Ronaldo helps Man United go top

Updated 16.56 Sat Oct 06 2007

Keywords: Carlos Tevez, Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo, Premier League, Wigan Athletic, Manchester United, sport, football, Champions League

Cristiano Ronaldo bagged a brace as Manchester United went top of the Premier League following their 4-0 win over Wigan Athletic.

The Red Devils overcame the loss of defenders Nemanja Vidic and John O'Shea to concussion and a dead leg respectively to record their biggest league win of the season to date.

Cristiano Ronaldo doubled Manchester United's advantage on 59 minutes after goalkeeper Chris Kirkland could only parry Ryan Giggs' curling shot before converting Wayne Rooney's 77th-minute cross

Carlos Tevez broke the deadlock on 54 minutes with his second goal for United, latching on to a fine pass from Anderson before Ronaldo put the game beyond the Latics.

The Portuguese winger doubled Sir Alex Ferguson's men's advantage on 59 minutes after goalkeeper Chris Kirkland could only parry Ryan Giggs' curling shot before converting Wayne Rooney's 77th-minute cross.

And Rooney duly wrapped up the scoring with his second goal in five days with six minutes remaining, heading home Danny Simpson's fine cross.

Ferguson's men now have 20 points from their first nine Premier League matches and find themselves one point clear of Arsenal, who have two games in hand.

Ferguson said after seeing his men chalk up their sixth successive league win: "Going top (is most pleasing) but we had to win to get there... There was excellent interplay (between strikers). It's coming together."

On the injuries, the United boss, who lost Louis Saha before kick-off, added: "Vidic has been taken to hospital with concussion, O'Shea has a dead leg and Louis felt his knee in the warm-up. You can't risk that."

Meanwhile, Aston Villa have moved up to fifth in the Premier League table after beating West Ham United 1-0 at Villa Park thanks to Craig Gardener's 24th-minute strike.