Manchester United condemned Wolves to the bottom of the Premier League and walked away from Molineux with a 5-0 win having barely got out of second gear for the majority of the game. The Red Devils are now four points clear at the top of the league and flying while Wolves looked like a team who already knew their fate for this season.
Wolves Vs. Manchester United, 2012 Premier League: Five Star United Sink Sorry Wolves
Contrary to the scoreline however, the game started off pretty well for Wolves as they kept their shape well and made Manchester United work for it in the opening 20 minutes, but when Jonny Evans opened the scoring it was all downhill for the hosts.
Wayne Rooney's corner was easily played back into the danger zone by Michael Carrick for Evans to smash the ball home, unmarked from inside the six-yard area. The goal was Evans' first in a United shirt, and marked United's 100th goal in all competitions this season.
Steven Fletcher wasted a dangerously placed freekick for Wolves in the first half, but that was really as good as it got for them as in the 38th minute Ronald Zubar was sent off for a second bookable offence. The dismissal was well deserved too as the Frenchman went in late and needlessly on Rooney earlier on, and then clattered Danny Welbeck near the half way line for his second.
From then on it was nothing but United, and they extended their lead to 3-0 in the final 4 minutes of the half. Antonio Valencia, who was enjoying the freedom of the Black Country, and going past Stephen Ward at will, broke on the counter attack. The Ecuadorian just kept going, and going, and going some more until he was six yards out and fired past Wayne Hennessey.
Valencia turned provider for the third goal when he crossed for Welbeck, who kept his placed effort low and out of Hennessey’s grasp.
With United eight goals down on rivals Manchester City, the Red Devils seemed far from content to come away with just the victory and set about extending their lead after the break.
Rooney’s low curing effort was tipped round the post by Hennessey, but from the resulting corner Unite had their fourth goal. Valencia, Carrick and Welbeck knocked the ball about at ease as the corner was taken short, and when you leave Hernandez so open he doesn’t even have to jump for the ball only four yards out, you’re going to be punished.
On the hour, Hernandez had his second goal and United had their fifth. Wonderful play by Valencia to chip the ball to the far post from the byline, and Hernandez was on hand to steam in at the back post and thunder the ball into the roof of the net.
United continued to press and probe for more goals, but as they did Wolves actually began to get more involved in the game, with Michael Keightly dead set on making the United defence at least work a little, but it was all in vain by this point, as United soaked it up well, and strolled to a very, very easy victory.
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