United finally roar at toothless Wolves: Mbeumo leads for a routine away win

They kept searching for something positive - even the tiniest spark.

Every now and then, they found one, only for reality to smash them in the face.

A jolt that dragged everyone at Manchester United straight back to factory settings.

One chance to climb, wasted. Another, wasted again. It could not go on forever. Then came the worst team in the Premier League… and United grabbed everything on offer.

First came the misery against Everton at Old Trafford. Then the gloom versus West Ham in the same stadium.

Once a fortress, Old Trafford has become a cursed courtyard, a place United could not wait to escape.

And at Molineux, they finally did - no nerves, no choking - because this Wolves side is barely standing. A 4-1 win (1-1 at half-time) and a breath they desperately needed.

If ever a victory was pre-written, if United could see three points before even stepping off the bus, it was at Molineux.

Everyone expected it - with good reason. Wolves aren't a team, they're a broken gang stumbling toward the Championship. Fifteen games, two points… the numbers speak for themselves.

United took everything on offer and climbed to sixth place.

Now they sit shoulder-to-shoulder with fifth-placed Chelsea and can literally see the Champions League zone.

They are just one point away. But with United's inconsistency, even that feels delicate. Especially with Bournemouth, Aston Villa, and Newcastle coming up. Still, considering what their fans have endured and what the table looked like only weeks ago, this is pure relief.

Their display was convincing, except for one moment at the end of the first half when Jean-Ricner Bellegarde improvised brilliantly, falling onto the ball to wipe out Bruno Fernandes' opener.

United simply cannot keep a clean sheet; the only one this season came against Sunderland. For Wolves, it was their first goal in 43 days, since October.

They finally broke their drought, but only managed to complicate a bit United's night, not to avoid an eighth straight defeat (seven in the league, plus a League Cup exit).

Matheus Cunha returned to the ground he once called home, and it showed. He looked comfortable, sharp, and involved.

He got the assist for Bruno's first goal - even if it was not perfect - but in the second half, he tore Wolves apart.

He freed Diogo Dalot down the left, Dalot squared it unselfishly, and Bryan Mbeumo tapped into an empty net.

The hosts surrendered completely when Bruno Fernandes slipped Mason Mount through on goal.

Mount, ghost-alone in the box after a late run, smashed a volley for his third Premier League goal this season, which is more than in the previous two seasons combined.

On the ropes, Wolves then took the final blow: a Bruno Fernandes penalty.

Two goals, one assist, a full captain's performance. And with that assist, he entered elite company - becoming one of just five players to register assists in five straight Premier League away matches.

The others? Mohamed Salah, Cesc Fabregas, Gerard Deulofeu and Muzzy Izzet.

PREMIER LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 15

Saturday

Aston Villa - Arsenal 2-1 (1-0)

/Cash 36, Buendia 90+5 - Trossard 52/

Bournemouth - Chelsea 0-0

Everton - Nott. Forest 3-0 (2-0)

/Milenkovic 2 (og), Barry 45+3, Dewsbury-Hall 80/

Manchester City - Sunderland 3-0 (2-0)

/Dias 31, Gvardiol 35, Foden 65/

Newcastle - Burnley 2-1 (2-0)

/Guimaraes 31, Gordon 45+8 pen - Flemming 90+4 pen/

Tottenham - Brentford 2-0 (2-0)

/Richarlison 25, Simons 43/

Leeds - Liverpool 3-3 (0-0)

/Calvert-Lewin 73 pen, Stach 75, Tanaka 90+6 - Ekitike 48, 50, Szoboszlai 80/

Sunday

Brighton - West Ham 1-1 (0-0)

/Rutter 90+1 - Bowen 73/

Fulham - Crystal Palace 1-2 (1-1)

/Wilson 38 - Nketiah 20, Guehi 87/

Monday

Wolverhampton - Manchester United 1-4 (1-1)

/Bellegarde 45+2 - Bruno 25,82 pen, Mbeumo 51, Mount 62/