SANTA WEARS RED, JOSÉ

Following Chelsea’s last gasp undeserved victory over Wigan Athletic on the Saturday before Christmas Jose Mourinho claimed “Santa wears blue!” in his post match conference referring to the fact Chelsea’s victory was lucky and was something of an unexpected gift!

Boxing Day arrived with Manchester United leading Chelsea by two points at the top of the league with Reading travelling to Abramovic’s Chelsea and Wigan travelling to Old Trafford many expected it to remain that way, with Chelsea taking pole position atleast for a few hours.
An own goal by Essien on the 85th-minute meant Chelsea drew the game 2-2 and had missed the opportunity to go top for a few hours, meaning a weakened United side went out against Wigan sitting top of the league by a point with one game in hand.

Ferdinand, Giggs and Neville were omitted from the sixteen with Saha and Ronaldo relegated to the bench. Rooney started up front along side Solskjaer, with O’Shea, Brown, Silvestre and Fletcher all starting too.

Wigan were without Lee McCulloch who was suspended and Heskey played up front despite suggestions he may miss the game. Camara was also out, through injury.

The game started with Manchester United playing as if they’d never made any changes to the starting line up and the football was quick and direct, Fletcher and Scholes supplied Rooney and Solskjaer with early opportunities which were not converted, with Park being back to his usual energetic self trying to probe the brave Wigan defence.

Rooney was foiled by Kirkland in the Wigan goal from six yards out, when the ex-Liverpool & Coventry keeper made a superb save. Silvestre’s shot was then again excellently saved by Kirkland and then Rooney had a shot flash wide.

As the half wore on the United faithful became restless, desperate for a goal to get the team that four point difference but “Mourinho, are you listening?” and “United, United top of the league!” kept reverberating around the Theatre of Dreams as the half drew to a close.

At the break, Ferguson introduced Cristiano Ronaldo for Scottish midfielder, Darren Fletcher and the move paid dividends with Ronaldo scoring two goals in five minutes to wrap the game up for Manchester United.

Paul Scholes flighted in a corner and the unmarked Ronaldo headed in his ninth-league goal of the campaign, his tenth came when Park Ji-Sung was brought down by Teale and the referee awarded a penalty.

Ronaldo’s penalty was initially saved by Kirkland but the rebound was scored and Ronaldo’s tenth league goal of the season sent United 2-0 up and wrapped the points up.

Songs again came from the United faithful, “That boy Ronaldo made England look shite”, “We shall not be moved” and the rest of the pack came out. And, when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, United legend raced through onto a Wayne Rooney flick on party time began as he put United three ahead and secured a comfortable victory.

Wigan did get a consolation goal though, when the referee gave a harsh penalty against Mikael Silvestre. Wright appeared to be brought down by Silvestre when he raced through only for replays to show Silvestre got a touch on the ball before the player. Leighton Baines banged the penalty home straight down the middle giving the diving Van Der Sar no chance. It was virtually the last kick of the game, Van Der Sar will have been upset to lose his clean sheet but Sir Alex Ferguson will be feeling that the two Christmas fixtures have gone well.

Ferguson said of Ronaldo’s introduction, “I had a feeling he’d change the game, we needed a quick response to what happened in the first half and Cristiano is in such great form, it was an obvious move. He lit up the crowd got us two goals, which is just what we were looking for!”

So, United lead the table after twenty games by four points after what can be seen as a successful festive fixture programme. Two wins from two, with Reading coming up on Saturday at Old Trafford.

See José, Santa wears Red!