United survive scares to rout Wigan

Manchester United's Mexican striker Javier Hernandez celebrates scoring the opening goal, leaving Wigan's Omani goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi on his knees during the English Premier League football match between Wigan Athletic and Manchester United at The DW Stadium, Wigan. United won 4-0.

Edwin van der Sar was Manchester United's hero as Sir Alex Ferguson's side opened up a four-point lead at the top of the Premier League with a 4-0 win at Wigan on Saturday.
Mexican international Javier Hernandez's eighth and ninth league goals in the 17th minute and 74th minutes helped United to a 13th successive win over Wigan, while Wayne Rooney and Fabio Da Silva were also on the scoresheet.
But it was 40-year-old Van der Sar's heroics between the posts which sent United clear of nearest rivals Arsenal with 11 games remaining.
The former Netherlands goalkeeper marked his 250th United appearance by making a string of spectacular saves, with Victor Moses, Ben Watson and Maynor Figueroa all frustrated before Rooney sealed the win with United's third goal.
Wigan had lost all their previous 12 encounters with United, conceding 37 times in the process. But they went into this game unbeaten in the previous three league outings including a morale-boosting 1-1 draw at Liverpool.
After criticism about the playing surface from their own manager Roberto Martinez, Wigan had relaid the pitch ahead of United's visit.
And it did not take long for the lowly hosts to adapt to the new surface.
During a bright start by Wigan, Colombian striker Hugo Rodallega saw his fifth minute snap shot fly over the bar.
Then England under-21 winger Moses used his pace to get behind the United defence and deliver a low centre across the six-yard area. Unfortunately for Wigan, there was no blue shirt to turn it over the line.
But after soaking up the home side's early pressure, United took control through Hernandez soon after Van der Sar had produced an excellent save to deny the busy Moses.
Once again Nani produced the assist, the Portuguese winger charging down the left before producing a cross for Hernandez, who had shrugged off his marker, to steer home from five-yards in the 17th minute.
Hernandez was only starting after Ferguson had opted to leave the Premier League's leading goalscorer Dimitar Berbatov on the bench ahead of next Tuesday's game at reigning champions Chelsea.
Yet Wigan ought to have equalised moments later when Watson found himself in space but the midfielder's close range effort was brilliantly kept out by Van der Sar.
This is the start of a pivotal period for United, with five league and cup games in the space of 17 days likely to shape their season.
And although they survived a couple of early scares, Ferguson's side should have made sure of the points before half time.
A fluid move involving Paul Scholes ended with Nani's shot rebounding off the inside of the post with keeper Ali Al Habsi beaten on the half hour mark.
But it required another fabulous stop by man-of-the-match Van der Sar to deny Figueroa a rare goal on the Honduras international's 100th Premier League appearance.
Figueroa let fly from 30-yards in the 48th minute, his ferocious effort heading for the net before Van der Sar scrambled to keep it out.
United finished strongly with Nani squandering a hat-trick of opportunities before Hernandez put the game out of sight 16 minutes from time with a composed finish after being sent clear by Rooney, who made it 3-0 from close range six minutes from time.
Wigan will feel hard done by the scoreline after substitute Fabio made it 4-0 three minutes from time.

Barca stretch La Liga lead to seven points as Real held

Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring against Mallorca during their Spanish League football match at Iberostar Stadium in Palma de Mallorca. Barca won 3-0.

Barcelona moved seven points clear in La Liga after Real Madrid showed plenty of effort but insufficient invention as they drew 0-0 against a well-organised Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday.
After Barcelona's 3-0 win over Mallorca earlier, the pressure was on Real who went into the late game in confident mood after three consecutive wins.
From the start though it was evident that it would be a tough task as Deportivo defended deeply and appeared to be battling for their lives. Cristiano Ronaldo was a constant threat but most of Real's shots came from distance.
Their best openings came in a grandstand finish when first substitute Emmanuel Adebayor and then Ronaldo hit the post but they were unable to find the all important goal.
Barcelona had shrugged off claims that they were starting to feel the strain as a makeshift team overcame Mallorca.
Bar�a had not been at their best as they lost to Arsenal in the Champions League and then struggled to beat Athletic Bilbao. Injuries to Xavi Hernandez, Carles Puyol and Victor Valdes suggested that the exertion was starting to take its toll.
With Dani Alves also suspended it was an unfamiliar looking Bar�a side but after Messi opened the scoring with a header following hesitation in the penalty area, they never looked back.
David Villa may have been narrowly offside as he raced clear of the defence to increase the lead and then Pedro Rodriguez completed the scoring.
After the game coach Pep Guardiola admitted that they were finding it difficult to break down Mallorca until the first goal.
"It is not easy to come in if you don't play every week but if you have the personality of Seydou (Keita) then it is a lot simpler. He along with Andres (Iniesta) were vital to us in the first half and I will remember this match as the toughest for us to score," he said.
"After a long week we didn't have much rhythm but the first goal helped us a lot and we suffered less. The 3-0 result was very good against a side which has conceded few goals at home."
An impressive second half display by Espanyol helped them to a 4-1 win over Real Sociedad and put their European hopes back on track.

