Manchester United coach Ruben Amorim on Monday said his team had “improved a lot” after they climbed back into the race to qualify for the UEFA Champions League as Bruno Fernandes inspired a 4-1 rout of woeful Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Amorim’s side recovered from their disappointing draw with lowly West Ham United last week thanks to Fernandes’ double and goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Mason Mount at Molineux.
Jean-Ricner Bellegarde had canceled out Fernandes’ opener with Wolves’ first goal in six games in all competitions and their first in the top-flight since Oct. 26.
Photo: AFP
However, Mbeumo, Mount and Fernandes netted after the interval to clinch only United’s second win in their last six matches.
United suffered an embarrassing 1-0 home loss to 10-man Everton on Nov. 24 and 10 days later boos greeted the final whistle following a 1-1 draw with West Ham at Old Trafford in Manchester.
With Amorim growing increasingly tetchy in the past few weeks, it was essential that sixth-placed United avoided an embarrassing result against bottom of the table Wolves as they moved within one point of the top four.
“I really enjoyed how we played the second half. We had good pace, good quality in the decisions. We finished the game, and Wolves is in a difficult moment. It was a good evening,” Amorim said.
“We had some games against teams in better moments and had many shots. We need to improve the quality of the shots,” he said. “We need to focus not just on scoring, but protecting our goal.”
“I think we improved a lot. If you compare last season and this season, we are creating so much more chances and scoring more goals and having more real situations of danger, so I’m really pleased with that,” he added.
Wolves’ eighth successive league defeat equaled their worst top-flight run since 1981-1982 and left boss Rob Edwards still waiting for his first victory since arriving from Middlesbrough to replace the sacked Vitor Pereira last month.
Wolves have just two points after 15 games, and if they fail to win either of their next two against Arsenal and Brentford, they will equal Sheffield United’s longest winless start in the English Premier League of 17 matches.
Derby County’s Premier League record low of just 11 points in a single season is also under threat from dismal Wolves.
Diogo Dalot should have put United ahead in the opening moments when he raced clean through on goal, but the defender’s tame shot was palmed away by Wolves keeper Sam Johnstone.
Hundreds of angry Wolves fans boycotted the opening 15 minutes to protest against owners Fosun and executive chairman Jeff Shi.
When they returned to their seats, the Wolves supporters saw their former forward Matheus Cunha have a shot blocked before United took the lead in the 25th minute.
It was a shambolic goal in keeping with Wolves’ wretched campaign.
Andre’s wayward back pass was intercepted by Cunha, and when he flicked the ball to Fernandes, the Portugal midfielder initially slipped over before recovering to poke a weak shot that somehow evaded Johnstone as it crept over the line.
As boos rained down from furious Wolves supporters, United went for the kill, and Cunha’s strike was cleared off the line by Toti.
United’s focus briefly wavered, and Wolves snatched their long-awaited goal in first half stoppage-time.
Amorim’s men could not clear a succession of crosses, and David Moller Wolfe’s pass was turned in at full-stretch by Bellegarde from 12 yards.
However, United provided the perfect response in the 51st minute.
A flowing move cut through the Wolves defense as Mount’s pass found Dalot, and his unselfish cutback allowed Mbeumo to slot into the empty net.
In the 62nd minute, Mount timed his run perfectly to meet Fernandes’ cross with an emphatic volley from six yards.
Fernandes’ fourth goal this season put the seal on a one-sided contest as he stroked home an 82nd minute penalty after Yerson Mosquera handled.
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