adminPark Ji-Sung and Antonio Valencia were also on the mark for the defending champions, who have made great strides in reducing City’s previously commanding lead in the goal difference column as the title race hots up heading into the new year.
United were already leading from Park’s early goal, the South Korean’s first since United’s eight-goal demolition of Arsenal and only his second of the season, when the game turned irretrievably against the visitors.
Wigan forward Conor Sammon extended his hand as he backed into United defender Michael Carrick, catching him square in the face and earning an instant, if harsh, red card from referee Phil Dowd in the 38th minute.
Three minutes later, Berbatov had doubled United’s lead and the only question that remained to be answered was how many goals United could pull back on City.
Park had come up with the opening goal, although the hard work had been done by United left-back Patrice Evra who ghosted past Victor Moses and Antolin Alcaraz on his way to the by-line.
The Frenchman picked out the unmarked Park with a perfect pass and the midfielder completed the simple task of guiding the ball into the Wigan goal from 10 yards.
It was the start of an afternoon of relentless United pressure against a Wigan side that had done well in drawing with Chelsea and Liverpool on its last two outings.
Away from the DW Stadium, however, Wigan had no answer to a rampant United performance, all the more impressive for the fact that England forward Wayne Rooney started on the bench and injuries and illness forced the home side into playing Carrick as an emergency centre-half and winger Valencia at right-back.
Meanwhile Liverpool’s top-four charge faltered despite Maxi Rodriguez’s equaliser and Steven Gerrard’s return from injury as the Reds were held to a 1-1 draw by struggling Blackburn yesterday.
Gerrard appeared as a 69th minute substitute after recovering from injury yet even the presence of their influential captain failed to inspire Liverpool as bottom club Blackburn secured a priceless point. Blackburn had threatened a shock win after Charlie Adam’s own goal on the stroke of halftime at Anfield.
Rodriguez equalised eight minutes into the second half but on a bitterly frustrating afternoon for Liverpool, they were unable to find the winner as they looked to put the Luis Suarez race controversy behind them.
Suarez, free to play until an appeal is heard, was given a warm reception on his first home appearance since being hit with an eight-match ban after being found guilty of racially abusing Manchester United’s Patrice Evra.
Manchester City’s Premier League title challenge suffered a significant setback after the leaders were held to a 0-0 draw at West Bromwich Albion yesterday.
City now top the table by virtue of goal difference alone after they could only manage a point at the Hawthorns and rivals Manchester United thrashed Wigan.
Although Roberto Mancini’s team did hit the crossbar via Mario Balotelli, Roy Hodgson’s Baggies hit a post courtesy of Jerome Thomas in a tense second half from which the home side emerged good value for their point after delivering a defensive master class. — Supersport.
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