United start 2013 with bang to keep City at bay

Ferguson lauds strike force after 4-0 win at Wigan.

LONDON: Manchester United kept a firm grip on the Premier League title race by sweeping to a 4-0 win at Wigan Athletic on the first day of 2013 to maintain their seven-point lead.

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson praised the performances of Javier Hernandez and Robin Van Persie.

“Hernandez is a goal-scorer, a real penalty-box player,” said Ferguson. “Van Persie’s first goal was magnificent. We expected him to be a major player and add something to us, and that’s exactly what he’s done.”

Ferguson has confirmed that he will rotate his squad once again for the FA Cup third-round tie at West Ham United at the weekend as he is determined to keep his squad fresh.

“Yes, we will make a few changes for the cup tie. The likes of Patrice Evra and Michael Carrick, we took them off as soon as we got the third goal. They deserve a break as they have played in all the games. We’ll have a look at the situation. We’ve got to keep our players fresh.”

Aguero injury mars City win

Meanwhile, Manchester City’s 3-0 success at home to Stoke City came at a cost as Argentine striker Sergio Aguero suffered a hamstring injury.



The prolific goal scorer was forced from the fray in the 76th minute after apparently injuring his hamstring. Aguero’s loss could now be Mario Balotelli’s gain as the former was ruled out of Saturday’s FA Cup tie with Watford by manager Roberto Mancini.

Mancini will have to think long and hard about whether to field Balotelli at the Emirates, given his last performance there, when he was shown a straight red card for a late challenge on Bacary Sagna.

Wenger frustrated with Gunners draw

Elsewhere, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger expressed frustration with his side’s 1-1 draw against Southampton, speaking of his side’s inconsistency and criticising their mental sharpness after they needed an own goal to snatch a draw from their opponents.

“We didn’t create a lot after having scored five at Reading and seven against Newcastle,” complained Wenger. “The goal chances we created were not a lot and our game lacked purpose, penetration and speed — all the qualities that we usually have and that we didn’t see tonight.”

In other matches, Aston Villa put an end to a run of three straight defeats with a 2-2 draw at Swansea City, while West Ham United were also on the up, beating Norwich City 2-1. Tottenham also celebrated their victory with a 3-1 win over Reading.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 3^rd, 2013.