The 15-minute boycott: How Wolves fans sent a message before Man Utd struck 4-1
Manchester United climbed to sixth in the Premier League table with a 4-1 victory over Wolves at Molineux on Monday night. Bruno Fernandes led the way with a brace, scoring the opener in the 25th minute and converting a late penalty to seal the rout.
Despite dominating possession and creating numerous chances, Ruben Amorim's side faced a scare when Jean-Ricner Bellegarde equalized for the hosts just before halftime, ending Wolves' 540-minute goal drought.
However, United responded emphatically in the second half, with Bryan Mbeumo and Mason Mount both finding the net to secure their biggest win of the season.
The match was played against a backdrop of fan unrest, as Wolves supporters staged a protest against the club's owners, Fosun, by leaving seats empty for the first 15 minutes. The atmosphere remained toxic throughout, with chants directed at chairman Jeff Shi and jeers greeting the substitution of striker Jørgen Strand Larsen.
Wolves, who are yet to win a league game this season, slumped to their eighth consecutive defeat; a club record, and remain rock bottom with just two points from 15 matches. They now sit 13 points adrift of safety, facing the prospect of relegation.
United manager Ruben Amorim praised his team's response after the break, particularly highlighting the contribution of Mason Mount. "He can defend, he can attack, the quality when he touches the ball is really good... It’s a guy that leads by the example," Amorim said. Mount provided United a two-goal cushion with a precise volley, shortly after Mbeumo had tapped in Diogo Dalot's cross.
The visitors registered 27 shots in total, their highest tally under Amorim, creating a more fluid attacking display despite the absence of injured forward Benjamin Sesko.
Wolves manager Rob Edwards acknowledged the fans' frustration but defended his players' effort. "The supporters are angry and I get it... It’s the toughest league in the world and we came into a team who hadn’t won since April," he stated. With a daunting trip to league leaders Arsenal next, Wolves face an uphill battle to avoid setting unwanted records for the lowest points tally in Premier League history.
For United, the win added a boost after the recent wobble, moving them level on points with Liverpool but ahead on goal difference. The performance also eased pressure on Amorim, who marked the first anniversary of his tenure with a decisive result. While Wolves stare down the barrel of relegation, United will look to build on this momentum to push for a Champions League spot.
