Four-midable United see off Wigan

United turned on the power in the second period as Carlos Tevez, Cristiano Ronaldo's double and Wayne Rooney's late header finished off the Latics.

Indeed, had Chris Kirkland not pawed away an early Salomon Olembe header, which seemed destined for an own goal, Wigan might well have been crushed.

Mike Riley's inexplicable decision not to award Ronaldo a penalty when he collected the rebound and was bundled over by Michael Brown was also significant in that sense as United's momentum stalled amid three injuries.

Ferguson had already suffered one blow as the latest in a catalogue of fitness problems to hit Louis Saha forced him to pull out in the warm-up.

It was at the back, though, where the major damage was inflicted as Nemanja Vidic failed to recover from a clash of heads with Marcus Bent. Within seven minutes Ferguson had lost John O'Shea as well after he pulled up with what appeared to be a muscle problem.

Having done little to suggest they might be about to breach Wigan's defences, United soon set about rectifying that.

Ryan Giggs had already rattled the bar when Rooney spun on halfway and fed Anderson, who in turn released Tevez. He held off Kevin Kilbane, stepped inside Titus Bramble and Kirkland before belting his shot into the bottom corner.

Within five minutes United netted a second as Ronaldo nodded home from point-blank range, after Kirkland had only been able to parry a Giggs cross.

More good work from Anderson and Pique then offered Rooney the chance to tee up Ronaldo for number three, and Rooney netted the fourth when he nodded home Danny Simpson's cross eight minutes from the end.