United 5 Wigan 0

The end-of-year celebrations came a day early at Old Trafford as United saw out 2009 with a flourish, disposing of Wigan Athletic with ease and panache.

Wayne Rooney was the bright spark, while Rafael and Antonio Valencia also impressed in a second 5-0 win over Wigan this season. Rooney, Michael Carrick, Rafael, Dimitar Berbatov and Valencia all found the net as United’s excellent run of big wins against the Latics continued unabated. Roberto Martinez’s men simply had no response to an imposing Reds display.

Sir Alex can celebrate his 68th birthday on New Year’s Eve safe in the knowledge United are within striking distance of leaders Chelsea (two points behind). He made just one change from the team that beat Hull on Sunday; Ji-Sung Park replacing Ryan Giggs on the left flank - such continuity has been rare given the chopping and changing the United boss has been forced into in recent weeks.

This fixture has been kind to United though; the Reds have won all ten meetings with Wigan, scoring 30 goals. Now was no time to stop that free-scoring trend. Sir Alex’s men set out on a pursuit to continue it with unrelenting determination. The first attempt on goal came in the fourth minute when Valencia, who shone against his former club, made a darting run into the area and forced a fine, low save from Chris Kirkland in the Wigan goal.

After 15 minutes Rooney, who looked right up for this match from the off, arced in a wonderful cross from the right that Berbatov headed tamely at Kirkland.

Source : Man Utd

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Hull 1 United 3

Wayne Rooney had a hand in all four goals as United edged a scrappy, but entertaining game laced with festive generosity at Hull City's KC Stadium.

The prolific striker opened the scoring in first half injury-time, before inadvertantly laying on the Tigers' equaliser with an errant backpass which spawned a Craig Fagan penalty. Rooney subsequently atoned, however, by drilling in an un-defendable cross which Andy Dawson turned into his own goal, before laying on a late third goal for Dimitar Berbatov.

United were uncharacteristically sloppy in possession for long periods, but just about did enough to deserve a victory reels in league leaders Chelsea to within two points, after the Blues' recent stuttering form continued on Boxing Day with a goalless draw at Birmingham.

Already armed with that opportunity to move closer to the summit, United's pre-match hopes were further bolstered by the sight of a back four containing four recognised defenders, after some partial respite from the recent spate of injuries. Recent mainstay Patrice Evra was rejoined by Rafael, Nemanja Vidic and Wes Brown, allowing Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher to curtail their moonlighting and return to the centre of midfield.

With round pegs back in round holes, there was more comfort about United's opening than in recent weeks. It took just five minutes for the Reds to fashion the game's first chance, when Antonio Valencia outstripped marker Andy Dawson, sped down the right flank and crossed for Ryan Giggs, whose volley dropped onto the roof of Boaz Myhill's goal.

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Fulham 3 United 0

There was little festive cheer for United fans at Fulham on Saturday afternoon as goals from Danny Murphy, Bobby Zamora and Damien Duff consigned the Reds to a fifth league defeat of the season.

Sir Alex’s men were under-strength yet again due to the club's ever-mounting injury crisis, but did themselves few favours on a ground that, before 2009, the Reds hadn’t lost at for 45 years.

Too often United were sloppy in possession and the makeshift backline struggled to find an answer to Bobby Zamora’s physical presence. Last weekend United lost to Aston Villa despite dominating much of the game. At Craven Cottage on Saturday, however, the opposition were good value for the three points.

The home side worked hard in midfield and restricted the Reds to optimistic pot-shots from long range. Meanwhile, Zamora and Zoltan Gera caused havoc against a makeshift Reds defence that included young Beligan Ritchie De Laet, making just his third league start at senior level.

Of course, this wasn't the first time Sir Alex has been forced to field a weakened side in recent weeks. For the most part, however, United have largely coped well with depleted resources. But at Fulham there was a feeling that this was one step too far, one game too many for players who have now been playing out of position for almost a month.

With seven defenders unavailable through injury, Michael Carrick was again utilised at the heart of the defence, alongside fellow midfielder Darren Fletcher and the young De Laet.

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United 3 Wolves 0

United bounced back to winning ways with a routine victory over a depleted Wolves side, thanks to first-half goals from Wayne Rooney and Nemanja Vidic and a stunning second half strike from Antonio Valencia.

The Reds were scarcely troubled by a visiting side featuring 10 changes to that which overcame Tottenham last weekend, and the game was buried after Rooney's penalty and a powerful Vidic header on the stroke of half-time. When Valencia capped a stunning move with a blistering finish on 65 minutes, it was merely a matter of reducing Chelsea's goal-difference advantage.

