Manchester United can stretch their lead at the top of the Premier League table tonight with a victory over Wigan Atheltic. United are gunning for an umpteenth league crown and will want to secure it quicker rather than sooner as they prepare for the Champions League final at the end of the month.

Wigan on the other hand will want to throw a spanner in the works and give a shed of hope to every Liverpool fan in the country. This is a very uphill task but one they are capable of as they go for one of their best Premier League finishes in recent times.

The fitness of United defenders, Rio Ferdinand and Jonny Evans, is in doubt as both picked up knocks in the Manchester derby. John O’Shea could step in and Paul Scholes, Michael Carrick and Wayne Rooney could all start. Wigan’s Amr Zaki will not play due to a knee injury and keeper, Chris Kirkland, also looks likely to miss out.

Sir Alex Ferguson must also decide whether to start star winger, Cristiano Ronaldo, in the game after his tantrum at being substituted against Manchester City. Considering just how influential a player Ronaldo is his starting place is likely but you just never know as Ferguson has left out bigger names from key games before.

This promises to be a game that delivers for the fans and could well be one of Carlos Tevez’s last performances in a United shirt. Tevez has made no secret of his desire to stay at United and will no doubt be playing his socks off as he continues his search for the elusive contract that is yet to be offered to him.

Wigan’s aim for the match is quite simple. Steve Bruce said on Monday that his side’s intentions were to get stuck in and make it as difficult for United as they could. Although they may not have much to play for themselves, they will want to prove that they are better than they were at this point last season.

A point or better would also satisfy their fans as no doubt some will still be bitter about the 2-0 loss last season that led to United lifting the title on the last day of the campaign. They will want to spoil the party and although a United title is virtually guaranteed they will obviously be annoyed by any further delays in securing it.

It is also a very good chance for both managers to get one or two of the youth and fringe players in their squads involved. Although the magnitude of the match is not as great as it may be, there will be valuable experience available for some of the up and coming stars at both clubs.

The favourites are United for another away win but few may have a punt on Wigan who are consistently over looked. Their desire to peg back United could well result in a good outcome for Bruce’s men. This is likely to be one of the better mid-week Premier League matches we have seen in a long time.

Wes Brown has suffered yet another injury set back and will miss the remainder of the season after making a lot of progress in the last couple of weeks. The right back picked up a recent knock in training and will take no further part in Manchester United’s Premier League or European campaigns.

Brown broke into the first team last season in place of the injured Gary Neville. However, in a bitter twist of irony, Brown last his starting birth this season to Brazilian right back, Rafael Da Silva, and has not got it back since, with John O’Shea regularly stepping in to play in the position.

Brown’s first team performances at Old Trafford last season earnt him regular call ups to the England international squad and the injuries he has endured this season look to have severely damaged his career for the future.

Speaking today, Sir Alex Ferguson said: “Wes had a little setback during the week. It is not major but the fact the season is coming to an end makes it difficult for him. We have Gary back fit so we are not too bad but it is disappointing for Wes.”

Ferguson also made a big point last season out of the fact that Brown was taking a long time to sign a new contract at Old Trafford and needed to show a lot of faith to his club for giving him ample opportunities to make significant strides in his career.

There is no doubt that the club still rate him and will want him to stay in the squad for next season. The setback could have a beneficial tint for Brown because it now allows him to focus all of his energy and efforts into getting ready for United’s next campaign and making sure that he is the person in the starting team when next season comes round.

This news is unlikely to lead to doom and gloom on Old Trafford, they are not likely to miss him for the simple fact that he hasn’t played a lot at all this season. The last time he turned out in a United shirt was in October when he made two substitute appearances.

For Brown his options are fairly simple now. He obviously has all of the attributes to make himself a first team regular and forge a formidable defence with Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra. He also has big England aspirations. All he needs to do is get his head down and make sure he works his socks off in the gym and when he is back in training.

Ferguson is not the sort of manager to forget significant contributions as his decision to start O’Shea in the Champions League final this season shows. What this means is that if he can get himself fit and prove to the manager he has not lost an ounce of talent or ability then sooner or later he will get his chance and his place back and it is up to Brown to take it.

Manchester United really believe in doing it the hard way.

In front of a crowd of 75,000, the Red Devils could have wrapped up the first leg of their Champions League semi-final clash against Arsenal by slotting at least four goals past Spaniard, Manuel Almunia.
But despite playing some superb passing football at a hectic pace, their only reward was a one nil advantage going into the return match at the Emirates on Tuesday, May 5.

An upbeat Sir Alex Ferguson shrugged his shoulders and admitted that the fans had been frustrated. Yes, Manchester United could have booked their place in the final there and then but he had every confidence they would score against Arsenal and win the day.

“We do tend to do things the hard way,” he said afterwards.

What an under-statement. Manchester United might well rue the night after having 52 per cent of possession and seven shots on target, compared with just one by Arsenal. The game also saw 20 fouls but only one yellow card.

So what was the problem? Just bad luck, nerves or one of those things? Certainly, before the game, Sir Alex said he would be happy to see a good performance and a win. Losing was just not an option.

“We’ve got that so we move on,” he told a press conference.

Over the last few weeks, Ferguson and Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger have been showing each other an awful lot of respect and have refused to get into a war of words. Following the first leg of their semi-final clash, there have been no insults or accusations but more of a psychological approach. Sir Alex firmly believes Manchester United can and will score at Arsenal and Wenger insists his team will score those all-important goals.

It’s undoubtedly going to be a tough match and who would bet against Arsenal levelling the score at 1-0 in normal time to take the match into an extra 30 minutes and then penalties?

Manchester United are likely to be without Rio Ferdinand who was substituted with just three minutes to go and was taken to hospital for an X-ray on a suspected fractured rib. Unless he makes a remarkable recovery, he could be out for the rest of the season.

Ferdinand did sterling work as usual but it was John O’Shea who went on the score sheet when he slotted home a deflected cross from a corner on 17 minutes. It’s his 18th goal for United and he does tend to pop up now and again and especially when needed.

PFA Player of the Year, Ryan Giggs could have been in the headlines again but his goal was disallowed after being judged off-side. This was his 800th appearance for the reds. Another incredible achievement.

Manchester United dominated most of the match as expected at home but those extra goals just would not materialise. Arsenal goal-keeper Almunia was undoubtedly superb, denying both Rooney and Tevez before finally being beaten by O’Shea. He later blocked a point blank header from Cristiano Ronaldo who also rattled the crossbar with a vicious 30-yarder.

Sir Alex was more than happy with the team’s passing and movement and says they will have the edge over Arsenal who will struggle to stop them scoring in the second leg. But Wenger believes home advantage will count and is pleased they only conceded the one goal.

As Sir Alex Ferguson rightly says, this one is going to go right down to the wire.