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Played
March 18, 2012 1:30 PM GMT
Molineux Stadium — Wolverhampton, West Midlands
Referee: A. Taylor
Attendance: 27494
March 18, 2012 1:30 PM GMT
Molineux Stadium — Wolverhampton, West Midlands
Referee: A. Taylor
Attendance: 27494
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| Wolves | 11.50 | 0.00 | 26.00 | 9.25 | 26.00 | 9.00 | 10.00 | 10.00 | 30.00 | 12.00 | 8.50 | 9.25 |
| Draw | 5.00 | 0.00 | 7.50 | 5.50 | 8.50 | 5.00 | 5.50 | 5.50 | 9.00 | 5.50 | 5.25 | 5.00 |
| Man Utd. | 1.30 | 0.00 | 1.11 | 1.28 | 1.10 | 1.33 | 1.30 | 1.30 | 1.07 | 1.29 | 1.30 | 1.31 |
Top of the Match
Antonio Valencia
Man Utd.
Man Utd.
Antonio Valencia
Man Utd.
Man Utd.
Flop of the Match
Ronald Zubar
Wolves
Wolves
Ronald Zubar
Wolves
Wolves
Goal.com Rating 
Fans' Rating Wolves 0-5 Manchester United: Chicharito double wraps up dominant win as champions extend Premier League advantage
The Mexican grabbed a brace to cap off a dominant performance after Jonny Evans, Antonio Valencia and Danny Welbeck had all but sealed three points in the first half
By Oliver Platt
Manchester United raced four points clear at the top of the Premier League and sent a desperately poor Wolves side to the bottom of the table following a 5-0 thrashing at Molineux.
United were already a goal to the good after Jonny Evans opened the scoring when Ronald Zubar was sent off for a second yellow card shortly before the end of the first half.
Antonio Valencia and Danny Welbeck made it 3-0 with a quickfire double before the break and Javier Hernandez's second-half brace put a gloss on a dominant performance which has put further pressure on title rivals Manchester City to beat Chelsea on Wednesday evening.
Wolves had held their own until Zubar's red card but were woeful thereafter. Terry Connor's team have now suffered three consecutive defeats and find their place in the top flight under serious threat.
Jamie O'Hara was missing from the Wolves squad, with Kevin Foley replacing him in midfield. David Davis retained his place in the side after making his debut in the 2-0 loss to Blackburn Rovers.
Sir Alex Ferguson made two changes to the Manchester United side that beat West Brom to go top of the Premier League last weekend. Valencia, who made his first start since February, replaced Ashley Young out wide, while Rafael came in for Phil Jones at right-back.
The two reintroduced faces combined to create the first real chance of the match in the ninth minute. Valencia wriggled into space in the inside right channel and slipped a through ball into the path of Rafael, who had dashed into the penalty area. The Brazilian slid a low pass across goal that just evaded Hernandez and Welbeck in the six-yard box.
The fact Wolves seemed to have weathered the early storm when they conceded the opening goal in the 21st minute will have made it even more difficult for Connor to take. Wayne Rooney's corner from the left was centred at the back post by Michael Carrick, and Evans was on hand to steer the ball beyond Wayne Hennessey for his first Manchester United goal.
Steven Fletcher had headed narrowly wide shortly before Evans' opener and Wolves did not look overwhelmed by United, although David De Gea remained largely untested. But the hosts were the architects of their own downfall when Zubar followed up a late challenge on Rooney with a similarly mistimed slide on Welbeck that earned him a second yellow card.
It did not take Manchester United long to seal the deal. First, Rooney initiated a devastating counter-attack following a Wolves corner by chipping a pass into the path of Valencia, who raided down the right wing. The Ecuador international had Welbeck for company when he reached the penalty area but didn't need him as he thumped his finish across Hennessey.
Minutes later Valencia was more generous when, receiving a wonderful pass from Carrick near the touchline, he was left with the simple task of rolling a low cross into the feet of Welbeck. The 21-year-old was left totally unmarked after dropping into space ten yards out and sent a first-time finish into the bottom corner.
This match, then, was not much of a contest heading into the second half. After Hennessey had palmed away Rooney's shot the resulting corner was played out to Rafael. The right-back picked out an entirely unmarked Hernandez, who nodded in from close range.
The goal was not a significant one given that the outcome of this match had long been decided but the nature of it will have Connor questioning exactly what impact he is capable of having on this team that has such a high relegation threat looming over them.
The next blow was more to do with the quality of the Manchester United attack. Valencia broke into the box after playing a superb one-two with Welbeck, who flicked a pass back in to the winger's path. He smartly ignored the congested goalmouth and stood up a cross that Hernandez lashed home at the back post.
