Hat-trick hero

By Chris,
December 27 2011

Old Trafford was full of Boxing Day cheer as the Red Devils thumped Wigan 5-0 to make it five league wins on the bounce. Dimitar Berbatov scored a sensational hat-trick as Manchester United went level on points at the top of the Premier League tree with bitter rivals City.

South Korean international Ji-Sung Park broke the deadlock, before Wigan’s Conor Sammon was dismissed in harsh circumstances after catching midfielder Michael Carrick in the face.

Berbatov doubled United’s lead four minutes before half-time as he fired home Javier Hernandez’s flick.

The Bulgarian grabbed his second on 58 minutes after firing home Antonio Valencia’s pass, before the Ecuadorian grabbed a goal of his own to rub salt into Wigan’s wounds.

Former Spurs man Berbatov sealed hs hat-trick from the penalty spot on 78 minutes, but Wigan were furious the spot-kick was awarded with Antolin Alcaraz’s challenge on Park outside the penalty box.

After the match, Wigan boss Roberto Martinez was fuming with Phil Dowd’s decision to send off Sammon in the first-half, but United took full advantage to seal a five-goal win as City failed to win at West Brom.

United are now hitting a scintillating run of form, having scored 14 goals without reply and having extended their unbeaten league run to nine matches.

Full Time – Manchester United 5-0 Wigan Athletic
Attendance – 75,183