Mark Clattenburg could have done little more to help United win the game today. Aside from ignoring Wayne Rooney's assault on James McCarthy, a clear red card, the referee gave a number of dubious free kicks against a spirited and committed Wigan Athletic defence.
Just another case of referee's helping the bigger sides and dare it be said, James McCarthy would have been straight down the tunnel had he elbowed Rooney.
The lack of support from the FA on such issues leaves the Latics in a like it or lump it situation which does not set a very good example for the many youngsters at the game today who believe a football referee is perhaps one area of life that could, and should be fair.
In terms of the Latics performance, the last ten minutes are something to forget as the tired legs gave way and three simple goals were conceeded.
The preceeding 80 minutes were marred by another defensive frailty as the otherwise impressive Figureoa allowed Hernande to run in front of him and convert the opening goal. It is said every week that the Latics need to erradicate these errors should they want to push up the table.
The zonal marking in operation works wonders from set pieces when operated correctly, but the defenders we have are not good enough to play this way against the movement of a Menchester United attack. It is little coincidence that Ferguson opted for the movement of Hernandez rather than the guile of Berbatov for this game.
The big positive for Martinez and the Latics support is undoubtably the attacking play on display from the blue and whites. Victor Moses, Charles N'Zogbia, and James McCarthy were all purring and ripped United open at will throughout the game.
Unlucky not to take the lead early on in the game, and also to equalise shotly after United's opener, the Latics could well have earned all three points had lady luck, and of course Mark Clattenburg, not been smiling on the Red Devils today.
Meanwhile there is an important point to make regarding some sections of our support. Over in the West Stand there was a particular potato faced gentleman and his friend who likes to wear Aunitie Margaret's coat to games.
This duo were howling at the full time whistle that Martinez should "sort it out". If memory serves correctly, 4-0 is not an unusual score against United.
What is unusual is the spirit and fight that the Latics showed. Had Wayne Rooney been shown the red card and Moses, McCarthy or Figueroa converted their chances we could well be looking at a very different result.
Here is the reaction of the two managers.
Roberto Martinez
In the first-half we were a real threat and that is backed up by the amount of possession we had and the amount of corners we won.
But when you play a side like Manchester United you need to convert any chance into a goal and it was unfortunate that we couldn't do that. After they went 2-0 ahead I felt we dropped our intensity and, as a result, got heavily punished.
When you work as hard as we did today it's very disappointing not to be coming away with any reward. On another day you take your chances, get a couple of referee decisions go your way and get the result you deserve.
I think Wayne Rooney is a very lucky man after the first-half incident with James McCarthy. The referee has clearly spotted what happened because he's stopped play to diffuse the situation.
It was an off-the-ball incident, a clear elbow from Rooney and a clear red-card. When you don't get those decisions it feels as though all the good effort you put into your performance is not going to be rewarded.
We have to understand today's result and looking at what needs to improve from the performance. There are always positives to take from any game, and the good things that we did for long periods of the game against Manchester United are going to help us until the end of the season.
It's important that we get rid of the bad feelings we have right now, take the positives from the game and prepare for Man City next weekend.
Sir Alex Ferguson
Wigan were terrific in the first 20 minutes and Van der Sar had to make some great saves, while Vida and Smalling had to keep sticking their heads in to clear things. It was an uncomfortable time for us.
We played really well in the second half and had some fantastic opportunities. We opened them up time and time again and could have scored more. But I'm happy with 4-0.
The table
| Latest match Saturday, 26th February 2011 |
Pld | Home | Away | Overall | Pts | GD | |||||||||||||||||
| W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | |||||||||
| 1 | Manchester United | 27 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 39 | 9 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 22 | 16 | 17 | 9 | 1 | 61 | 25 | 60 | +36 | ||||
| 2 | Arsenal | 27 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 30 | 12 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 27 | 15 | 17 | 5 | 5 | 57 | 27 | 56 | +30 | ||||
| 3 | Manchester City | 27 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 21 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 22 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 6 | 43 | 24 | 49 | +19 | ||||
| 4 | Tottenham Hotspur | 27 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 19 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 19 | 21 | 13 | 8 | 6 | 38 | 31 | 47 | +7 | ||||
| 5 | Chelsea | 26 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 24 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 22 | 14 | 13 | 6 | 7 | 46 | 22 | 45 | +24 | ||||
| 6 | Liverpool | 27 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 23 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 12 | 21 | 11 | 6 | 10 | 35 | 32 | 39 | +3 | ||||
| 7 | Bolton Wanderers | 28 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 25 | 17 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 14 | 21 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 39 | 38 | 37 | +1 | ||||
| 8 | Sunderland | 28 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 18 | 14 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 15 | 21 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 33 | 35 | 37 | -2 | ||||
| 9 | Newcastle United | 28 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 31 | 20 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 12 | 19 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 43 | 39 | 36 | +4 | ||||
| 10 | Everton | 27 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 21 | 18 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 14 | 18 | 7 | 12 | 8 | 35 | 36 | 33 | -1 | ||||
| 11 | Stoke City | 27 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 19 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 12 | 20 | 10 | 3 | 14 | 31 | 34 | 33 | -3 | ||||
| 12 | Aston Villa | 28 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 22 | 16 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 13 | 31 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 35 | 47 | 33 | -12 | ||||
| 13 | Blackburn Rovers | 28 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 17 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 18 | 35 | 9 | 5 | 14 | 35 | 46 | 32 | -11 | ||||
| 14 | Blackpool | 28 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 22 | 24 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 20 | 31 | 9 | 5 | 14 | 42 | 55 | 32 | -13 | ||||
| 15 | Fulham | 27 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 17 | 14 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 11 | 14 | 6 | 13 | 8 | 28 | 28 | 31 | 0 | ||||
| 16 | Birmingham City | 26 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 13 | 15 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 12 | 20 | 6 | 12 | 8 | 25 | 35 | 30 | -10 | ||||
| 17 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 28 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 21 | 19 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 10 | 27 | 8 | 4 | 16 | 31 | 46 | 28 | -15 | ||||
| 18 | West Bromwich Albion | 27 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 22 | 23 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 13 | 29 | 7 | 7 | 13 | 35 | 52 | 28 | -17 | ||||
| 19 | Wigan Athletic | 28 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 16 | 30 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 19 | 5 | 12 | 11 | 27 | 49 | 27 | -22 | ||||
| 20 | West Ham United | 27 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 14 | 20 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 16 | 28 | 5 | 10 | 12 | 30 | 48 | 25 | -18 | ||||
Next game
Next up for the Latics is the trip to Manchester City for the last of the tough run of fixtures. Given the recent displays against Liverpool and Manchester United, there is optimism for the end of the season.
Without doubt, please do not adopt the approach of messrs potato face and auntie Margaret's coat. Stay positive, look beyond the score against the table toppers, and judge the game on it's merits.
There is a long way to go this season and there is plenty of fight, and talent, in this Wigan Athletic team.