Tomasz Kuszczak returned in goal, but spent much of the evening admiring a virtuoso United attacking display.
And perhaps Ferguson deliberately made a point by including the likes of Tomasz Kuszczak, Chris Smalling, Rafael and Federico Macheda.
Pompey, though, were the next to threaten, Kamara rising higher than Martin Albrechtsen but heading wide of Tomasz Kuszczak's goal.
BBC: SPORT | Football | Premiership | West Brom 2-0 Portsmouth
But Kuszczak said he wants to stay and emulate Old Trafford favourite Peter Schmeichel by becoming the club's long-term number one.
Kuszczak had also tipped over a 20-yard strike from O'Hara which was bound for the top corner as United were unusually forced on to the back foot.
Kevin-Prince Boateng made up for his miss in the defeat against Stoke last weekend by beating goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak, standing in for the injured Edwin Van der Sar.
Kuszczak was called into action after 55 minutes to save from Maloney's curling angled drive, but it was a minor inconvenience to a United side threatening to run riot.
Rio Ferdinand withdrew from the game just before kick-off with a minor back spasm, and the Chiefs began positively, with David Mathebula and Tshabalala both testing Tomasz Kuszczak early on.
Dindane was played in behind the United defence by Prince-Boateng but took too long to get his shot off and United keeper Tomasz Kuszczak quickly came out to smother the danger.
Beckford might have finished off United for good as he shot narrowly wide and Robert Snodgrass came even closer shortly afterwards when his free-kick rattled against the woodwork with Kuszczak beaten.
Referee Dowd did not punish Vidic further, despite the fact that he was the last United defender and flirted with a red card, and Milner steered the penalty coolly past Tomasz Kuszczak.
Beckford, who is a target for a number of leading clubs, took advantage of defensive indecision to latch on to a long ball from Jonny Howson and hold off Wes Brown before beating Tomasz Kuszczak from an acute angle.
Kuszczak signed for United in 2007 from West Brom following a season-long loan spell but has had his appearances restricted by the superb form of the evergreen Van der Sar, who is tipped to retire at the end of the season.
Despite being almost totally outplayed, Wigan did occasionally string a move together that ensured the United defence was not completely redundant, and Charles N'Zogbia missed a great chance to reduce the deficit when Won-Hee Cho's pass set him free in the box only for the winger to drift his shot wide, while Hugo Rodallega headed straight at Tomasz Kuszczak from six yards out.
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