Good afternoon and welcome to Sports Mole's live text commentary of today's Premier League encounter between Manchester United and Wigan Athletic at Old Trafford.
Before we were so rudely interrupted by the international break, United recorded their second consecutive win of the campaign thanks to Robin van Persie's impressive hat-trick in a 3-2 victory at Southampton.
Meanwhile, Wigan built on their win against the Saints with a respectable 2-2 draw with Stoke City.
Please note that kickoff is at 3pm.
4.55pmAnyway, that's all from us today. We hope you've enjoyed our live text commentary and we hope to see you again soon!
4.54pmReferee Michael Oliver blows the whistle for full-time and Manchester United have their third consecutive win of the season as they beat Wigan Athletic 4-0. They weren't too convincing in the first half but it was a different story in the second as United flooded the Wigan half to score four goals. The Latics gave a very good account of themselves in the opening 45 minutes but they couldn't keep it up.
90+3minFULL TIME: MAN UTD 4-0 WIGAN
90+3minYELLOW CARD: That's uncharacteristic from Welback as he lunges into Di Santo and picks up a booking.
90minWe'll have three minutes of injury time...
88minPowell gets the ball on the edge of the area again as the fans shout 'SHOOOOT!'. However, he's dispossessed this time and Wigan clear.
86minUnited are just happy to knock the ball around now.
82minWow! Nik Powell scores his first United goal and it's a beauty. The midfielder pops up on the edge of the box and fires the ball Scholes-like past Al Habsi. Welcome to Manchester.
81minGOAL! MAN UNITED 4-0 WIGAN (POWELL)
79minMeanwhile, United go up the other end and some quick interplay from Van Persie and Nani ends with the winger lashing over a left-footed drive from the edge of the box.
78minBoyce does well down the right and earns his side a corner. But it comes to nothing.
76minSUBSTITUTION: Jonny Evans is on and Unired captain Nemanja Vidic is off for the Red Devils. I'm sure Sir Alex Ferguson has one eye on their Champions League clash with Galatasaray in midweek.
73minVan Persie nearly has a goal with his first touch but is thwarted by Caldwell practically on the goalline.
72minSUBSTITUTIONS: Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs are both off United and they are replaced by Nik Powell and Robin van Persie. The two veterans get a huge applause as thhey both reach personal landmarks of 700 appearances and 600 Premier League appearances respectively.
70minLindegaard is called into action now as he smothers Kone's chance. Quick feet from the Dane.
69minHave just about caught my breath here.
68minSUBSTITUTION: Another change for Wigan as Jean Beausejour is replaced by David Jones.
66minIt's a well deserved goal from Alex Buttner and United are running away with this one. The defender goes on a mazy run through the Wigan defence before his shot/cross on the byline goes in via Al Habsi. The left-back has been very impressive indeed this afternoon.
65minGOAL! MAN UTD 3-0 WIGAN (BUTTNER)
63minHernandez showed great anticipation there to read the game just that little bit quicker than the Wigan defence.
63minUnited extend their lead and it's classic Javier Hernandez. Giggs does well on the left before the ball falls to Cleverley who has a go with his left foot. However, the Mexican gets in front of his marker to poke home and double his side's lead.
62minGOAL! MAN UTD 2-0 WIGAN
60minUnited break following a Wigan attack but Nani's shot is blocked. The ball comes out to Ryan Giggs who tries to play in Welbeck but the veteran Welshman's clever ball over the top goes straight to Al Habsi.
58minSUBSTITUTION: First change of the match comes from Wigan as Jordi Gomez is on to replace Shaun Maloney.
55minSuddenly there are some absolutely crunching tackles flying in. McArthur goes in the book for one on Nani.
52minUnited nearly grab another goal instantly but Welbeck's acrobatic effort flies wide of Al Habsi's post. The Old Trafford crowd are raising their voices now.
51minNani looks like he's wasted the corner but he does well out wide before crossing into the six yard box. Who's there but Paul Scholes to tap in on his 700th appearance for the Red Devils.
