Latics 0-4 Man United

A lack of goal scoring prowess was once again the Latics downfall as we ended up getting a 4-0 thumping to our bogey team Manchester United.

A first half that had the Latics dominant, in possession and chances, saw United leave the field for their half-time cuppa one goal up, but it should have been so different.

After just two minutes Victor Moses whipped in a cross from the left and found Hugo Rodallega around the penalty spot, Hugo swung his left foot at it and skied his effort over the bar.

A few minutes later the ball fell to Charles N`Zogbia who broke in a two-on-one situation with Diame to his left and just facing Vidic on the edge of the box, instead of slipping Diame in, Charlie tried to take the ball round the United defender, but Vidic was strong and denied the chance.

Victor Moses then found himself with a great chance to put the Latics in front, he robbed Paul Scholes of the ball and broke at pace into the United box, with just Van der Sar to beat the young Latics winger hit his shot straight at the United keeper who had stayed big, good save or bad miss? Hard to tell.

On seven minutes, with the Latics in possession Wayne Rooney inexplicably forearmed smashed James McCarthy in the face in an off the ball incident that match referee Mark Clattenburg must have seen, he awarded a free-kick, but the expectant red card never materialised and Clattenburg tapped Rooney on the arse as he walked away from his briefest of tellings off.

10 minutes later Rooney played a one-two with Nani who crossed into the box for Hernandez to steal in at the near post to side foot home with a great goal-poachers effort.

Latics could have been level straight from the re-start, Moses tied O`Shea up in knots, crossed into the box, N`Zogbia back heeled to McCarthy who was completely unmarked at the back post, his first time shot though found Van der Sar rather than the back of the net, good save or bad miss? Hard to tell.

Latics continued to press but couldn`t find a way through and the second half was much the same, with Martinez`s team looking dangerous without being so, until 74 minutes when United hit on the break and Hernandez hit home his second of the game.

That goal seemed to take the sting out of the Latics and two goals in the closing stages by Rooney on 84 minutes and Fabio on 87 minutes gave the score-line a flattering edge in United`s favour.

Will we ever beat our bogey team?

Ben Watson, best game of the season from the midfield man



Latics: Al Habsi; Gohouri, Alcaraz, G. Caldwell, Figueroa; Watson (Gomez, 89), Diame, McCarthy; N'Zogbia (McArthur, 89), Moses (Di Santo, 65), Rodallega

Subs: Pollitt, S. Caldwell, Thomas, Lopez


Man Utd: Van Der Sar; Fabio, Smalling, Vidic, O'Shea; Nani (Fabio, 85), Carrick, Fletcher, Scholes (Gibson, 77); Rooney, Hernandez (Berbatov, 77)

Subs: Kuszczak, Brown, Rafael, King

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