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Premier League, Old Trafford – Manchester United 4 (Scholes 51, Hernandez 63, Buttner 66, Powell 82) Wigan Athletic 0.

Four goals in an inspired second-half showing gave Manchester United a comprehensive 4-0 victory over Wigan Athletic in their Premier League encounter at Old Trafford.

A missed spot kick from Javier Hernandez in the fifth minute after a very dubious penalty was awarded left the match goalless at half-time, but goals from Paul Scholes, Hernandez and debutants Alexander Buttner and Nick Powell gave United all three points.

It was a landmark day for three United players: Scholes made his 700th appearance for United, Ryan Giggs became the first player to feature in 600 Premier League games, and Rio Ferdinand hit the 400 mark, and it would prove to be a fine afternoon for all three after an unconvincing first-half showing from the hosts.

Robin Van Persie and Shinji Kagawa were both confined to the bench for United as Sir Alex Ferguson handed a debut to defender Buttner at left-back and Danny Welbeck and Hernandez were paired together in attack.

Anders Lindegaard was again preferred to the dropped David de Gea between the posts, and the Dane was left flat-footed early on as Ivan Ramis rose above Ferdinand to head narrowly wide of the far post from a corner.

Welbeck was very lively early on, and he won his side a penalty in just the fifth minute as he stormed forward and took a dramatic fall as Ali Al Habsi closed him down. Replays showed that there was little or no contact, and Wigan were furious with the decision from referee Michael Oliver.

The visitors’ sense of injustice did not last long, however: Hernandez planted a dismal penalty tamely to Al Habsi’s left, and the Oman goalkeeper was able to make a comfortable save down low with the Mexican left to bemoan his effort.

United, who had won all 14 meetings in all competitions with Wigan prior to their defeat in April last season, did not have things all their own way in the first half as striker Arouna Kone fluffed his kick at the back post after the excellent Jean Beausejour curled over a pinpoint cross.

Nani and Welbeck each managed to get in behind the Wigan back four courtesy of sublime through balls from Scholes, but the Portuguese was too cute with an attempted chip which drifted over the bar, while the latter was denied by an impeccable last-ditch challenge from Maynor Figueroa.

Neither manager made any changes at the break, and Wigan continued where they left off in the second half, building from deep and breaking at pace with Beausejour and Kone using their speed to good effect, stretching the United back four.

But Scholes marked his landmark match with a tap-in from the six-yard box after a fine cross from Nani which Al Habsi could only parry to the midfielder. It was the 37-year-old’s 155th goal for the club, and turned the match decisively the way of the home side.

Just seconds later, Nani roared down the right once more and cut the ball back for Welbeck, whose first touch left him with his back to goal, and his inventive overhead kick just drifted the wrong side of the far post.

Roberto Martinez introduced Jordi Gomez at the expense of Shaun Maloney on the hour mark in an attempt to inspire a fightback from his side, but United continued to dominate the play from midfield, and they made it two as Wigan lost their composure in the penalty area.

Welbeck won the ball back for the hosts superbly in the Wigan box, before debutant Buttner's shot was turned past Al Habsi by Hernandez, who was played onside as he stole in to grab an opportunist goal.

Minutes later, it was game over as the provider turned goalscorer: Buttner rampaged down the left and brushed past both Boyce and Ramis before driving a low shot past the helpless Al Habsi. It was an inspired strike from the defender.

The old guard were withdrawn after 71 minutes as Scholes and Giggs made way for 18-year-old Nick Powell and Van Persie, who had scored four goals from just six shots on target so far for United before the game and netted a staggering 52 goals in his last 58 Premier League games.

Van Persie missed from close range two minutes later as Nani forced his way down the right once more and cut the ball back, but the Dutchman got his feet tangled up and failed to convert from the six-yard box as Al Habsi swooped to gather.

But Powell added more gloss to the scoreline in the 82nd minute. Wigan failed to clear a loose ball on the edge of their own box, and Hernandez found Powell who jinked inside a challenge from Caldwell with real poise before firing an emphatic finish inside the near post.

Ferguson called for his side to be more solid defensively before the match, and he could hardly have wished for a more convincing display from his side at both ends of the field ahead of the Champions League clash with Galatasaray on Wednesday.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Paul Scholes (Manchester United) – On his 700th appearance, it was the midfielder who broke the deadlock with an opportunist close-range finish, and his creativity from deep that kept Wigan on the back foot for most of the game.

Manchester United clung onto the coat-tails of leaders Manchester City when beating Aston Villa 1-0 in a Premier League match at Villa Park that made for painful viewing.

Long spells of mediocrity, from the home side in particular, were largely punctured by injuries as Javier Hernandez suffered an apparently serious ankle blow and Shay Given was withdrawn with a hamstring problem in the first half, with Jermaine Jenas later joining them on the sidelines.

The only real glimpse of genuine quality in the contest came after 20 minutes when Phil Jones scored his first senior goal with a lovely finish from Nani's cross. It proved to be the critical moment in an instantly forgettable contest.

The result means United reclaim second place from Tottenham, who earlier won at home to Bolton, and remain five points shy of City. Villa, with just two wins in 13, are eighth but with concerns growing among supporters about the tactical and stylistic approach of manager Alex McLeish.

After a low-key start to proceedings at Villa Park, the game suffered a lengthy stoppage when Hernandez went over on his ankle. The striker required plenty of treatment and left the pitch on a stretcher and in considerable pain, adding to United's attacking problems with Dimitar Berbatov and Michael Owen both injured at present.

Rather than push Ashley Young into a central role, it was instead Nani who was asked to come inside when Antonio Valencia took to the pitch and the Portugal international quickly found himself at the centre of the action when firing a shot well off target.

With Villa offering little of note, it was left to United to take the initiative and Chris Smalling saw a smart shot on the turn blocked by Richard Dunne and Stephen Warnock after Nemanja Vidic headed back across goal from a corner after 19 minutes.

Just 60 seconds later United were in front as they exploited some poor defending from the home side. Nani was afforded far too much space on the left and he had no problem dinking in a cross to Jones, who was left completely unmarked to produce an accomplished volleyed finish with his instep for his first senior goal.

With Villa apparently unable to string together a succession of passes, United went close to a second on 25 minutes. Dunne's mistake allowed Rooney to take possession and after he found Valencia, the winger crossed for Nani who saw his header saved by Given. It was then Valencia's turn to threaten as he collected possession 25 yards from goal and unleashed a fearsome effort that flew narrowly over the bar.

Villa's disappointing evening continued when they were forced into a change of their own after 38 minutes, with Given apparently suffering a hamstring strain to be replaced by Brad Guzan. The discontent of the home fans was audible around Villa Park when a poor first half, extended by eight additional minutes, finally came to an end.

McLeish was unable to coax much more out of his side in the second half as a rather dismal game continued in a similar vein. Rooney and Gabriel Agbonlahor had half-chances and those home supporters inside Villa Park were forced to wait until the 70th minute to see a chance of note from their team.

Agbonlahor won a corner when his shot was deflected up and over the bar and when Dunne flicked it on to the back post, substitute Emile Heskey should have done much better than nodding the ball off target.

The chance appeared to inject a bit of life into the match and after Young dragged a shot wide of the post following a nice run infield, James Collins threatened at the other end when his firm header from Dunne's hopeful ball into the box forced a smart reaction save from Anders Lindegaard.

Rooney threatened late on while substitute Danny Welbeck was correctly ruled offside when collecting a pass from the striker and rolling the ball past Guzan. It was an underwhelming conclusion to an underwhelming evening.