And that's it! Manchester United 2-0 Wigan in the 2013/14 Community Shield.
90' +1
T. Cleverley gets yellow.
Wigan force a couple of corners in quick succession. The Latics take both short, and they both come to absolutely nothing. A collective groan from Wigan fans echoes out across Wembley.
89'
Four added minutes here.
88'
R. Espinoza gets yellow.
87'
A high foot from Januzaj, who catches Barnett in the face. Looked a little nasty but there was nothing in it. The game's petering out here.
86'
N. Dicko enters the game and replaces J. McCarthy.
84'
A. Januzaj enters the game and replaces R. van Persie.
Evra is at it again with a run from deep down the left, winning a corner in the process. The ball bounces around the box before Kagawa attempts a bicycle kick. You have to admire the effort, yet all the Japan international can produce is a somewhat comical airshot.
83'
S. Kagawa enters the game and replaces D. Welbeck.
A couple more substitutes for the Premier League champions, with van Persie leaving to rippling applause. The goalscorer is replaced by Januzaj - who's been receiving rave reviews for his performances in United's pre-season escapades.
81'
Carrick is running things in the middle of the park, interchanging clever passes with the vast majority of his team-mates to leave United totally in control. He tries to change it up with a longer ball but slightly misjudges in trying to pick out van Persie's run in behind.
78'
Evra is well worked in down the left and looks to slide a pass into the path of the lurking van Persie. Would have been a simple tap-in to complete at hattrick for the front man if not for Boyce's lunging interception.
Minute
Description
75'
That said, it didn't get them anywhere. Valencia's cross loops over to the far side and Wigan snuff out any danger.
74'
Pass, after pass, after pass for the Premier League side. I counted 23 in the last passage.
72'
Espinoza gets a sighter at De Gea's goal, though scuffs wide. Somewhere in the build-up to that effort Evra took a nasty-looking one and consequently hobbles off the pitch. I'm sure he'll be fine though.
71'
Jordi Gómez enters the game and replaces S. Maloney.
R. Espinoza enters the game and replaces B. Watson.
69'
The spate of substitutions for both sides seems to have done little to alter the set-up of this game. United enjoy some creative possession on the edge of Wigan's box but fail to pull the trigger when necessary, as Boyce gets out to deflect Valencia's effort wide of the upright.
67'
Anderson enters the game and replaces R. Giggs.
66'
And that proves to be Giggs' last contribution to the cause, with Anderson coming on the replace the Welsh veteran.
64'
Welbeck's cheeky backheel doesn't quite find intended-target Giggs as United continue to probe.
62'
Cruise control for United now, with van Persie proving exactly why he's the best marksman in the country. The Premier League side have created little of note throughout today's encounter against lower league opposition but are two goals to the good, courtesy of two very clinical strikes.
60'
A. Valencia enters the game and replaces W. Zaha.
C. McManaman enters the game and replaces J. McClean.
M. Fortuné enters the game and replaces G. Holt.
C. McCann enters the game and replaces J. McArthur.
59'
R. van Persie has scored a goal for Manchester United! Assist by D. Welbeck.
Van Persie doubles his tally for the day, collecting Welbeck's pass to fire in from the edge of the box. The ball takes more than a hefty deflection of Perch before beating the wrong-footed Carson. Hardly vintage stuff, but I doubt the Dutchman cares too much.
There we go. 2-0. Effectively game over at Wembley.
56'
Zaha - who's been pretty quiet so far this half - somehow manages to force his way through three Wigan defenders down the right. He's eventually snuffed out before managing to find van Persie, who was lurking ominously in the box.
54'
Holt's acting as an effective figurehead for the Championship side as they patiently look to work up the pitch. McClean wins a corner after chasing the burly front-man's through ball, yet Watson's delivery fails to beat the first man.
51'
Welbeck prods into Cleverley's path on the edge of the box but the young midfielder can only scuff his effort way wide of the mark. It was a promising position and called for a composed, curling finish into the bottom corner. Poor technique there, really.
50'
J. McArthur gets yellow.
48'
It's definitely a brighter start by Owen Coyle's men, with the Latics seizing the initiative in the second half's opening moments. Watson redeems himself by sending in a much better free-kick, however Ferdinand climbs well to clear. You get the feeling that decent set piece delivery may be the only way Wigan can muscle themselves back into this one.
47'
McClean slams on the accelerator and bursts through the United midfield before being hauled down by Jones. Watson drifts in a disappointing free-kick though and it's easily claimed by De Gea.
46'
And we're back underway...
45'
The final spell of the first half sees Holt, somewhat strangely, allow the ball to trickle out of play.
44'
Wigan enjoy a decent spell of possession with United taking a back seat as the half draws to a close
42'
Holt vs Vidic round II - with the ex-Norwich man winning a free-kick off an errant elbow from the centre-half. Watson clips in the resulting free-kick and finds Boyce at the far post. The towering defender manages to nod back across goal but no-one in a blue and white shirt can get on the end of it.
40'
Handbags at dawn as Vidic and Holt enjoy a bit of a tussle awaiting McClean's free-kick. Nothing particularly spicy, with the referee calming both down with a stern word.
38'
A couple of half-chances for Moyes' side as Welbeck turns and fires from the edge of the box, drawing a pretty routine stop from Carson. From the resulting corner the United front man heads over the bar.
36'
Wigan seem to have gathered a little belief from that passage and consequently enjoy a bit of possession themselves. It's brought to an abrupt end though, with Holt losing possession to Smalling.
34'
Cleverley's lofted pass evades Zaha's dart in from the right before McClean wildly fires a ball across the six-yard box. Holt was steaming into the box and was furious at his fellow new signing for not picking him out.
