Tevez turns it on for United

Tevez returned to trouble them again on Saturday — this time in the red of Manchester United.

Goalden boys: Tevez and Ronaldo

With the game goalless at halftime and United as insipid and lethargic as they have been at anytime this season, Chris Hutchings' team had their eyes on a valuable away point.

But the sight of Tevez finally growing in to his role at his new club warmed United hearts after the break and his intervention in the 54th minute allowed the home team to finally play with confidence.

Tevez had been as mediocre as anybody in the first half, but as he moved on to an astute pass from the Brazilian Anderson, he showed remarkable strength to hold off Kevin Kilbane and customary composure to round goalkeeper Chris Kirkland and score with his left foot.

Wigan manager Hutchings said: 'We are not really interested in looking back at what happened with Tevez last year. That's gone now. But what I do know is that he is an excellent player and he took his chance very well. That was what killed us and until then we had done very well and our plan was working.

"Tevez is a great player. We know about his skills but he showed in scoring his goal that he is also physically strong.

"It takes something special to execute those skills under that amount of physical pressure."

During Tevez's early season struggles there have been suggestions that the 23-year-old striker may find it difficult to function in the same team as Wayne Rooney.

Too similar, it has been said. In truth, United still look like they will play better with a traditional No 9 in their team.

At times, it is difficult to work out who is playing through the middle for Sir Alex Ferguson's side and Louis Saha's withdrawal from the squad 10 minutes before kick-off will have infuriated the United manager.

Blow: Vidic was forced off with head injury

Saha was, apparently, 'feeling his knee'.

Hutchings added: "Well, I think we have seen now that Tevez and Rooney can play together. That's that debate put to bed, isn't it? The players rotate on the field for United and that makes it very hard to pick them up."

United's subsequent goals came from the improving Cristiano Ronaldo — who scored twice — and Rooney.

The highlights suggested a romp but it was not that way for long periods.

United suffered further injuries when Nemanja Vidic and John O'Shea went off in the first half and they struggled against a Wigan team that had busy midfield performances from Michael Brown and Jason Koumas as their cornerstone.

Nevertheless, substitutes Danny Simpson, at right back, and Anderson, in the centre of midfield, more than played their part in a United display that may nudge them further towards their true form.

Ferguson said: "The injuries upset our rhythm and it's not easy, so it's great credit to the players who came in. Simpson, Anderson and Gerard Pique were absolutely outstanding.

"We upped the tempo in the second half and got that consistency of performance.

"Some of the interplay between our forwards was excellent; they're coming together and there's an understanding that comes with that. We saw some of that today.

There's a long way to go but what I think is significant is that I'm very confident with the squad I have and they've shown themselves today. I'm proud how some of them have come in.

"It was a great cross from Simpson for Rooney's goal. Danny's a very confident boy. He's so quick and is a tremendous defender.

"He's improving all the time and is one of the players who we won't consider going out on loan because he's valuable to us."

United will be glad of the international break as they endeavour to reduce an injury list that now comprises 10 names. As odd as it sounds, Wigan will take some heart from the early part of this performance as well as the undeserved home defeat to Liverpool that preceded it.

In Koumas they have one of the Premier League's most intelligent passers and if they can find a way to create more chances, they should be okay.

Had United goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak not saved so brilliantly from substitute Antonio Valencia with the score at 2-0, Wigan may even have found a way back into the match.

MANCHESTER UTD: (4-2-3-1): Kuszczak 8; Pique 7, Ferdinand 7, Vidic 7 (Anderson 21min, 7), Evra 7; Scholes 7, O'Shea 7 (Simpson 29, 8); Ronaldo 8, Rooney 8, Giggs 7; Tevez 8 (Nani 81). Booked: Rooney.

WIGAN: (4-1-4-1): Kirkland 8; Melchiot 8 (Hall 48 7), Boyce 7, Bramble 8, Kilbane 7; Skoko 7; Olembe 7 (Valencia 66, 7), Koumas 8, Brown 8, Scharner 7; Bent 7.

Man of the match: Carlos Tevez.

Referee: Mike Riley.