Rooney highlights gulf in class

Manchester United 4 Wigan 0: Alex Ferguson had asked his players to demonstrate their togetherness, and there was something telling about the way every goal last night was followed by a massed huddle of all their outfield players.

Only Edwin van der Sar stayed back on a night when Manchester United showed that, even if they have to accept Chelsea's gold-lined hegemony, they are determined to prolong the argument.

It was a performance that shimmered with menace, when United recovered from a slow start to rediscover their fluent old selves and a sense of harmony was restored between the crowd and the team. Perhaps inevitably, Wayne Rooney was the catalyst, with two splendid goals, but there were plenty of other highlights to invigorate the beleaguered Ferguson, not least Rio Ferdinand's first goal for the club on his 140th appearance. Ruud van Nistelrooy completed the rout with a penalty as United recorded only their ninth home league win in the whole of 2005.

Chelsea, in stark contrast, have waltzed to nine since August. There is an aura of invincibility at Stamford Bridge that United are finding hard to replicate at Old Trafford. Not since the 1992-93 season have they had such an undistinguished start to a season in terms of home form.

They won the league that year, of course, but the margin for error is no longer what it was. If United are to catch and overhaul the most richly endowed club in the world, it is no exaggeration to say they may have to win all of their remaining home fixtures.

It would be an extraordinary feat, but the manner of this victory, and predominantly Rooney's artistry, should at least encourage them to believe they can whittle down Chelsea's lead in the new year.

Perhaps, in hindsight, Paul Jewell will reflect that on his 200th league game in charge of Wigan he had been too daring for his own good. Wigan had certainly regarded Ferguson's team as vulnerable, judging by Jewell's adventurous approach of playing three strikers. This was Wigan's first encounter with United and - just as Everton had exposed Ferguson's men with neat and incisive counter-attacking thrusts on Sunday - Jewell set out to catch them on the break.

It was a tactic that worked well throughout the opening exchanges, but just as the first groans were beginning to emanate United began to emphasise the gulf in status between the two clubs.

Suddenly, Stephane Henchoz and his defensive colleagues looked incapable of coping with United's passing and movement. A sweeping move concluded with Mike Pollitt, Wigan's goalkeeper, tipping van Nistelrooy's volley round the post, and Ferdinand, as he always does, duly trotted forward for the corner.

United's lack of goals from corners has long been a source of irritation among United's fans, but on this occasion Wigan's defenders were slow to react and Ferdinand's twisting header diverted Ryan Giggs's ball goalwards. Pollitt flicked out his right hand, but could not prevent the ball squeezing in.

In United's next attack Pollitt had to race from his goal-line to deny Rooney, but, having squandered what was a relatively easy chance, United's number eight then scored a goal that will further enhance the comparisons with him and George Best.

Trying to create some space in a congested penalty area, Rooney appeared to stumble and lose possession to Matt Jackson, but as he regained balance he took the ball from the defender's toe. His next move was a drop of his shoulder and stylish change of direction to wrongfoot Leighton Baines and give himself a clear sight of goal. Rooney had created the opportunity all by himself and finished off a sublime goal by firing low and hard beyond the exposed Pollitt.

Early in the second half, with the goal gaping, Rooney thudded the ball against the crossbar after Pollitt turned Gary Neville's low cross into his path. Undeterred, the 20-year-old continued to torment Wigan's defence, and when he ran clear on to van Nistelrooy's through-ball his dinked shot over the advancing Pollitt epitomised the confidence oozing through this remarkable sportsman.

All that was left was for van Nistelrooy to score his 14th goal of the season from the spot after Pollitt clattered into him.

Ferguson, taunted earlier by Wigan chants of "sacked in the morning", finished the night with a triumphant wave.

MANCHESTER UNITED: Van der Sar, Neville, Ferdinand (Bardsley 65), Brown, O'Shea, Fletcher, Smith, Scholes (Park 74), Giggs (Ronaldo 70), Rooney, van Nistelrooy. Subs Not Used: Howard, Saha. Booked: Ronaldo. Goals: Ferdinand 30, Rooney 35, 55, van Nistelrooy 70 pen.

WIGAN: Pollitt, Chimbonda, Jackson, Henchoz, Baines, Bullard, Skoko (Kavanagh 45), Mahon (McCulloch 74), Connolly, Roberts, Camara. Subs Not Used: Walsh, Taylor, Teale. Booked: Kavanagh.

Referee: A Wiley (Staffordshire).