FA Community Shield Final Preview: Manchester United vs Wigan Athletic


Date, time and coverage: Sunday 11 August (kick-off 14:00 BST, 6:25 P.M IST on Star Sports). The match is live in the UK on ITV1 and you can follow it via ManUtd.com’s exclusive text commentary.

Manchester United have sold over 47,000 tickets for Sunday game against Wigan which is a record number of fans from one club attending a game at the new Wembley Stadium
Form guide: David Moyes takes charge of his first competitive match as Manchester United manager in the FA Community Shield clash with Wigan Athletic at Wembley and is aiming to win his first ever trophy. Although the Latics were relegated from the Barclays Premier League last season, they should provide a stern test after making a positive start to life in the Championship, beating Barnsley 4-0 at Oakwell last weekend.

Ins and outs: The Reds boss is set to shuffle his deck after Rio Ferdinand’s testimonial at Old Trafford on Friday, which ended in a 3-1 defeat to Sevilla. Nemanja Vidic, Rafael, Patrice Evra and Robin van Persie did not feature in that match and therefore should start at Wembley. Nani faces a late fitness test after suffering a groin injury during Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with AIK Fotboll in Stockholm. Wigan are without club captain Gary Caldwell (hip), Ivan Ramis (knee) and Thomas Rogne (back).

Last meeting: On New Year’s Day, Javier Hernandez and van Persie scored twice each as United coasted past Wigan 4-0 at the DW Stadium to preserve a seven-point advantage at the top of the league, a perfect present for Sir Alex Ferguson the day after his 71st birthday.

Manager: Owen Coyle replaced Everton-bound Roberto Martinez in June and has the chance to win some silverware early in his new job. Of bigger importance to the 47-year-old Scot, however, will be getting the Latics out of the Championship, something he achieved with Burnley in 2009.

Star man: Tricky 22-year-old winger Callum McManaman's eye-catching performances in the second half of last season, including a man-of-the-match display in the FA Cup final win over Manchester City, generated positive headlines to contrast the negative press he received for a controversial tackle on Newcastle’s Massadio Haidara in March.

Betting: United are 1/7 with bwin to lift the trophy, with Wigan placed at 5/1. You can get 20/1 on a Wigan half-time/United full-time result. Find more odds and place bets with the Reds' official online betting and gaming partner at www.manutd.com/bet.

Whistle blower: Mark Clattenburg officiated two United games last season: October's remarkable 3-2 win at Chelsea and the 4-1 FA Cup triumph over Fulham in January.

Quote/unquote: "I will be trying to make this the first trophy of many. But, if we win, it's really something that will have been earned by Sir Alex." – David Moyes

Did you know? Moyes and Coyle were born only 12 miles apart in Glasgow in the 1960s and came up against each other during their playing careers in Scotland.

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