They left it late, as they always seem to, but last night Manchester United put one hand on a record-equalling 18th title in typically dramatic style.
With four minutes left, United's march to a third straight crown looked to have been halted by Steve Bruce's spirited side, who refused to fulfil the role of obliging opponents and roll over for their manager's old club.
But when Michael Carrick's strike from the edge of the area flew beyond the reach of Wigan keeper Richard Kingson, anxiety in the United camp gave way to elation as they moved to the brink of fresh domestic glory.
Victory here means United need only a point against Arsenal at Old Trafford on Saturday to clinch Sir Alex Ferguson's 11th Premier League title and equal arch rivals Liverpool's long-standing record of domestic championships.
And ironically, the man who changed the game for United and hauled them from a losing position into a winning mentality, is the player the Old Trafford hierarchy seemingly did not want beyond the end of this season.
Carlos Tevez did himself few favours on the morning of last Sunday's Manchester derby by publicly declaring his resignation to leaving United, having at that stage not been offered an extension to his two-year loan deal.
But how fortunes can change. A sublime strike to secure victory over Manchester City and a cheeky back-heel here last night to haul United level and provide the platform for victory provided compelling proof of why United would be mad to let him go.
Afterwards Fergie spoke of United's willingness to offer Tevez a new deal and desire to see him stay at Old Trafford. And when the diminutive striker can have such a seismic impact on games like this, why would you allow him to leave?
Tevez's impudent goal in the 61st minute, moments after his introduction for Anderson, changed the course of the game. Until his arrival, United had laboured, Cristiano Ronaldo was in full hissy-fit mode, and nothing was going their way.
The fawning pre-match eulogies towards Fergie from United old-boy Bruce and his chairman Dave Whelan proved worthless to the conspiracy theorists who predicted an easy win for the reigning Premier League champions.
Advertisement - article continues below »For an hour of this absorbing contest, Wigan were far superior to United, who were unable to find a way through their resolute and belligerent defence.
Wigan should have taken the lead after 90 seconds. Jonny Evans slipped, allowing Antonio Valencia a free run towards the United goal with only Edwin van der Sar to beat.
Nemanja Vidic kept in pursuit of Valencia and his presence was enough to unsettle the Wigan winger, whose awful chip trundled several yards wide of the target.
If that miss was bad, then Wayne Rooney produced an ever more glaring one nine minutes later, heading wide from six yards out with the goal at his mercy.
But Wigan's persistence paid off in the 28th minute when they took the lead. Lee Cattermole punted a hopeful ball forward in the direction of Wigan's lone striker Hugo Rodallega.
Rodallega and Nemanja Vidic both went to head the ball, and as the pair tumbled to the turf, Vidic lost his footing and his sense of direction, allowing Rodallega to drill the ball inside van der Sar's near post.
Ronaldo, who threw a touchline tantrum at Old Trafford on Sunday when substituted against his will, went through his full repertoire of histrionics again, throwing up his arms in disgust at every perceived injustice.
On this occasion, however, United did not need their star man, for that billing was Tevez's. Carrick's speculative shot was going nowhere until Tevez's brilliant piece of improvisation diverted the ball into the net.
As Tevez and his jubilant team-mates celebrated, the familiar refrain of 'Fergie, sign him up' came from the United end, and it was hard not to agree with the sentiment given the Argentine's uncanny knack for scoring crucial goals.
With United rejuvenated, Carrick struck the killer blow with his sweeping finish to leave Fergie's men on the brink of yet another domestic success and a title party at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment