Evra eyes top spot

PATRICE Evra claims Manchester United can make their rivals pay for their slip–ups and are on course to take over at the top of the Barclays Premier League.

Evra scored his first goal since April 2007 as United saw off nine–man Wigan with, in the words of Sir Alex Ferguson “a competent performance, but no more”.

That was all United needed, given the incompetence shown by Chelsea and Arsenal, and only goal difference is now keeping Ferguson’s men from the summit.

Evra said: “I said before the game that if we beat Wigan and Blackburn we would be top of the league, and I am still confident of that. But I think the team can give much more than we are giving right now.”

Evra’s headed goal arrived at the perfect moment just on the stroke of half–time.

Wigan pushed the self–destruct button in the second half, shortly after Wayne Rooney had come off the bench for his first appearance since his controversial threat to leave the club was followed by the signing of a new contract.

Whether because Rooney’s appearance unnerved Wigan, or just through frustration that their promising first half had been undone by Evra, both Antolin Alcaraz and Hugo Rodallega launched into unnecessary challenges.

Alcaraz was sent off by referee Martin Atkinson for a second cautionable offence, while Rodallega was given a straight red for a two–footed, off–the–ground lunge at Rafael.

Javier Hernandez headed the second and he believes Rooney’s return to action has come just at the right time.