On this day: Manchester United thrash Wigan Athletic

By Liam Apicella, Features Editor | 06 October 2013

Six years ago today, Manchester United scored four unanswered goals against Wigan Athletic at Old Trafford.

The summer of 2007 was a busy one at Old Trafford in terms of arrivals.

Sir Alex Ferguson had seen his Manchester United side regain the Premier League title from Chelsea during the previous term, but they had fallen short at the semi-final stage of the Champions League to Kaka and AC Milan.

The Scot reacted to that disappointment by recruiting a quintet of players - Carlos Tevez, Nani, Anderson, Owen Hargreaves and Tomasz Kuszczak.

Sir Alex Ferguson unveils Nani and Owen Hargreaves as Manchester United players. © Getty Images

While those arrivals provided United supporters with plenty of optimism, that was on the wane after three games of the new campaign when their side had picked up just one point.

Five wins, against the likes of Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, steadied the ship, but question marks were still being asked over the style of performances - that was until Wigan Athletic arrived at Old Trafford six years ago today.

It took until the second half, but United really put Wigan to the sword. Tevez put the hosts in front in the 54th minute when he raced onto Anderson's through-ball, before Cristiano Ronaldo headed in from a corner.

Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo celebrate the latter's goal in October 2007. © Getty Images

The Portugal attacker added his second and United's third of the afternoon 14 minutes from time when he turned in Wayne Rooney's square pass, which in turn put Wigan out of contention.

Rooney then turned scorer in the closing stages when he rose highest inside the penalty area to head in substitute Danny Simpson's cross.

"I was very pleased with the football in the second half. We had 10 players missing but great credit to the players who played today. We speeded the game up in the second half, the flow of the game was much better. It's coming together," said Ferguson after the final whistle.

Sir Alex Ferguson salutes the Manchester United crowd after their win over Wigan Athletic in October 2007. © Getty Images

His opposite number, Chris Hutchings, said: "We had a game plan which worked well in the first half, but as as soon as they scored the first goal they upped the tempo and they could have scored a couple more.

"It's always difficult but while it's 1-0 you have always got a chance. I'm disappointed that we lost our shape."

MAN UNITED: Kuszczak; Pique, Ferdinand, Vidic (Anderson 21), Evra; Ronaldo, O'Shea (Simpson 30), Scholes, Giggs; Rooney, Tevez (Nani 81)

WIGAN: Kirkland; Melchiot (Hall 50), Boyce, Bramble, Kilbane; Scharner, Brown, Skoko, Koumas, Olembe (Valencia 66); Bent