Rooney back as United move level with Chelsea

Wayne Rooney made a winning comeback as a rare goal by Patrice Evra helped Manchester United to a 2-0 victory over nine-man Wigan at Old Trafford on Saturday.

England striker Rooney came on as a second half substitute – his first taste of action for a month after returning from the United States where he underwent conditioning work to aid his recovery from an ankle injury.

And despite announcing he wanted to leave Old Trafford – before doing a U-turn and agreeing a new five-year contract – Rooney received a warm reception from United fans before helping his side to a crucial win that put them level on points with Chelsea after the leaders’ loss at Birmingham.

Evra opened the scoring on the stroke of half time before substitute Javier Hernandez sealed victory in the 77th minute.

Wigan were the better team in the first half but they ended the match with nine men after captain Antolin Alcaraz and striker Hugo Rodallega were sent off in the space of three second half minutes.

The visitors had arrived at Old Trafford seeking a first win over United, the previous 11 encounters between the two teams all ending in victory for Sir Alex Ferguson’s men.

So one sided has this fixture proved in the past that United had managed to rattle up 35 goals in those 11 games, including 10 in two encounters alone last season.

Yet with Rooney and Hernandez starting on the substitutes bench, United struggled to seriously test Wigan keeper Ali Al Habsi as the visitors, the Premier League’s lowest scorers, carved out the better chances in a lacklustre first half.

Sloppy defending allowed Spanish midfielder Jordi Gomez to blaze an early effort over the bar before Rodallega stung the finger-tips of United keeper Edwin van der Sar in the 10th minute.

Two minutes later Nani went close with a delightful curling effort which whistled narrowly wide of the post, but in a first half of few opportunities, one of the biggest cheers was reserved for Rooney when he was instructed by Ferguson to warm up on the sidelines.

While United attacking duo Gabriel Obertan and Federico Macheda struggled to impose themselves, Rodallega grew in confidence, the Wigan striker showing great imagination with an acrobatic effort that flew narrowly wide.

Van der Sar was forced to spread himself to block an effort by Charles N’Zogbia after Wigan’s French midfielder had powered into the penalty area before Evra broke the deadlock on the stroke of half time.

The full-back was in the perfect position to meet Park Ji-Sung’s deep cross, the Wigan defence falling asleep as the unmarked Evra was allowed to head past Al Habsi.

It was the beginning of the end for Wigan. Within 17 minutes of the second half they were reduced to nine men after Alcaraz and Rodallega were both sent off.

Alcaraz, who had been booked earlier, was red carded for a needless foul on Darren Fletcher in the 59th minute before Rodallega followed three minutes later for a two-footed challenge on Rafael da Silva.

Inbetween the red cards, Rooney came on for his first taste of action since October 16 and was denied his first second goal for his club this season when Al Habsi tipped his powerful header over the bar.

But Hernandez made sure of the points 13 minutes from time with a well paced header after connecting with Rafael’s inch-perfect cross.