Real Madrid's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo (L) heads the ball with Deportivo de la Coruna's Argentinian defender Diego Colotto (R) during the Spanish league football match RC Deportivo de La Coruna vs Real Madrid at Municipal de Riazor Stadium in Coruna. The match ended in a 0-0 draw.

All the talk before the game was about the return of Sociedad's Raul Tamudo to his former club where he is the all-time highest goal scorer, but he failed to find a way passed an impressive Carlos Kameni in the Espanyol goal.
Against the run of play, Daniel Estrada put the ball into his own net but he made amends two minutes later to bring Sociedad level.
Espanyol, who had lost their last four games, were much improved after the interval with Sergio Garcia's clinical finish followed by goals from Jose Callejon and Javi Marquez.
Atletico Madrid twice came from behind to earn a 2-2 draw with Sevilla.
In a match between two sides that have struggled for consistency, Alvaro Negredo gave Sevilla the lead but Jorge Koke headed Atletico level immediately after the restart. Ivan Rakitic restored the Andalusian side's advantage before Jose Antonio Reyes earnt Atletico a point.
Sporting Gijon's relegation clash with Zaragoza ended in a 0-0 stalemate as neither side showed sufficient courage to commit players in attack.
Valencia have taken advantage of a slump in form from Villarreal to move into third place but tomorrow they face a tough match away to Athletic Bilbao who have a strong home record.
Villarreal travel to Racing Santander having picked up just one point from three games as their extra commitments in the Europa League appear to be taking their toll.

Young double inspires Villa to thrash Rovers

Aston Villa's English midfielder Ashley Young celebrates scoring the opening goal of the English Premier League football match between Aston Villa and Blackburn Rovers at Villa Park in Birmingham. Young gave a masterclass in front of Fabio Capello as the Aston Villa star's double-strike helped seal a 4-1 victory over Blackburn on Saturday.

Ashley Young gave a masterclass in front of Fabio Capello as the Aston Villa star's double-strike helped seal a 4-1 victory over Blackburn on Saturday.
Young has been in fine form since the turn of the year, revelling in his new role as a withdrawn striker behind £24m signing Darren Bent and he was simply too much for Blackburn to handle in front of England coach Capello at Villa Park.
Young won and converted a penalty and added Villa's final goal of an emphatic victory, as well as playing a part in Stewart Downing's goal as Steve Kean's side slipped closer to the relegation struggle with their third defeat in four games.
Three goals in 16 minutes destroyed Blackburn as Villa finally moved clear of the relegation zone.
Gerard Houllier is keen to promote a policy of rotation but his decision to leave club captain Stiliyan Petrov on the substitutes bench, in favour of 37-year-old Robert Pires, raises serious doubts over the long-term future of the Bulgarian just days after the Villa manager told him he was no longer assured a regular place in the team.
Villa were on top from the start even without Petrov as Young and Bent combined for the former Sunderland striker to force Paul Robinson into a full length save.
Former England goalkeeper Robinson kept Villa at bay as a drab first half burst into life in the final ten minutes.
Robinson's strong wrists enabled him to push away two long range shots from Kyle Walker and Pires and it was the Blackburn keepers strong punch into the back of Nathan Baker's head, as the pair contested Downing's free-kick, which forced the young Villa left-back from the field with concussion.
Robinson also reacted instantly to push away the loose ball, after he failed to hold Pires's shot, before Bent could pounce on the rebound.
Bent wasted another chance in stoppage time, failing to react quickly enough after Morten Gamst Pedersen's wayward back pass, and it was no surprise it took a penalty to defeat the former England goalkeeper.
Keith Andrews was guilty of over-elaborating on the edge of his own area and was dispossessed by Young and in his eagerness to atone for the mistake brought down the midfielder, who converted the 49th minute spot-kick.
Young's pass released Downing for Villa's third goal and sandwiched in between was an unfortunate own goal by young central defender Grant Hanley, following Marc Albrighton's cross.
Nikola Kalinic reduced the arrears when his long-range shot looped off Richard Dunne and over Brad Friedel in the 81st minute, but Young restored the three-goal advantage when he swept in Downing's cross one minute later.
Rovers' miserable day was completed when Ryan Nelsen was shown a straight red card by referee Martin Atkinson for bringing down Young as he went in search of his hat-trick in stoppage time.