Just before the fifth goal Michael Kightly had been introduced for the home side and he did, to his credit, have some impact. First, the winger tested De Gea from the edge of the box before delivering a free-kick from the right that somehow wasn't bundled in by an orange shirt.
Only a good save from Hennessey prevented Welbeck from making it six as United strolled to an easy three points and piled the pressure on title rivals Manchester City, who now face immediate pressure to bounce back from their defeat at Swansea last Sunday and close the gap at the top to a single point.
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Antonio Valencia and Danny Welbeck made it 3-0 with a quickfire double before the break and Javier Hernandez's second-half brace put a gloss on a dominant performance which has put further pressure on title rivals Manchester City to beat Chelsea on Wednesday evening.
Wolves had held their own until Zubar's red card but were woeful thereafter. Terry Connor's team have now suffered three consecutive defeats and find their place in the top flight under serious threat.
Jamie O'Hara was missing from the Wolves squad, with Kevin Foley replacing him in midfield. David Davis retained his place in the side after making his debut in the 2-0 loss to Blackburn Rovers.
Sir Alex Ferguson made two changes to the Manchester United side that beat West Brom to go top of the Premier League last weekend. Valencia, who made his first start since February, replaced Ashley Young out wide, while Rafael came in for Phil Jones at right-back.
The two reintroduced faces combined to create the first real chance of the match in the ninth minute. Valencia wriggled into space in the inside right channel and slipped a through ball into the path of Rafael, who had dashed into the penalty area. The Brazilian slid a low pass across goal that just evaded Hernandez and Welbeck in the six-yard box.
The fact Wolves seemed to have weathered the early storm when they conceded the opening goal in the 21st minute will have made it even more difficult for Connor to take. Wayne Rooney's corner from the left was centred at the back post by Michael Carrick, and Evans was on hand to steer the ball beyond Wayne Hennessey for his first Manchester United goal.
Steven Fletcher had headed narrowly wide shortly before Evans' opener and Wolves did not look overwhelmed by United, although David De Gea remained largely untested. But the hosts were the architects of their own downfall when Zubar followed up a late challenge on Rooney with a similarly mistimed slide on Welbeck that earned him a second yellow card.
It did not take Manchester United long to seal the deal. First, Rooney initiated a devastating counter-attack following a Wolves corner by chipping a pass into the path of Valencia, who raided down the right wing. The Ecuador international had Welbeck for company when he reached the penalty area but didn't need him as he thumped his finish across Hennessey.
Minutes later Valencia was more generous when, receiving a wonderful pass from Carrick near the touchline, he was left with the simple task of rolling a low cross into the feet of Welbeck. The 21-year-old was left totally unmarked after dropping into space ten yards out and sent a first-time finish into the bottom corner.
This match, then, was not much of a contest heading into the second half. After Hennessey had palmed away Rooney's shot the resulting corner was played out to Rafael. The right-back picked out an entirely unmarked Hernandez, who nodded in from close range.
The goal was not a significant one given that the outcome of this match had long been decided but the nature of it will have Connor questioning exactly what impact he is capable of having on this team that has such a high relegation threat looming over them.
The next blow was more to do with the quality of the Manchester United attack. Valencia broke into the box after playing a superb one-two with Welbeck, who flicked a pass back in to the winger's path. He smartly ignored the congested goalmouth and stood up a cross that Hernandez lashed home at the back post.
Just before the fifth goal Michael Kightly had been introduced for the home side and he did, to his credit, have some impact. First, the winger tested De Gea from the edge of the box before delivering a free-kick from the right that somehow wasn't bundled in by an orange shirt.
Only a good save from Hennessey prevented Welbeck from making it six as United strolled to an easy three points and piled the pressure on title rivals Manchester City, who now face immediate pressure to bounce back from their defeat at Swansea last Sunday and close the gap at the top to a single point.
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Goal
Own Goal
Penalty
Penalty Missed
Yellow Card
Assist
Penalty Save
Penalty Shootout Goal
Penalty Shootout Miss
Yellow Card / Red Card
Red Card
Substitution IN
Substitution OUT
Injury
Goal.com Rating
Goal.com Man of the Match
Goal.com Flop of the Match
Top & Flop Global Ranking- Fans' Man of the Match
- Fans' Flop of the Match
Results
Times In GMT
Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Robin van Persie
Striker Arsenal |
30 | 2 |
|
Wayne Rooney
Striker Man Utd. |
27 | 6 |
|
Kun Agüero
Striker Manchester City |
23 | 3 |
|
Aiyegbeni Yakubu
Striker Blackburn Rovers |
17 | 4 |
|
Emmanuel Adebayor
Striker Tottenham |
17 | 3 |
