UNITED SENDS WOLVES PACKING IN 4-GOAL ROUT

Ruben Amorim said Manchester United had "improved a lot" after it climbed back into the race to qualify for the Champions League with a Bruno Fernandes-inspired 4-1 rout of woeful Wolves on Monday.

Amorim's side recovered from its disappointing draw with lowly West Ham 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.

But Mbeumo, Mount and Fernandes netted after the interval to secure the win for United, only its second in its 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 limp 1-1 draw with West Ham at Old Trafford.

With Amorim growing increasingly tetchy in recent weeks, it was essential that United avoided an embarrassing result against bottom-of-the-table Wolves, as it moved within one point of the top four into sixth place.

"I really enjoyed how we played the second half. We had good pace, good quality in the decisions. We finished the game, and Wolves are in a difficult period. It was a good evening," Amorim said.

"We had some games against teams in better form, and had many shots. We need to improve the quality of the shots. 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 many more chances, scoring more goals and creating more situations of real danger, so I'm really pleased with that."

It was the eighth defeat in a row for Wolves, and saw United move up to 25 points, level with Chelsea, which is fifth on goal difference.

Wolves remain bottom of the table with two points, eight adrift of the team above them, Burnley.

"We got ourselves back in the game but, with the goals we conceded, you're never going to get anything out of a game of football," Wolves coach Rob Edwards said.

"There's a nervousness, and I can understand it, but, in the big moments in the game, we insisted on giving the ball back to them. We're getting punished, and we've got to try and improve and be consistent — but it's not going to be a quick turnaround."

Wolves' eighth successive league defeat equalled their worst topflight run since 1981-82 and left boss Rob Edwards still waiting for his first victory since arriving from Middlesbrough to replace the sacked Vitor Pereira in November.

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 17-match winless start, the longest on record in the Premier League.

Derby's Premier League record low of just 11 points in a single season is also under threat.

Perfect response

Hundreds of Wolves fans boycotted the opening 15 minutes to protest against owner Fosun Group and the club's 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.

Andre's wayward back-pass was intercepted by Cunha. When he flicked the ball to Fernandes, the Portugal midfielder initially slipped over before recovering to poke a weak shot that somehow evaded Sam Johnstone as it crept over the line.

As boos rained down from the furious home supporters, United went for the kill, and Cunha's strike was cleared off the line by Toti Gomes.

United's focus briefly wavered and Wolves snatched a goal in first half stoppage-time.

Amorim's men couldn't clear a succession of crosses, and David Moller Wolfe's pass was turned in at full-stretch by Bellegarde from 12 yards.

But United provided the perfect response in the 51st minute.

A flowing move cut through the Wolves defense, as Mount's pass found Diogo 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 was adjudged to have handled the ball.

"The first half we had loads of chances, created a lot going forward and didn't make as much of them as we should have done," Mount said.

"We let them back into it with some sloppy play, (Amorim) had some things to say at halftime, and the onus was on us to put things right with a proper performance in the second half. All our focus was on being ruthless, going forward with purpose and taking our chances."

Agencies