Three And Easy
Manchester United will not be short of confidence for the visit of Wigan Athletic. The reigning champions? 3-0 demolition of Chelsea at the weekend saw them make up ground on the league leaders Liverpool, and another win will take them up to second, ominously just two points behind Rafael Benitez's men
Wednesday?s game is the first of the Red Devils? games in hand and a win on Wednesday followed by another on Saturday at Bolton Wanderers could see Sir Alex Ferguson?s men top the Premier League table by the time Liverpool are next in action.
The European champions have never lost to Wigan, and cruised to a 4-0 win against Steve Bruce?s men at Old Trafford last season.
They also have fond memories of the return fixture which they won 2-0 on the final day of last season, a result that crowned them Premier League champions for the second successive season.
Dizzy Heights
However, Wednesday?s visitors to Old Trafford are one of the Premier League?s most in-form sides.
The Latics have won their last four league games on the bounce, a superb run that has seen them move up to seventh place in the table.
Wigan boss Steve Bruce has admitted it is a delight to manage his side at the moment and has demanded a strong performance at Old Trafford so his players can prove they deserve their lofty league position.
Bruce?s men have never been higher than their current position in the Premier League, and they have also never beaten one of the top four, a record their boss will be hoping to end at a club where he spent nine years as a player.
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FORM GUIDE
Manchester United
Jan 11: Manchester United 3-0 Chelsea
Jan 07: Derby 1-0 Manchester United
Jan 04: Southampton 0-3 Manchester United
Dec 29: Manchester United 1-0 Middlesbrough
Dec 26: Stoke City 0-1 Manchester United
Wigan Athletic
Jan 11: Wigan Athletic 1-0 Tottenham Hotspur
Jan 02: Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 Wigan Athletic
Dec 28: Bolton Wanderers 0-1 Wigan Athletic
Dec 26: Wigan Athletic 2-1 Newcastle United
Dec 13: Wigan Athletic 3-0 Blackburn Rovers

TEAM NEWS
Manchester United
Manchester United have defensive problems with both Patrice Evra and Rio Ferdinand out injured, meaning John O?Shea and Jonny Evans will continue to deputise.
Possible Starting XI: Van der Sar, Neville, Vidic, Evans, O?Shea, Ronaldo, Anderson, Carrick, Scholes, Rooney, Berbatov
Wigan Athletic
Steve Bruce is expected to stick with the same starting XI that defeated Tottenham Hotspur last time out.
Possible Starting XI: Kirkland, Melchiot, Scharner, Bramble, Figueroa, Valencia, Palacios, Cattermole, Taylor, Heskey, Zaki.


PLAYERS TO WATCH
Manchester United ? Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo looked back to his very best against Chelsea at the weekend, which spells bad news for Wigan Athletic.
After picking up the FIFA World Player of the Year award on Monday night he will be keen to celebrate - and possesses an excellent record against the Latics.
The Portuguese star hit three goals against Wigan last season, including a double at Old Trafford, and will be hoping for more of the same.
Wigan Athletic ? Ryan Taylor
Ryan Taylor is becoming an increasingly influential member of Steve Bruce?s side and is enjoying a rich vein of form.
He has already weighed in with a couple of goals and also provided the corner from which Maynor Figueroa headed Wigan?s stoppage-time winner against Spurs last time out.
He is a danger at set-pieces, particularly free-kicks, and he could be the man to provide the ammunition to the Wigan front two.
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PREDICTION
Whilst United will be flying following their comprehensive defeat of Chelsea, they are coming up against an in-form Wigan who will fancy their chances of finally getting one over one of the top four.
However, the Red Devils will know that Sunday?s result will mean little if they fail to take all three points on Wednesday night.
Although Wigan will surely prove a much tougher opponent that Chelsea, the temptation of moving up to second should ensure the Red Devils do not slip up.
Manchester United 2-0 Wigan Athletic

Abercrombie & Fitch began in 1892 under the name David T. Abercrombie Co. It was a small waterfront shop and factory in New York City. The founder, David Abercrombie, was a former trapper, prospector, topographer, and railroad surveyor. His love for the great outdoors influenced his store, Abercrombie & Co., and was dedicated to camping, fishing, and hunting gear. His clientele consisted mostly of hunters and explorers. Ezra Fitch, a lawyer in New York crossed paths with Abercrombie & Co. in his search for outstanding outdoor gear. In 1900 Abercrombie became Abercrombie & Fitch and Ezra became a partner. Abercrombie & Fitch WholesaleLong arguments formed between the two men regarding the future of Abercrombie & Fitch(abercrombie & fitch clothing). Abercrombie wanted to continue selling gear to professional outdoorsmen, while Fitch wanted to focus the store on the general public. Abercrombie resigned in 1907 leaving the store in the hands of Ezra Fitch. Fitch wanted the store to have an outdoor feeling. He set up a tent in the middle of the store, and a campfire blazed in a corner. The clerks hired at A&F were not professional salesmen, they were true outdoorsmen. Inventory expanded as did the store. A&F became the first store in New York to supply such clothing to women as well as men. A&F began publishing a magazine which contained 456 pages of outdoor gear and clothing. Now there were 50,000 prospective customers for A&F. Abercrombie & Fitch soon became the largest sporting goods store in the world. Ezra Fitch retired and in 1977, the store went bankrupt. After a few owners, A&F was bought by Limited Inc. in 1988.