United, responding magnificently to their humbling Europa League exit
at the hands of Athletic Bilbao in midweek, exploited some lamentable..
defending from the home side and a red card shown to Ronald Zubar in the first half as they extended their lead over rivals Manchester City with a performance of real verve.
Jonny Evans had already claimed his first goal for the club when Zubar was shown a second yellow card after 40 minutes, and both Antonio Valencia and Danny Welbeck
found time to score before the break, with their goals ensuring Wolves
dropped below Wigan to move bottom of the table on goal difference.
Javier Hernandez then scored twice inside five second-half minutes
to complete the rout, and give Wolves further cause for introspection
with the club having now taken one point from four games since sacking Mick McCarthy, conceding 14 goals in the process.
Events at White Hart Lane on Saturday - with Fabrice Muamba
suffering a cardiac arrest and remains in critical condition as a
result - loomed large over all of the weekend's football and at Molineux
Howard Webb was excused fourth official duties having been the referee
on hand when the Bolton midfielder collapsed to the turf. In an
admirable gesture, both sets of players and fans conducted a moment of
applause in support of Muamba as he fights for his life.
Having been completely outplayed by Athletic in Europe, United fielded a very attacking formation with Hernandez, Wayne Rooney and Welbeck deployed from the start. Meanwhile, Paul Scholes
made his 689th appearance for United in all competitions, becoming the
club's third-highest appearance maker, overtaking Bill Foulkes.
Coming into the game on the back of a run of 12 wins in 15 league
outings, the visitors enjoyed almost complete control in a dominant
first-half performance. Hernandez and Rooney lurked with intent while
the returning Valencia looked ready to tear Wolves asunder at every
opportunity.
It was Valencia who carved out the first good chance of the game as his cute reverse pass found Rafael.
However, the Brazilian defender's cross proved just out of the reach of
Hernandez, who failed to connect when extending his leg in the centre
of the box.
Wolves were limited to half chances from outside the box - though Steven Fletcher did head wide while just being caught offside - while United continued to press forward and took the lead after 21 minutes.
Michael Carrick
drifted off his marker to meet a deep cross from Rooney at the back
post and his hooked pass across the face of goal was met by Evans, who
was left completely unmarked to volley home for his first United goal.
The league leaders had won 21 and drawn two of the previous 23 games
in which they had taken the lead and never looked in any danger of
surrendering their advantage at Molineux. Indeed, Wolves' fate was
sealed on 40 minutes when Zubar was shown a second yellow card. Having
already clattered into Rooney with a poor challenge, the defender then
went in late on Welbeck and could have few arguments when ordered to the
stands.
With Wolves also pressed into a change when an injury to David Davis
saw the young man replaced by Eggert Jonsson, United showed their
ruthlessness when profiting from the home side's disorganisation to the
full.
After 43 minutes it was 2-0 as United mounted a superb break from a
Wolves corner. Rooney dinked the ball down the line for Valencia, who
surged forward 40 yards with the ball and drove into the box before
thumping the ball past Wayne Hennessey from a tight angle.
Wolves were falling apart and Richard Stearman
was fortunate not to be punished for a body check on Hernandez in the
box that left the striker furious. However, United did score a third
soon after. Evans released Valencia with a glorious cross-field pass and
the winger's cut-back found Welbeck, who finished first time to give
his side an insurmountable lead at the break.
Within 11 minutes of the restart, Hernandez also etched his name
onto the scoresheet. The striker was criminally left in metres of space
to head home from close range following a short-corner routine after a
low effort from Rooney had been turned around the post.
As Wolves continued to implode, Hernandez snatched a second five
minutes later. Valencia received a glorious backheeled return pass from
Welbeck as he burst into space in the box and the Ecuador international
curled in a cross to the back post where Hernandez was waiting to sweep
the ball home in emphatic style.
The away supporters responded remarkably well to the chasm opening up between the two sides and were almost rewarded when David De Gea repelled a shot from Michael Kightly, saved from a Fletcher header and then saw Stephen Ward fail to nod in at the back post when meeting a fine cross from Kightly.
However, United remained the superior side and only a fantastic low
save from Hennessey prevented Welbeck from making it 6-0 after he
received a neat pass from Rooney and cut through the heart of the home
defence yet again on another difficult afternoon for Wolves.
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