By SCM SPORTS TEAM
LONDON – Manchester United delivered a four-goal festive fright night to winless Wolves on Monday, with a brilliant Bruno Fernandes double sealing a thumping 4-1 victory… all played out against a backdrop of fan fury at the historic Molineux Stadium.
The famous old ground, often a fortress, turned into a theatre of protest and pain for the home side, as a visible section of the Wolves faithful staged a 15-minute boycott at the start of the match to voice their anger at the club’s owners.
And the bottom-of-the-table Wanderers provided little on the pitch to lift the mood in what is fast becoming a Misery-Luxe for the home support.
Fernandes the Firestarter
United’s Portuguese maestro was the star, opening the scoring on 26 minutes after Wolves gifted possession away with a sloppy mistake near the centre circle.
Though Jean-Ricner Bellegarde briefly sent a flicker of hope through the disgruntled home crowd with an injury-time equaliser, that was as good as it got for Rob Edwards’ side.
The second half turned into a goal bonanza for the Red Devils. Bryan Mbeumo (52) restored the lead, and a beautifully chipped assist from Fernandes set up Mason Mount (62) for the third.
The Portuguese star then capped off a majestic night from the penalty spot in the 82nd minute to make it a devastating 4-1.
Protest and Penalty
The atmosphere at Molineux was thick with tension, not just for the score, but due to the organised fan protests. Many seats in the famed stands were empty for the initial stages of the game, a stark visual representation of the deep unrest at the club.
United boss Ruben Amorim will be delighted with the professional dismantling of their opponents, a result that lifts them to sixth and leaves Wolves rooted to the bottom, guaranteed to be there for Christmas.
The final whistle confirmed the gulf in class and left a cloud of gloom over the Molineux pitch, which witnessed a result that only deepened the crisis for the beleaguered Black Country side.
