Never before has winning a match as emphatically as 4-0 been as glum as it was yesterday for Manchester united, The news of Anelka breaking the deadlock at Stamford Bridge had filtered through the year at Old Trafford and when Darren Fletcher opened the scoring for Manchester United there was no ecstatic celebrations.
On a night when an impressive performance by the home side was overshadowed by the Anti Glazer Protests, where green and gold scarves and ‘GO, Glazers’ placards were seen aplenty at Old Trafford United’s emphatic win came with the news of Chelsea slamming 8 past a hapless Wigan to dethrone the reigning Premier League Champions.
Manchester United went into the game hoping against hope that Roberto Martinez’s Wigan will serve them a coveted 4th title in as many years as he relied on the latics to take some points off Chelsea.
United made two changes from the side that won last week with Ferdinad partnering Vidic at the heart of the defense with Gary Nevile and Evra playing out wide.
In the centre of the pith Played Darren Fletcher and Scholes while Nani and the vetran Welshman Giggs provided width from the flanks and Rooney and Berbatov played up top for the home side.
United made a bright start to the match threatening the Begovic’s goal early on. Although the win in the end was no more than usual days work for United but some gritty defending and United’s wastefulness up top frustrated the hosts early on.
First Andy Wilkinson superbly blocked a low shot from Dimitar Berbatov and then Johnny Higginbottam smothered an effort from Patrice evra after the wingback had dribbled the ball into the box masterfully.
But there was no chance of Fletcher missing an open goal in the 31st minute when an unfortunate ricochet off Dean Whitehead provided the Welshman with the simplest of tap ins at the near post.
Asmir Begovic saved another effort from Gary Neville before Ryan Giggs finally made it 2-0 on the night with a calm first time finish after a low cross from Berbatov allowed the vetran winger to run across the box.
The visitors offered no threats to the home side goal and their only meaningful attack was easilt thwarted by Vander sar when Ricardo fuller asked the question.
The result was made safe when beyond any doubt when a tantalizing low cross into the box by Wayne Rooney was guided into his own net by Higginbottam.
Paul Scholes then forced a great save from Begoviv when he audaciously tried to chip the goalie while Nani’s effort for also saved after the Portuguese international was played through by a slick Wayne Rooney pass.
Edvin Van Der Sar made sure that united kept a clean sheet in their final outing of the season when he made to splendid saved to deny Rory Delap and Danny Pugh.
There was still time for the South Korean Ji Sung Park to make it 4-0 on the night when the stoke defense failed to clear the ball in the box, but the afternoon was tinged with disappointment as by the time the fourth goal went in Chelsea had already put 8 past Wigan and with that effectively sealed the title.
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