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Played
April 11, 2012 7:45 PM BST
The DW Stadium — Wigan
Referee:‬ P. Dowd‎
Attendance:‬ 18115‎
 
 
Top of the Match
Victor Moses
Victor Moses
Wigan Athletic
Shaun Maloney
Shaun Maloney
Wigan Athletic
Flop of the Match
Phil Jones
Phil Jones
Manchester United
Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney
Manchester United

Wigan 1-0 Manchester United: Maloney strike dents visitors' title bid after Latics have goal controversially disallowed

The hosts claim a famous win to move out of the bottom three, while a disappointing display by the visitors sees their lead at the top cut to five points with five games to play

By Gill Clark

Shaun Maloney
Getty Images
Wigan Athletic stunned Manchester United with a 1-0 win at the DW Stadium on Wednesday night, the champions' first defeat in the league since January.

A Shaun Maloney super strike did the damage, handing the hosts their first ever Premier League win over the Red Devils and providing Manchester City with a lifeline in the race for the title.

After a controversial defeat to Chelsea at the weekend, Roberto Martinez opted to keep faith with his players, naming an unchanged side. United, meanwhile, made three changes with Phil Jones, Ryan Giggs and Javier Hernandez coming in for Rafael Da Silva, Paul Scholes and Danny Welbeck.

Yet it was Wigan who began the game strongly, as if still simmering with the injustice of Saturday’s defeat at Stamford Bridge, dominating possession, retaining the ball well and forcing United onto the back foot.

Twice inside the first 10 minutes, the Latics could have taken the lead, if not for David de Gea who once again impressed in the visitors’ goal. First the young Spaniard tipped a fizzing strike from James McCarthy over the bar and a minute later he punched Maloney’s corner clear and was relieved to see a Jean Beausejour effort fly wide of his goal.

United were struggling, yet could have taken the lead with their first chance. Hernandez looked set to break Wigan hearts but the Mexican was denied by a superb last-ditch tackle by Gary Caldwell.  

The hosts continued to press, however, forcing a visibly frustrated Sir Alex Ferguson onto the touchline to bellow instructions to his players, but his words seemed to have little effect as a lethargic United continued to be outplayed by an impressive Wigan team.

Much has been made of the refereeing decisions which both teams have witnessed in recent weeks and the official was once again the talking point, disallowing a goal on the half-hour mark.

Victor Moses was the man to be denied, heading home Maloney’s corner only to see it ruled out for a foul by Caldwell on De Gea. Unsurprisingly, particularly given recent events, manager Martinez was livid on the touchline and it was little surprise to see the home fans boo referee Phil Dowd off at the break.

The champions re-emerged early for the second half, Ferguson sending his team out with one change bringing on Tom Cleverley, who spent last season on loan at Wigan, for Ashley Young.

However, it was Wigan who took the lead four minutes into the second half, ironically from a corner that the Manchester United fans were furious had been awarded. Maloney combined with Beausejour from the set piece before curling home brilliantly from the edge of the box to hand his side the lead that their performance had thoroughly deserved.

Stung by the goal, Ferguson reacted by sending on Welbeck for Hernandez but to little effect and, on the hour mark, off went Rooney for a fit-again Nani.

Still the champions toiled, with fortune now seeming to favour the hosts. An apparent Maynor Figueroa handball in the area, after a cross by Jones, was missed by referee Dowd as United belatedly began to lay siege to the Wigan goal.

However, back came the Latics with De Gea having to be alert to deny Moses and prevent the home side from doubling their lead.

With time running out, and five minutes added on, United continued to press but it simply was not to be and Wigan held on for a deserved win, with the result cheered loudly at the DW and even possibly louder down the road at the Etihad.

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Wigan Athletic

26
Ali Al Habsi
Goalkeeper
3.0
3
3.0
5
Gary Caldwell
Defender
3.5
17
Emmerson Boyce
Defender
3.0
31
Maynor Figueroa
Defender
3.5
4
James McCarthy
Midfielder
3.5
11
Victor Moses
Striker
4.0
16
James McArthur
Midfielder
3.5
11
Jean Beausejour
Midfielder
50′
3.0
9
3.5
10
Shaun Maloney
Midfielder
50′ 77′
3.5

Manchester United

2.5
1
David de Gea
Goalkeeper
3.0
3
Patrice Evra
Defender
2.5
4
Phil Jones
Defender
85′
3.0
5
Rio Ferdinand
Defender
3.0
6
Jonny Evans
Defender
22′
2.5
11
Ryan Giggs
Midfielder
3.0
16
Michael Carrick
Midfielder
2.5
18
Ashley Young
Midfielder
46′
2.5
25
Antonio Valencia
Midfielder
3.0
10
Wayne Rooney
Striker
65′
2.5
14
Chicharito
Striker
58′

Substitutes

12
Mike Pollitt
Goalkeeper
-
23
Ronnie Stam
Defender
-
7
Crusat
Midfielder
-
8
Ben Watson
Midfielder
-
21
Mohamed Diame
Midfielder
70′
3.0
14
Jordi Gómez
Midfielder
-
18
Conor Sammon
Striker
77′
3.0

Substitutes

-
40
Ben Amos
Goalkeeper
-
12
Chris Smalling
Defender
-
13
Ji-Sung Park
Midfielder
3.0
17
Nani
Midfielder
65′
3.0
23
Tom Cleverley
Midfielder
46′
-
42
Paul Pogba
Midfielder
3.0
19
Danny Welbeck
Striker
58′

Coach/Manager

Coach/Manager

 
  • Goal
  • Own Goal
  • Penalty
  • Penalty Missed
  • Yellow Card
  • Assist
  • Penalty Save
  • Penalty Shootout Goal
  • Penalty Shootout Miss
  • Yellow Card / Red Card
  • Red Card
  • Substitution IN
  • Substitution OUT
  • Injury
  • Goal.com Rating
  • Goal.com Man of the Match
  • Goal.com Flop of the Match
  • Top & Flop Global Ranking
  • Fans' Man of the Match
  • Fans' Flop of the Match
Results
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Robin van Persie Robin van Persie
Striker
Arsenal
30 2
Wayne Rooney Wayne Rooney
Striker
Manchester United
27 6
Kun Agüero Kun Agüero
Striker
Manchester City
23 3
Aiyegbeni Yakubu Aiyegbeni Yakubu
Striker
Blackburn
17 4
Emmanuel Adebayor Emmanuel Adebayor
Striker
Tottenham
17 3