Wigan Athletic Vs. Manchester United: Wigan Dominate Early Stages

And that's why you play for Wigan, Charles N'Zogbia and Hugo Rodallega. After a series of mistakes by Manchester United's centre-back pairing, the pair found themselves two on one against captain Nemanja Vidic with N'Zogbia in possession. Normally, one might expect the winger to perhaps attempt to go around the defender, or pass to a teammate. Instead, he ran straight into Vidic, who dispossessed him. Seconds later, Rodallega volleyed a shot high enough that it has a real chance to make first contact with alien civilisations. And then Edwin van der Sar saved a one on one from Victor Moses. It's been all Wigan in the early going.

Wayne Rooney is being a naughty boy today - perhaps frustrated that Wigan have had most of the play. Off the ball, with James McCarthy more or less minding his own business, Rooney elected to give him an elbow to the face for no apparent reason. The referee, Mark Clattenburg, saw the incident but did not deem it worthy of much - but a less sympathetic referee may have produced a yellow or red card. Obviously, a sending off for Rooney would be the last thing Sir Alex Ferguson would want to see in the 11th minute of a game against Wigan. Not a great start by his team.