Tevez Leads Rout Against Latics (Manchester United 4 - Wigan 0)

United's already packed treatment table had to endure more load after today's game. Already losing Carrick to a mid-week elbow fracture, tissue-boy (Saha) did himself no favours when he hurt himself during the warm-up to today's game.

Once again in an absolutely crazy weekend where there was only one 3pm kickoff (and we're not on that list yet again), we had an early kickoff. And what it meant was that Kentona and I had to spend a mini-fortune bringing our better halves for another expensive prawning trip just to catch the game in peace.

In a first half plagued by injuries to both Vidic and O'Shea, we had little to show for. Their replacements Anderson and Danny Simpson showed what little depth and experience we had left in reserve. With further injury scares to both Evra and Pique, Kentona and I were left wondering what else we had to offer from the bench. Thankfully we were playing one of the worst away teams in the form of Wigan. Had the competition been any stiffer, we could have paid the price for our lack of imagination going forward.

Ferguson must have given the blow-dryer treatment during half time, coz when the teams returned in the second half, there was a determined attempt to blow the opponents away. Giggs hit the crossbar with a rasping shot that brought out the Oohs and Aahs from the crowd.

Then Anderson threaded a wonderful pass for Tevez to chase. Not known for his pace, Tevez shown strength holding Kilbane to get to the ball, guile to cut inside Bramble and skill to go around Kirkland before coolly firing the ball into the net. It was a goal to be behold. Classy.

With the first goal scored, the weight was lifted off the shoulders of the United players. Confidence was oozing back into the players and it wasn't long before the second goal was scored. Kirkland was only able to palm away a Giggs' shot onto the path of Ronaldo who was lurking in the far post. Ronaldo gleefully nodded it into an empty net.

The Latics were beaten and they knew it. Ronaldo added a third after Rooney beautifully crossed a ball from the left. It was set on a platter for Ronaldo.

Rooney finished off the rout when Simpson, who was largely ignored on the right, swung in an inch perfect cross for him to head home.

While I wouldn't exactly say that the free-scoring United of last season was back, but this is a good start. For large parts of the first half, we had trouble breaking down the opponents but once Tevez scored the first goal, there was going to be one outcome. All it needed was the confidence to return.

The good thing is that the next game is 2 weeks away. Hopefully some of the walking wounded will return before we face a tough Villa side away.