31'
For all their domination of possession, United haven't really crafted too many clear cut chances. There's not been any since van Persie's opener in fact. Zaha wildly miscues a cross, with the delivery going behind everybody and out for a throw-in.
28'
Tricks-a-plenty from Zaha though the showboating is quickly halted by McClean, who slides in aggressively to rob the ex-Crystal Palace man.
27'
Goal reporter Greg Stobart chips in with: "An interesting moment a minute ago as David Moyes came out to the touchline to give instructions to Wilfried Zaha before furiously clapping encouragement to the young winger. Zaha has certainly shown glimpses of his raw talent, but he has given the ball away carelessly on a couple of occasions in the first quarter of the game."
24'
A long passage of United play culminates with Jones whipping a lacklustre delivery right into the arms of Carson. Wigan are really struggled to establish a rhythm here, as Watson passes the ball straight out of play.
22'
And to illustrate that last point with some cold, hard data, Carrick has attempted 32 passes in the opening 20 minutes, enjoying a 97% completion rate.
21'
It looks very much like a day out in the park for United, as they continue caressing the ball around the park. Zaha probes down the right, but is halted by McClean as Wigan cram men behind the ball.
18'
James McCarthy miscontrols as Wigan have their first real foray into the final third. The ball trickles out for a goal-kick.
16'
C. Smalling enters the game and replaces Rafael.
15'
Right back Rafael seems to have picked up a knock and is replaced by Smalling. It looks as if Jones has switched to right back to accommodate the swap.
13'
Little from Wigan, who are struggled to deny Carrick and Cleverley utterly dictating the tempo. Zaha bursts down the right and fizzes a wicked delivery across the box, though Barnett does well to snuff Welbeck out at the front post. Threatening again, from Zaha
10'
Zaha and Welbeck combine to decent effect as United continue to press. A comfy start for last year's champions, with the two young England internationals lending the side a particular dynamism.
8'
Here's Greg Stobart's take: "Robin van Persie shows why David Moyes has picked him out as United’s main man this season, regardless of what happens with Wayne Rooney. That was a wonderful header from the Dutchman to give his side the perfect start. I must say it looks hot out there, so don’t expect a particularly high tempo game."
7'
The Premier League side had crafted a couple nice passages yet the break-through is relatively basic. Evra crosses in from the left flank and Robin van Persie, a hefty distance from goal, guides a great header beyond Carson and into the far corner.
6'
R. van Persie has scored a goal for Manchester United! Assist by P. Evra.
Bang. There it is. United grab the opener.
3'
A composed start by United, who look content to spray the ball around at leisure. Welbeck tries a smart flick to release Robin van Persie but it doesn't come off...
1'
And we're off at Wembley...
If you weren't quite aware, it's Premier League champions Manchester United facing off against last season's surprise FA Cup victors Wigan Athletic in today's traditional season opener.
Though the Latics were relegated last term, the Lancashire club did a number on the blue half of Manchester in last year's FA Cup final and, under the guidance of new boss Owen Coyle, have got off to a flier in the Championship after spanking Barnsley 4-0 at the weekend.
Naturally, though, it'll be all eyes on United, as David Moyes fills the rather large Sir Alex Ferguson-shaped void at what is arguably the biggest football club on the planet. No pressure, then.
It's been somewhat of a tricky start to life at Old Trafford for the ex-Everton boss, with several attempts to bolster his newly-inherited squad failing to materialise. That, added to the headache that is Wayne Rooney, has intensified the early pressure on Moyes, who I'm sure will be targeting today as a prime opportunity to kick-start his tenure with a bang.
Anyway, enough pre-amble. Today's starting lineups have fed through from Wembley and are as follows...
Manchester United: De Gea, Rafael, Vidic, Jones, Evra, Zaha, Carrick, Cleverley, Giggs, Van Persie, Welbeck. Subs: Lindegaard, Evans, Anderson, Smalling, Valencia, Kagawa, Januzaj
No Rooney then, as was perhaps to be expected. New signing Wilfried Zaha grabs a chance to impress, while Ben Watson, Wigan's Wembley hero at the last time of asking, starts alongside new boys Grant Holt and James McClean.
Here's our man live from the ground, Greg Stobart: "The atmosphere here at Wembley is surprisingly good given this is little more than a glorified pre-season friendly. We’re in London so, of course, this is like a home game for Manchester United, with Wembley a sea of red shirts with the exception of a pocket of Wigan fans - no more than around 5,000 - to my left."
So, a muted finish to the end of the first half at Wembley, with Robin van Persie's excellently taken header the difference between the two clubs
The Premier League side have enjoyed more than their fair share of possession though have found genuine chances difficult to come by. Wigan, after a criminally slow start, have started to ask questions of Moyes' side, with Boyce's header back across goal the nearest they've come to an equaliser.
Meanwhile, Greg Stobart isn't too enamoured by what he's seen: "Having been pleasantly surprised by the atmosphere before kick-off, I must say that the atmosphere here is dreadful. It’s as quiet as I’ve ever heard a football stadium - and there must be around 70,000 people here. Not that the players gave them much to cheer in that dreary, soporific first-half. United just about deserve their lead but the supporters, and David Moyes, will want to see more vibrancy in the final third after the break."
The players are slowly re-emerging at Wembley. No changes for either side though...
So, one game, one trophy for David Moyes at Manchester United. I guess there's no arguing with that sort of record.
The Scot has Robin van Persie to thank, with the Dutchman's double putting a gloss on what was really quite a flat and uninventive performance from the Premier League champions. Big questions still resound as to Moyes' recruitment intentions and the conundrum that is Wayne Rooney still needs to be sorted. Nevertheless, it's a starting point for life after Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford.
And, of course, our appetite as been well and truly whetted for the forthcoming Premier League campaign. T minus 6 days.
Look forward to seeing you then! Have an excellent Sunday.
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