United moved second in the table and just two points behind league-leaders Liverpool with an important, yet unspectacular, victory against Wigan Athletic, a battle which was over no sooner than it had started thanks to a first-minute strike from Wayne Rooney.
Sir Alex made five changes to the team that beat Chelsea 3-0 on Sunday. Rafael, John O’Shea, Paul Scholes, Michael Carrick and Nani were all drafted in to replace Gary Neville, Patrice Evra, Darren Fletcher, Ryan Giggs and Ji-sung Park.

At the start of a crucial week in United’s season, the Reds issued a defiant message of intent by beating Chelsea comprehensively at Old Trafford.
Nemanja Vidic, Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov scored the goals to cap a weekend where United got under the skin of both major title rivals.

United will have to come from behind to book a place at Wembley in the Carling Cup final after slipping to a shock 1-0 defeat away at Derby County.
The Reds endured an uncomfortable evening at Pride Park in the semi-final first leg clash and lost out to a fine first-half strike from the impressive Kris Commons.

United beat Championship strugglers Southampton 3-0 on Sunday to set up an FA Cup fourth round clash with Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford.
Goals from Danny Welbeck, Nani and Gibson sealed the win against a Saints side that was reduced to 10 men after only 36 minutes.

The year 2008 has been good to United.
And while this may not have been the most glamorous way to round it all off, it was a wholly one-sided victory which suggests that trophies are very much there to be won in 2009.