More defensive injury concerns had prompted another reshuffle for Sir Alex Ferguson, who replaced the injured Wes Brown with Michael Carrick, and brought in Ritchie De Laet at right-back, with Darren Fletcher rested, but ready if required on the bench. There was also a restoration of the Reds' 4-4-2 formation, with Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov in tandem ahead of a midfield four of Antonio Valencia, Paul Scholes, Darron Gibson and Gabriel Obertan, with the latter making his first league start.

That news was overshadowed pre-match, however, by Mick McCarthy's decision to make wholesale changes to the team which shocked Tottenham at White Hart Lane. With a Molineux clash against Burnley looming this weekend, the Wolves manager made 10 changes to his side. Not so much Wolves as lambs to the slaughter, on paper at least.

United dominated the opening exchanges. Rooney found himself with time and space inside the visitors' area after Gibson's drive had ricocheted through to him, but Marcus Hahnemann saved the striker's low shot.

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United 0 Villa 1

United missed the chance to close the gap on league leaders Chelsea after a first defeat to Aston Villa at Old Trafford since 1983.

Gabriel Agbonlahor’s 21st-minute header was the difference on a day when United huffed and puffed, but never really hit top gear. Villa's win moved them to third in the table with Martin O'Neill's side having now claimed victories over three of the big four this season - Chelsea, United and Liverpool.

The Reds received a couple of welcome boosts before kick-off as news of Chelsea’s dropping of two points at home to Everton filtered through to Old Trafford and the return of Wes Brown and Nemanja Vidic to the back four was confirmed. Wayne Rooney and Ryan Giggs were also back in the first eleven after missing the midweek Champions League victory in Wolfsburg. There was no starting place for hat-trick hero Michael Owen, however, who was named on the bench alongside fellow front man Dimitar Berbatov.

The opening exchanges were fairly even with both sides enjoying mini spells of possession. Rooney’s lovely dummy on five minutes afforded Antonio Valencia some space on the right wing to run into. The Ecuadorian cut inside and looked certain to strike one left-footed, but instead he tried to find Rooney and the move broke down. Four minutes later the winger had the ball taken off his toe by Richard Dunne just as he shaped to shoot from close range after a cross from the left.

United were beginning to slip into gear and should have made more of an electric break forward involving Rooney, Giggs and Valencia.

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Wolfsburg 1 United 3

United marched into the last 16 of the Champions League as emphatic group winners, thanks to Michael Owen's second hat-trick on German soil.

The Reds’ number seven, previously the nemesis of Germany's national team with England, grabbed three goals to destroy Wolfsburg and cap a fine rearguard action by an unfamiliar looking line-up. A header from Nani’s cross just before the break, a late tap-in from Gabriel Obertan’s low centre and an unstoppable solo surge in injury time gave Owen a triple to remember as he continues to build hero status at United.

The 3-1 victory was surely better than most fans had dared dream of when the full extent of United's injury crisis became apparent on the eve of this fixture. Sir Alex Ferguson was forced to play several players out of position, with midfielders Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher filling in admirably alongside his only fit senior defender Patrice Evra.

Tomasz Kuszczak continued in goal behind this unorthodox back three and was called into early action by a powerful first-time shot from Getafe. Misimovic also gave the Pole some work to do, but Anderson’s deflection took the sting out of it.

Carrick’s capabilities as an emergency centre-back were given their first serious test when Hasebe threatened to hare past him in the box, but thankfully United’s number 16 slid in to clear the danger. With Wolfsburg’s appeal for a penalty promptly waved away, the Reds regrouped to repel the resulting corner kick.

United’s defending was less convincing at the next corner, however, and had it not been for a bad header from Barzagli – over the bar from an unmarked position – the Reds could have been behind.

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United 2 Spurs 0

United’s young charges put last week’s Champions League defeat to Besiktas well and truly behind them with a solid display against a near-full strength Tottenham Hotspur side which booked a spot in the Carling Cup semi-finals.

A first-half double from Darron Gibson, who fired two fine efforts past the helpless Heurelho Gomes in the Spurs goal, was enough to seal victory over the same side United beat in the final to claim the trophy last season.

Sir Alex Ferguson, who was once again watching from the stands as he completed his two-game touchline ban, stuck with a number of those youngsters who had been harshly criticised after the Besiktas defeat last week – in fact eight of those who started against the Turks kept their place. The only new names on the teamsheet were Tomasz Kuszczak who remained in goal following an impressive display in the weekend's league win at Portsmouth, Ritchie De Laet who filled in at left-back, and Dimitar Berbatov who made his first appearance for a month after an injury.

United came bursting out of the blocks with Anderson dispossessing Wilson Palacios in midfield after just 50 seconds. The Brazilian burst forward before firing a low drive just wide of Gomes’ right-hand post.

It was a promising start from the Reds, but with Tottenham at virtually full strength it wasn’t long before the visitors had their first sight of goal. Robbie Keane collected possession in midfield and slotted a pass to the in-form Jermain Defoe who prompted a smart save from Kuszczak after a well-struck shot.

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