way to forget that Wigan defeat.

Here's one way to forget that Wigan defeat... Fergie, Rooney and co head to Aintree

the damaging defeat to Wigan with a trip to Aintree.

The Manchester United striker was joined by several team-mates and boss Sir Alex Ferguson at the Liverpool course.

Day out: Darren Fletcher and Wayne Rooney arrive after their boss Sir Alex Ferguson (right)

Darren Fletcher, who is currently taking a long break from the game because of a serious bowel condition, and Jonny Evans were with Rooney and wife Coleen in their private box.

The United players were unwinding on the day after their surprise Barclays Premier League defeat to relegation-threatened Wigan.

Watching on: Fletcher, Rooney and Jonny Evans take a view behind the WAGs, including Coleen (in pink)

Refreshment: Coleen enjoys a drink while her friend takes a smoke

The result let rivals Manchester City move to within five points - with the two sides due to meet at the Etihad Stadium in two weeks' time.

 

Ferguson's horse What A Friend failed to finish in the places in Betfair Bowl, which was won by 50-1 outsider Follow The Plan.

As Rooney and co enjoyed their day off at Aintree veteran Ryan Giggs issued a rallying cry to his Old Trafford team-mates, urging them to not blow their big chance of a 20th top-flight title.

United were left stunned by Shaun Maloney's 50th minute winner at the DW Stadium which - allied with City's 4-0 drubbing of West Bromwich - has pushed the door ajar on the Barclays Premier League race once again. 

'We didn't perform,' he told MUTV. 

'For a start, our normal passing game wasn't as fluent and we kept giving the ball away.

Losing streak: Ferguson saw his horse What a Friend finish outside the places in the 3.05 race on Thursday

'Obviously, you've got to give credit to Wigan - they put us under a lot of pressure, especially early on and credit to them as well.

'They worked hard but that's something we come up against quite a bit (being closed down) so it's not an excuse not to be able to handle that.

'We just didn’t keep the ball like Manchester United usually do. I think we only had one or two shots on goal and that's also disappointing so we have to look at the game and work on it and get ready for Sunday.'