Wigan 1 United 0

former Chelsea forward was extremely harsh.

De Gea palmed over a James McCarthy shot and Moses had a hopeful penalty shout rebuffed when driving the ball against Jones as the Reds struggled to make any impression. Ryan Giggs forced a corner after a long-range one-two with Michael Carrick but the first attempt of note from the Barclays Premier League leaders came in the closing stages of the half when Wayne Rooney, who dropped into midfield, steered a tame shot well off target.

Sir Alex Ferguson's frustration on the touchline was evident and, no doubt, he will have had plenty to say to his troops inside the dressing room. Tom Cleverley replaced Ashley Young but there was still no real urgency in the visitors' play and Wigan continued to look the likelier scorers.

So it was no surprise when, after Jones furiously contested the award of a corner, the set-piece was worked too comfortably between Maloney and Jean Beausejour, with the ex-Celtic man skipping past Rooney and firing an unstoppable curler wide of De Gea.

Although Rooney shot over the bar from long range, there was no major response to the setback. The manager took action by introducing Danny Welbeck and then Nani, but it was at the expense of strikers Javier Hernandez and Rooney, and Ali Al-Habsi remained a bystander.