51minGOAL! MAN UTD 1-0 WIGAN (SCHOLES)
50minCorner for United...
48minYELLOW CARD: Emerson Boyce goes into the book for Wigan thanks to a challenge on Buttner.
47minThe Latics are pressing well at the start of this second half.
46minEarly opportunity for Wigan there as Kone heads Beausejour's cross over the bar.
46minIt looks like there's no changes to either side at the break and it'll be Wigan to get this second half underway for us.
4.02pmHere come the players back out at Old Trafford...
3.59pmPREMIER LEAGUE HALF-TIME SCORES:
Arsenal 4-1 Southampton
Aston Villa 1-0 Swansea
Fulham 2-0 West Brom
QPR 0-0 Chelsea
Stoke 1-1 Man City
3.56pmAnyway, time to update you with the half-time scores from the rest of today's Premier League games...
3.54pmThat said, nothing should be taken away from Wigan and their performance in that opening 45 minutes. They rode their luck at times in defence but caused the United back four plenty of problems.
3.52pmSo, what will the second half have in store? United have the option of bringing on Kagawa and Van Persie in the second half. Surely Sir Alex Ferguson will use them at some point?
3.49pmReferee Michael Oliver blows his whistle for half time as the two sides go in goalless at the break. United had a great chance to score from the spot in the opening five minutes but Hernandez shot was saved by Al Habsi after the Wigan goalkeeper had brought down Welbeck. However, the visitors have threatened and could have taken the lead but for Ramis wayward header.
45+2minHALF TIME: Man United 0-0 Wigan
45minWe'll have two minutes of injury time...
44minCHANCE! Oh my! Figueroa puts in a teasing cross that gets deflected to the back post but Kone can't get the ball out from under his feet. The striker's effort trickles wide. Big opening for the Latics there.
41minKone and Di Santo took up good positions for that and Beausejour should have done better.
40minWigan go on the attack again as Beausejour gets the ball out wide. However, the cross is poor to say the least and floats straight into the hands of Lindegaard.
37minIt's better from the visitors this time but Rafael eventually heads the ball away.
36minCorner to Wigan...
35minTen minutes left to play in this opening half.
35minWhat a waste from Nani. The Portuguese winger is set free down the centre by Giggs but inexplicably decides to try and chip Al Habsi from the edge of the box. Surely a good old fashioned thump would have been the better option?
33minButtner makes a run down the left again and crosses to Welbeck at the near post but Ramis deals well with the danger.
31minThe Latics pack the United box with players but they take the corner shot and waste the opportunity. Probably not the right decision.
30minCorner for Wigan. Di Santo gets in behind the defence but Buttner makes the tackle.
28minRoberto Martinez's men are enjoying more of the ball in the opposing half now.
26minWigan certainly fancy their chances now. Boyce evades the challenge for Giggs before firing wide. Lindegaard had to get down low there to see the ball out.
24minWelbeck could have had a couple of goals already this afternoon. This time he heads Carrick's cross narrowly over. Chances coming thick and fast now.
23minCHANCE! Wigan have the Unite defence worried there as Ramis gets above everyone but can only head Di Santo's free kick wide. A real warning for the hosts.
21minWigan hanging on by the skin of there teeth here. Scholes has a trademark effort blocked before Welbeck's instinctive shot comes off a defender and is cleared.
20minGiggs whips it in but it comes to nothing. Scholes gets the ball back thought and United have another corner.
19minIt's another chance for Welbeck as he nicks the ball of Caldwell on the edge of the area. However, the defender recovers well to deflect the shot over the bar. Corner to United.
18minCHANCE! Nani floats in a teasing cross and Welbeck gets in front of Boyce but can only put his volley wide. Great technique from the striker.
16minA rare attack for Wigan now but Caldwell's lofted pass has too much on it for Beausejour and runs out for a goal kick.
15minHernandez is now down around the centre circle following aheft challenge from Ramis. No free kick though. Meanwhile, Welbeck is snuffed out well by Figueroa. United have the corner but it comes to nothing.
