Tune in at 10:00 AM ET as Wigan takes on Manchester United. David Esposto will be liveblogging for your enjoyment.
Happy New Year footy fans! I'm David Esposto and welcome to theScore Live Blog. Wigan welcome Manchester United to the DW Stadium. Can United continue to extend their lead atop the table and give Sir Alex Ferguson a belated birthday present with a win? Or can Wigan spring a surprise in front of their home fans?
Tune into theScore Live Blog to find out!
Here are your starting XIs, formations and available substitutions for both sides:
Wigan (3-4-3): Al Habsi; Ramis, Caldwell, Figueroa; Boyce, McCarthy, McArthur, Beausejour; Di Santo, Maloney, Kone Subs: Pollitt, Jones, Gomez, McManaman, Boselli, Stam, Golobart
Man Utd (4-4-2): De Gea; Rafael, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra; Young, Carrick, Cleverley, Giggs; van Persie, Hernandez Subs: Lindegaard, Smalling, Vidic, Scholes, Valencia, Kagawa, Welbeck
The referee for today's match is Andre Marriner. Patrice Evra wearing the armband for United. Gary Caldwell wearing the armband for Wigan.
Manchester United kick-off, attacking from right to left, clad in their traditional red kits. Wigan are defending from left to right, clad in their blue and white stripped kits.
Game on!
1 mins: Kone and Ferdinand battle just over the halfway line, and Marriner gives Kone the free kick. It's taken, but it ends up at the feet of De Gea.
2 mins: A ball is played over the top for Hernandez, but he's called offside. Will happen quite a bit today, since the Mexican plays high up the line.
3 mins: Maloney is fouled by Evans, as he went to turn on the ball. Free kick to Wigan, but United clear momentarily. RVP then plays it out wide and finds Hernandez making a run on the right, but he has no support and his shot is easily handled by Al Habsi.
@360mobile United is on quite the hot streak, so I'd pick them for a win. But you never know, since Wigan beat them in a crucial match last year.
@360mobile No, I don't think it will have an affect. The players are under strict rules, I'd assume.
6 mins: Wigan have the ball inside their own half, a ball is then played over the top for Kone, but he's called for a foul after climbing the back of Evans.
8 mins: United on the ball now, starting from the back, they move into the Wigan half, but a ball from Maloney finds Boyce in space down the right. It's a throw in for the home side, deep inside the United final third.
9 mins: Wigan can't do anything with it as United come away with it momentarily. But the home side continue to push forward and not lose confidence, as they're on the ball inside the visiting half.
@ajmal I think he's almost there. He made his first start on Saturday, but was then subbed off. He's on the bench today, too. I'm sure SAF doesn't want to risk him quite yet.
11 mins: Giggs picks out Hernandez early, and the Mexican beats the defender inside the area. He finishes, but the linesman raises his flag for the offside. Good call there.
13 mins: Ferdinand on the ball now, he plays it out wide to Rafael on the right, who then finds Cleverley. He tries to pick out Young, but there is too much pace on the pass and it goes out for a Wigan goal kick.
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15 mins: Beausejour tries to play Maloney through down the left, but the pass has too much on it. Wigan get the ball back, as Kone does well to hold of Ferdinand, but Carrick is there to intervene and win the ball back for United.
@sunny kotwani I will do my best. I'm more concerned with the match and providing minute by minute coverage.
17 mns: Rafael with a darting run down the right, he tries to pick out Hernandez with a cross, but it is well high and wide.
18 mins: United lose possession after a pass in the middle of the pitch is intercepted by Kone. Wigan now have a chance on the eddge of the area as the home side move it well. Beausejour then has a left footed shot on target, but he's off balance and the shot is skied over the net.
@ajmal: That's cool. Gossip all you guys want, it's what the live blog is all about. Well, that, and to provide coverage of the match :)
21 mins: Boyce loses out to Cleverley, who then plays it out wide to the right for Young. Wigan then win the ball back, but the pass to Kone from McArthur is overhit. Wigan still probing though.
Happy New Year footy fans! I'm David Esposto and welcome to theScore Live Blog. Wigan welcome Manchester United to the DW Stadium. Can United continue to extend their lead atop the table and give Sir Alex Ferguson a belated birthday present with a win? Or can Wigan spring a surprise in front of their home fans?
