Barclays English Premier League

MU see off Wigan
Afp, Manchester

Wayne Rooney kept Manchester United on course for the Premier League's top spot before being struck down by injury as the European champions secured a tense 1-0 win at home to Wigan on Wednesday. United can now climb to the top of the table for the first time this season if they win at Bolton on Saturday after Rooney's first minute goal sealed victory against former United centreback Steve Bruce's team. Although Wigan had arrived at Old Trafford in fine form, having won six of their last seven league games, their record against United was a sorry six defeats from six meetings in the Premier League, so the form book was certainly on the champions' side as they attempted to edge to within two points of leaders Liverpool. But even so, United's lightning start took the breath away as they opened the scoring inside the first minute when Rooney pounced on Ronaldo's cross from the right flank. The United winger easily beat his marker on the edge of the penalty area and his cross into the six-yard box was missed by defender Paul Scharner, allowing Rooney to stroke the ball home from close range. It proved to be Rooney's last involvement in the game, though, with the England forward succumbing to injury just six minutes later. Ferguson replaced Rooney with Carlos Tevez and the Argentinian forward - whose future at the club is far from secure - should have doubled United's lead after being teed up by John O'Shea midway through the first-half. O'Shea's header from Wigan goalkeeper Chris Kirkland's clearance freed Tevez thirty yards from goal, but the former West Ham striker over-ran the ball after rounding the keeper and he could only aim his shot into the side-netting. Wigan did not sit back, however, and they caused United a host of problems through Ecuadorian winger Antonio Valencia. Valencia, reportedly a January target for Real Madrid and Liverpool, delivered a series of dangerous crosses, but strikers Emile Heskey and Amr Zaki failed to take advantage. United failed to heed the warning, though, and Wigan were the dominant team early in the second-half as United allowed themselves to drop too deep. Ryan Taylor and Zaki both had goalbound efforts blocked and Maynor Figueroa forced Edwin van der Sar into a difficult save with a swerving volley from 30-yards on sixty-seven minutes. When Heskey directed a Valencia cross just wide of the near post seconds later, Ferguson raced to the touchline to berate his under-performing players. The manager's rallying call went unheeded, however, and United continued to toil away. Fortunately for their title hopes, though, they were able to hold out to claim their fifth 1-0 win in seven league games.