not have been the way he wished but Rooney's absence, for however long it may be, offers the South American the opportunity he has been craving virtually all season.
If Tevez needed it, Ferguson delivered one final piece of advice to the South American just before the second half began, although it was presumably not to avoid a series of desperate Wigan attempts to stop him, which was the most notable feature of the first few minutes after the restart.
Slowly though, Wigan began to force the pace. Zaki emerged as more of a threat and if the rebound from a shot by the Egyptian had bounced more kindly towards Taylor, the Latics might well have been level before Maynor Figueroa and Antonio Valencia threatened the home goal.
By that point, United had been dragged into a game they did not want, where space was at a premium and the possession they did get was squandered.
In fairness, the hosts should have had a penalty when Ronaldo's angled drive struck Lee Cattermole, part of an outstanding midfield effort that gave United far more problems than Michael Ballack and Frank Lampard provided on Sunday.
Ronaldo and Berbatov both fired just wide as a measure of their usual attacking invention returned to United ranks, although it was Wigan who finished on top, leaving Bruce to reflect on what might have been as both he - and his club - wait for their first win against the Old Trafford outfit.
| Stadium: Old Trafford, England
|
| Teams | |
| Manchester United | Wigan Athletic |
| 22 John O'Shea | |
| 21 Rafael | |
| 18 Paul Scholes | |
| 17 Nani | |
| 10 Wayne Rooney | |
| 13 Amr Zaki | |
| Substitutes | |
| Olivier Kapo 23 | |
| 13 Ji-Sung Park | Henri Camara 27 |
| 32 Carlos Tevez | |
| 8 Anderson | |
| Substitutions | |
| Carlos Tevez for Wayne Rooney (8) | Henri Camara for Amr Zaki (75) |
| Daniel De Ridder for Ryan Taylor (81) | |
| Darren Fletcher for Paul Scholes (86) | Olivier Kapo for Lee Cattermole (89) |
| Yellow Cards | |
| | Titus Bramble (48) |
| | Paul Scharner (52) |
| | Amr Zaki (54) |
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