Man United 4 Wigan 0: Manchester United finally hit the goal trail at Old Trafford and marched to the Premier League summit with a four-star blitz of Wigan.
After drawing yet another first-half blank, United turned on the power after the break, as Carlos Tevez opening their account before Cristiano Ronaldo's double and Wayne Rooney's late header finished off the Latics.
It was just the kind of result Alex Ferguson demanded after a barren run by United's prolific scoring standards and extended their winning league run to six matches, during which time they have not conceded a single goal.
Throughout a succession of narrow victories, Ferguson has insisted it would not be long before his side swamped an unlucky opponent. And the Latics, beaten on all five previous meetings with their illustrious north-west neighbours by a combined score of 16-3, were the perfect whipping boys.
Indeed, had Chris Kirkland not been able to stretch out a hand and paw away an early Salomon Olembe header which seemed destined for his own goal, Wigan might well have been totally crushed.
Referee Mike Riley's inexplicable decision not to award Cristiano Ronaldo a penalty when he collected the rebound and was instantly bundled over by Michael Brown was also significant in that sense as United's momentum stalled amid a hat-trick of unwanted injuries.
Ferguson had already suffered one blow as the latest in an almost laughable catalogue of fitness problems to hit Louis Saha forced the Frenchman to pull out in the warm-up. Although Saha was only on the bench, his absence cost United a useful attacking option as Rooney's partnership with Tevez continued to falter.
It was at the back though where the major damage was inflicted as Nemanja Vidic failed to recover from an early clash of heads with Marcus Bent. The tough-tackling Serb had already complained about problems with his vision once when he booted the ball out of play and sought more treatment.
It appeared Vidic merely wanted more time to recover but after a lengthy discussion with club doctor Steve McNally, Ferguson eventually told the brave defender his appearance was at an end.
Within seven minutes, Ferguson had lost John O'Shea as well after the Irishman pulled up with what appeared to be a muscle problem. The second substitution provided Danny Simpson with his Premier League debut and Rio Ferdinand with his third central defensive partner as Gerard Pique, given only his second league start, took over from O'Shea, who had taken over from Vidic.
Having done little to suggest they might be about to breach Wigan's defences, Ferguson might have been anxious at the break. If the Scot was worried, those fears were quickly dispelled. Giggs had already rattled the bar when Rooney spun on halfway and fed Anderson, who in turn released Tevez.
The former West Ham star is not noted for his speed but he had enough pace to hold off Kevin Kilbane, enough skill to step inside Bramble and Kirkland and enough patience to wait for the right moment to belt his shot into the bottom corner.
It was if a pressure valve had been released around Old Trafford and within five minutes, United netted a second as Ronaldo rose to nod home from point-blank range after Kirkland had only been able to parry a Giggs cross that flicked off Kilbane.
From that moment on, there was only one outcome and more good work from Anderson and Pique, who had adapted to his changing circumstances admirably, offered Rooney the chance to tee up Ronaldo for number three.
The effort was Ronaldo's fourth goal in five games and while he may still be 19 adrift of last season's phenomenal total, much like United, the brilliant Portugal winger is starting to find his form after a slow start to the campaign.
Re-acquainted with the taste for goals, Ferguson's men wanted more and Rooney duly obliged when he nodded home Simpson's excellent cross eight minutes from the end. PA
