Second-half revival gives United the points

Wigan 1 Manchester United 3

Manchester United produced a second-half revival to consolidate their position at the Premiership summit.

Nemanja Vidic and Louis Saha scored within a four-minute purple patch to turn the game on its head after Wigan had led through Leighton Baines' early opener at half-time.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer finished off the scoring in stoppage time but the transformation owed much to the introduction of Ryan Giggs, who, despite being some way short of full fitness, proved unstoppable.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Gary Neville were notable absentees as Premiership table-toppers Manchester United looked to consolidate their position at the expense of Wigan at the JJB Stadium.

Ronaldo failed to recover from an ankle injury picked up on international duty, while Neville sustained a calf strain in England's defeat in Croatia.

Wayne Rooney was selected though, given another chance to break an eight-game goalscoring drought which dates back to the opening weekend of the domestic season.

Rooney started on the left side of a five-man United midfield, with Louis Saha the lone striker.

It was Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, starting on the right, who had the first shot, which Chris Kirkland saved at his near post.

Wigan were presented with their first opportunity when Patrice Evra handled 35 yards out. It proved costly too as Leighton Baines strode up to smash a shot into the top corner.

A similar chance arrived for the Latics not long afterwards when Nemanja Vidic fouled Emile Heskey, but Denny Landzaat drifted his effort wide.

Evra was fortunate to escape when he allowed Henri Camara's low cross to bounce deep inside the United box as Gary Teale charged in. Vidic then headed clear when Teale turned a deep Kevin Kilbane cross back into the danger zone.

It took a well-timed Wes Brown challenge to prevent Heskey striding into the box before Arjan de Zeeuw failed to keep his header down when he arrived at the far post to meet Teale's cross.

United finally emerged from their shell on the quarter-hour, when Michael Carrick belted a left-footed effort over. Saha failed to trouble Kirkland with a shot on the turn but the England keeper had to react smartly to prevent a close-range Rooney effort from finding the net.

Kirkland conceded another corner after Saha's header from Carrick's initial effort dropped dangerously towards the Wigan bar.

The visitors were starting to find space but Saha could only take an air shot at Evra's low cross.

Any doubts over Rooney's ability were swiftly dispelled midway through the half when he took control of an Evra cross with his back to goal, beat two men, then smashed an unstoppable shot against the bar.

Ferdinand was booked for a thumping challenge from behind on Emile Heskey, then Vidic was left complaining at referee Steve Bennett's failure to spot a shove by Camara as he conceded a corner.

Teale belted an angled volley wide after a Ferdinand clearance had landed at his feet.

Rooney was off-target at the other end with a low shot before Saha was crowded out at the near post as he attempted to reach Solskjaer's cut-back.

Paul Scharner could not turn Emmerson Boyce's deep cross goalwards after the latest in a series of United attacks had broken down in the Wigan half.

Baines was certainly full of confidence and, after the full-back had robbed Scholes near halfway, John O'Shea was booked for bowling him over.

Evra brought a good save out of Kirkland as the opening period drew to a close but the visitors were still behind at the break.

Ferguson introduced Ryan Giggs - still some way short of full fitness after recent hamstring trouble - for Wes Brown at half-time.

The move saw O'Shea shift to right-back and Rooney push up front and it almost paid handsome dividends 30 seconds after the re-start when Solskjaer cut inside Baines and blasted over.

Further United pressure followed, Kirkland reacting quickly to clear when Baines' underhit back pass gave Solskjaer the sniff of a chance and Rooney overhitting a through ball which would have offered Saha a clear sight of goal.

Rooney threatened to erupt, as did Ferguson from his touchline berth, when Bennett ignored what United felt was a clear shove by Fitz Hall on the England man.

Saha should have equalised on United's next attack though when Rooney found him with a superb cross with the outside of his right foot.

Although the Frenchman took his time to control, he eventually nipped past Baines but, with Kirkland advancing, drilled his shot inches wide.

Paul Jewell introduced Lee McCulloch for Camara just before the hour but his side were soon pegged back, in disappointing fashion for the Latics, as Vidic rose highest to power home a Giggs corner.

By now Wigan were under siege, and it took United just four more minutes to find the net again, Saha brilliantly taking down Rooney's cross before firing in off the post with his second touch.

Giggs appeared to be unstoppable, leading McCulloch a merry dance on the edge of the area with one memorable twist and turn.

Rooney's search for that elusive goal continued though and, after receiving a pass from Carrick, saw his delicate chip drop just wide.

United were unfortunate on two counts not long afterwards when Saha fired against Kirkland's legs and Bennett opted not to give the penalty when Giggs was clearly felled by De Zeeuw in the build-up.

Stout defending from Boyce and then Kirkland denied Solskjaer but the Norwegian made amends in the third minute of stoppage time when he rifled into the corner.