Wigan 0, Man United 2

by TONY BUGBY

RYAN GIGGS savoured Manchester United’s title triumph more than any other Reds player on a dramatic last day of the campaign.

How poignant that the 34-year-old winger came off the substitutes’ bench to score the goal which finally saw off Chelsea and sealed a hard-earned victory at Wigan Athletic.

Apart from featuring in all 10 of United’s Premier League championships, Giggs yesterday reached a remarkable personal milestone.

Giggs equalled Bobby Charlton’s appearance record of 758 games and will hold it in his own right if he features in the final of the Champions League.

And Sir Bobby led the tributes to Giggs saying: “If anybody breaks my record I would like it to be Ryan who is a credit to his family, the game and Manchester United.”

Giggs, who normally shuns personal accolades, remarked: “To equal the record of someone like Sir Bobby, probably Manchester United’s greatest-ever player, is obviously special.

“And to win the championship and score a goal is great for me.”

Sir Alex Ferguson believes the class of 2008 has the potential to be his finest-ever side.

The Reds manager reckons that this is the best squad of players he has had since being appointed manager in 1986.

He said: “It is an exciting team and I enjoy watching it myself. They do not play with fear.

“I brought a squad of 26 players to the game and only a couple will not be here in three years’ time.”

And Ferguson also scotched any suggestion of retiring if he wins the Champions League for a second time in Moscow on Wednesday week.

Ferguson admitted there were some anxious moments to endure at the JJB Stadium.

Indeed, amidst the thunder and lightning, Steve Bennett was at the centre of a refereeing storm with Wigan manager Steve Bruce questioning his integrity after a couple of key decisions went against his side early in the game.

Indeed, it might have been an altogether different story had a couple of lucky breaks not gone United’s way.

They were fortunate not to concede a penalty and be reduced to 10 men.

Television replays revealed a clear handball by Rio Ferdinand as he charged down a shot from Jason Koumas, while Paul Scholes, already booked, escaped a dismissal after clumsily clattering into Antonio Valencia.

Had those decisions gone Wigan’s way, who knows what further last-day drama we might have witnessed?

And it was ironic that United should break the deadlock shortly after the half-hour mark from the penalty spot following a trip on Wayne Rooney by Emmerson Boyce.

Cristiano Ronaldo, who missed a spot-kick in the semi-finals of the Champions League, made no mistake as he scored his 41st goal of the season.

It settled the nerves because Wigan had until then perhaps edged the proceedings, though home keeper Chris Kirkland had made a decent save to keep out a Ronaldo free kick.

And early in the second period, Kirkland made two further super stops to turn over a second Ronaldo free kick and keep out a goal-bound effort from Rooney.

United also had a shout for a second penalty rejected after Titus Bamble took out Scholes before touching the ball. But as it was near the by-line, Bennett was unmoved.

Wigan remained a threat - and how United needed a second goal which finally came in the 80th minute when Rooney’s pass split Boyce and Bramble for Giggs to run through and slot home only his third goal of the season.

Even after the goal, Wigan could still have staged a remarkable comeback as they carved out five clear-cut chances in the 13 remaining minutes of regulation and stoppage time.

Giggs became a hero at the opposite end with a goalline clearance, Boyce’s overhead kick was blocked by Nemanja Vidic en route to goal, Emile Heskey twice headed straight at Edwin van der Sar while Maynor Figueroa had a fiercely-struck angled shot well saved by the Reds’ keeper.

Once news filtered through of Bolton’s equaliser at Chelsea shortly before the final whistle there were celebratory hugs among the caoching staff which was the prelude to party time as United were crowned champions in front of their adoring army of fans.      

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