Wolverhampton — Manchester United moved up to sixth in the Premier League on Monday after captain Bruno Fernandes struck twice in a commanding 4–1 victory over a struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers side whose season continues to unravel at alarming pace.
Wolves supporters, already disillusioned after a woeful campaign, spent much of the opening half venting their frustration at the club’s owners, Fosun. Their agitation only grew when Fernandes put United ahead in the 25th minute, guiding the ball past Sam Johnstone even as he lost balance.
To their credit, Wolves rallied briefly. The hosts showed rare attacking spark and were rewarded on the brink of halftime when Jean-Ricner Bellegarde smashed in an equaliser after a fortunate deflection fell into his path.
But United reasserted control early in the second half. Bryan Mbeumo tapped in from close range in the 52nd minute following a smooth move, and Mason Mount added a composed finish just after the hour, volleying in Fernandes’ clever chipped pass. The Portuguese midfielder later sealed his second goal from the penalty spot after VAR confirmed a handball in the box.
Wolves fans responded with boos when nine minutes of added time were announced, their patience strained by a dire run that now includes a club-record eight straight league defeats and just two points from 15 matches. They have not tasted a Premier League win since April, losing 16 and drawing three in that period.
Their current tally is the joint-lowest at this stage across all four divisions of English professional football. Wolves now sit 13 points from safety, raising the uncomfortable question of whether they could finish with fewer than Derby County’s record-low 11 points in the 2007–08 season.
United on the Up
While Wolves spiral downward, United appear to be building rhythm under Ruben Amorim. Their second-half performance was fluent and incisive, yielding 27 goal attempts — the highest since the Portuguese manager took charge.
“Attacking with freedom — some of our combinations were crisp, sharp, and exactly what we’re capable of,” Mount said after the match.
Wolves’ new manager Rob Edwards, who stepped in last month, admitted the atmosphere reflected the club’s grim reality.
“The anger in the stadium is understandable,” Edwards said. “The players are trying, but this is the toughest league in the world. We came into a situation with no win since April — I didn’t expect an instant turnaround.”
Wolves now face an imposing task: a trip to league leaders Arsenal, with the threat of further damage looming over an already bleak campaign.
