22nd August vs Wigan Athletic. 5-0.

GOOD:

• Berbatov - Rooney. More specifically, the link up play, with Scholes as well, for Berba's goal which was utterly special and very promising. Berba, starting the move off with the pass to Rooney, finds space behind the defenders, thus allowing Rooney and Scholes to display a 1-2 passing masterclass. Rooney, showing instinctive vision, knocks it into Scholes's path, who can still pass the ball like Mr.Christ himself, to find Berbatov. Berbatov in generally actually was awesome, tearing up the defence with his typically effortless, deft touch on a few occasions. Lets hope the 2 strikers can mature and develop - individually as well as in terms of a partnership - now that are more central to the teams dynamics.
• Owen off the mark. Beautiful finish, with the minature Scouser admitting himself that this was definitely the hardest opportunity he's had so far yet was able to put away in brilliant fashion. Well played.
• The game turned into a tasty little scrap, which was surprising and utterly well received! The last couple of seasons has seen this fixture become a sort of title decider, with the 2-1 win last year all but wrapping it up, and 07-08's 2-0 winning it on the last day of the season; so you'd assume that this game would have now gained a mini-reputation as being more competetive fixture than it should for either side (considering there is litterally no historical beef between the 2). This time round however it was a bit different, because firstly it held a fraction of the importance that the last two JJB...sorry, DW stadium (?!)...games had, yet, despite the 5-0 scoreline, it was a much grittier battle to anything we've seen in recent years. So basically, we slide 5 past them to comfortably get the mid-week shocker out of our systems, AND at the back, Vida (back on 'murder ya' form!) and Scholesy knock the shit out them...battering them in footballing terms as well as physically. Perfect!

BAD:

...Ok, so I didn't watch the entire game (as is the delight of 3pm kick-off's) and so the 'GOOD's' are always going to be nicely highlighted - by Mr Alan 'I support who ever is winning' Hansen - on MOTD to largely neglect the 'BAD's'...making this section ever so slightly impossible. But what could have seriously been bad about this result? We scored alot, away from home, and kept a clean sheet. What's the problem? On top of that: Vidic is back, Foster's gradually becoming consistant, Valencia's getting better (sublime cross for Rooney's first) and Owen scored. Seriously, perfect.