13minAs always, Roberto Martinez is stood calmly on the touchline assessing his side.
11minSummer signing Alexander Buttner looks a dangerous prospect already down the left side as he puts in a couple of crosses.
9minLooking at the penalty again and it's not the best hit from Hernandez. The Mexican put little power into it as Al Habsi got down to his left to save.
7minThat save seems to have woken up the visitors as they enjoy some possession now in the United half.
5minSAVED! Yet more drama as Hernandez's penalty is puched away by Al Habsi. The original foul was debatable as there looked to be minimal contact with Welbeck, but the Wigan shotstopper makes amends with a low save.
4minEarly drama here at Old Trafford as Al Habsi brings down Welbeck to concede the spot kick. Looked a bit dubious if you ask me.
4minPENALTY TO MAN UNITED!
3minUnited looking comfortable in the opening stages as Beausejour recklessly tackles Nani. No booking for the midfielder. Had it not been the opening couple of minutes then he might have picked up a yellow card for that.
1minEarly opportunity for the hosts but Welbeck can't quite get on the end of Nani's cross.
3.00pmHere we go then, it'll be United to get us underway...
2.57pmIt's a gloriously sunny day at Old Trafford as both team receive a big welcome from the fans.
2.55pmOkay the, the players are in the tunnel ready to go.
2.52pmJust under 10 minutes until kick off...
2.50pmTrawling through the history books, United have won all nine of their matches with Wigan at Old Trafford with eight of those coming in the Premier League. Two of the last three have been 5-0 pummelings.
2.46pmWigan subs: Pollitt, Watson, Crusat, Jones, Gomez, Boselli, Miyaichi
2.44pmThere was plenty of goals in the corresponding fixture last season as United romped to a 5-0 win on home soil on Boxing Day. However, the more significant encounter came at the DW in April as the Latics recorded their first ever Premier League triumph over the Red Devils thanks to Shaun Maloney's wonderful curled goal. That loss triggered United's collapse after they looked to have been well on course for a 20th title.
2.36pmOn top of that, Paul Scholes is turning out for the 700th time in a red shirt. You have to applaud the little fella - judging by his game-changing appearance off the bench against Southampton he still plenty to offer Sir Alex Ferguson.
2.34pmRio Ferdinand makes his 400th appearance for United, while Ryan Giggs notches up his 600th Premier League appearance for the Red Devils.
2.32pmIn the meantime, it's another huge day of milestones at Old Trafford...
2.28pmWe'll also have the Wigan subs for you as soon as we get them.
2.23pmWigan: Al Habsi; Boyce, Caldwell, Figueroa, Ramis; Beausejour, McArthur, McCarthy, Maloney; Di Santo, Kone
2.22pmSome Wigan team news now and Roberto Martinez has kept the same team that drew 2-2 with Stoke last time out.
2.19pmMan Utd subs: De Gea, Evans, Valencia, Cleverley, Powell, Kagawa, Van Persie
2.18pmThat other big bit of team news for United is Anders Lindegaard starting in goal ahead of David de Gea for the second conescutive game. The Dane was between the sticks in the win against Southampton and has been given the nod ahead of the Spaniard again today.
2.16pmVan Persie and Kagawa were doubts following reported minor knocks that they picked up on international duty but most quarters expected at least one of them to start.
2.14pmWe'll bring you news of Wigan's lineup and who's on the bench for both sides when we get it.
2.11pmMan Utd: Lindegaard; Rafael, Ferdinand, Vidic, Buttner; Nani, Carrick, Scholes, Giggs; Chicharito, Welbeck
2.10pmWithout wasting anytime we've already got team news in for United and ther big story is that Robin van Persie and Shinji Kagawa both miss out for the Red Devils. Meanwhile, Anders Lindegaard begins in goal and Alexander Buttner makes his first Premier League appearance.
2.07pmGood afternoon and a big Sports Mole welcome to our live text commentary of Manchester United's Premier League encounter with Wigan Athletic at Old Trafford.
Written by
Jack Prescott
Jack Prescott
