IT WAS five in the end, but such was the gulf between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Manchester United that had the margin been double that, it would have been no travesty. United stroll on, goal-difference boosted and still in pole position for the Premier League title, but 10-man Wolves, whose defending at times defied belief, need a straw to cling onto. Right now, the chances of them finding one seem remote at best.
Howard Webb, the referee who had handled the previous day's Fabrice Muamba situation with such sensitive calmness, was excused his scheduled fourth official duties at Molineux. Andre Marriner took over.
Now the dust has settled, exiting the Europa League was not necessarily the worst thing that could have happened to United. No longer stymied by extraneous competitions and rhythm-disrupting Thursday fixtures, United were strong, their mood ruthless, their finishing exemplary and Wolves were steamrollered into ignominy.
“It was OK,” shrugged United manager Sir Alex Ferguson afterwards. “It wasn’t a great performance, but it was good enough. The significant thing is that it’s increased our goal difference by five and our finishing was terrific. I expect the title race will go down to the wire.”
Wolves were desperate for any kind of rhythm. Already beleaguered after just three games of his inchoate reign, for his fourth, manager Terry Connor could have omitted any of those who began last week's shambles against Blackburn Rovers, but only Jamie O'Hara's troublesome groin precluded an unchanged line-up.
Advertisement
The hosts were not without chutzpah. The lively Matt Jarvis sensed that United have had more resolute right-sided defenders than Rafael and Jonny Evans and Wolves funnelled everything along that wing. When Jarvis slung in his first penetrating cross of the afternoon 18 minutes in, Steven Fletcher’s header flashed inches wide.
Just when it looked as though a genuine contest was ahoy, Wolves sank themselves when Wayne Rooney punted a corner to the back post, where Michael Carrick was enjoying the freedom of the Black Country. He turned it back into the six yards box and Evans, similarly unchaperoned, volleyed his first Manchester United goal and his first at all since scoring for Sunderland against Hull City five years and a day ago. “He’s waited 14 years for that goal. I don’t think he even scored in the academy,” quipped Ferguson. “At this point in the season you don't care who scores.”
With 11 men, Wolves’ task looked Herculean, with 10 it was insurmountable. Ronald Zubar had already been booked for a crude 28th minute hack on Rooney and when he scythed down Danny Welbeck 12 minutes later, close to the centre circle, Manchester-based referee Anthony Taylor had no option but to dismiss the foolhardy France international.
The results of Zubar’s irresponsibility were immediate. Their paper-tissue defence disintegrated under the red wave and they sucked their half-time lemons three down. First Antonio Valencia collected Rooney’s superlative pass and sped down the right, chased Benny Hill-style by some Wolves defenders, before driving past Wayne Hennessey in style.
For that third, Stephen Ward was again missing when Carrick’s glorious ball found Valencia, who crossed from United’s right. Welbeck crashed home with shark-eyed efficiency. As is the way at Molineux these days, Wolves were jeered to the dressing room.
Advertisement
“The sending-off was the turning point and until then our gameplan was working really well,” admitted Connor, who rejected suggestions that he might need a guiding, experienced hand. “I’m nearly 50 now: I’ve got the coaching experience and I want the responsibility of team selection. The lads did brilliantly well in the second half to limit them to two. Now we have to keep believing and keep being competitive. Then we’ll eke out enough points to get above the dotted line.”
With nothing further to lose but their self-respect, Wolves showed a certain fetter-free fearlessness. Jarvis continued to make ground against Rafael, but soon, United went nap as Hernandez gorged himself on some unspeakable defending.
Number four came when Wolves failed to clear a corner, Rafael crossed from the right and Hernandez - unmarked of course - gently nodded past Hennessey from six yards. Five minutes later, the Wolves defence stood and watched Welbeck and Valencia play a neat one-two before the latter crossed for the unmarked Hernandez to belt his second into the roof of the net.
To their credit, Wolves kept going and United goalkeeper David De Gea even found himself in more than a spectating role when he was tested by Fletcher and Michael Kightly, but only Hennessey’s agility ensured Wolves retained a modicum of that self-respect. The home crowd, long resigned to their fate, kept up their spirits by ironically asking their chief executive Jez Moxey for a wave. Moxey demurred.
Wolves’ freefall looks as unstoppable at their visitors had looked all afternoon: at least they won’t be playing Manchester United for some time.
Advertisement
Wolves: Hennessey, Zubar, Stearman, Bassong, Ward, Foley, Edwards, Davis (Jonsson 43min), Jarvis, Doyle (Kightly 58min), Fletcher (Ebanks-Blake 77min )
Man Utd: De Gea, Rafael Da Silva, Ferdinand, Evans (Smalling 74min), Evra (Fabio 63min), Valencia, Carrick (Pogba 58min), Scholes, Welbeck, Hernandez, Rooney.