Manchester United brushed aside Wigan 5-0 at Old Trafford to move within two points of league leaders Chelsea. Wigan may well have been poor but they still had to be defeated and Manchester United demolished the Latics in a thoroughly professional manner.
Three goals to the good by half time gives some indication of how superior were United and how hapless were the visitors.
Surprisingly, the Reds faithful had to wait until the 28th minute for the floodgates to be opened when Wayne Rooney started the rout.
Michael Carrick doubled the advantage moments later and then on the stroke of half time Rafael da Silva added a third.
When Dimitar Berbatov scored immediately after the break United had bagged four goals in 22 minutes as Wigan crumbled.
Antonio Valencia made it five and in all honesty the scoreline could have matched Wigan's 9-1 defeat at Tottenham a few weeks back had the host's taken all their chances.
Defeat leaves the Latics just a point off the drop zone following one win in nine matches.
For Sir Alex Ferguson it is not only three points but a gradual erosion of Chelsea's goal difference which is now just two more than United.
