United came from behind to cement their position at the top of the Premiership courtesy of second-half goals by Nemanja Vidic, Louis Saha and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at the JJB Stadium.

Leighton Baines' superb free-kick had given Wigan a 4th-minute lead, which the Latics deservedly held until the interval. But United emerged as a different team in the second half and managed to deservedly take all three points.

The victory was achieved without Cristiano Ronaldo, Darren Fletcher and Gary Neville, who were all unfit after their exertions during the international break.

That meant United began with a five-man midfield, with Wayne Rooney dropping back to the left side of midfield and Saha ploughing a lone furrow upfront.

Almost immediately United were behind. Patrice Evra was penalised for handball 25 yards from goal, and he watched helplessly as England U21 left-back Baines smashed a brilliant strike inside Edwin van der Sar's post.

Buoyed by their lead, the hosts continued to press doggedly for the opening 10 minutes as United struggled for cohesion and offered little as an attacking threat.

Gradually the Reds grew in stature, however, and almost nicked an equaliser as Rooney, who turned in a superb performance, hit the crossbar with a scorching drive.

Sadly that was United's only real moment of promise in a lacklustre first 45. Stand-in skipper Rio Ferdinand and John O'Shea were