Wolves 2-0 Man Utd: Matheus Cunha scores from a corner as Bruno Fernandes is sent off at Molineux | Football News

Wolves moved out of the relegation zone thanks to Matheus Cunha’s goal from a corner as Bruno Fernandes was sent off for Manchester United in their 2-0 defeat at Molineux.

Cunha was the standout player on the pitch throughout, but it was still a surprise when his second-half corner curled past Andre Onana and into the net. It is the second time in three games that United have conceded straight from a corner.

Fernandes’ red card for two bookable offenses had already put United in distress and there was no turning back for Ruben Amorim’s team. Hee-Chan Hwang’s 99th-minute goal, assisted by Cunha of course, sealed the big win for Vitor Pereira’s Wolves.

That Boxing Day victory was only the second Premier League victory of the season in front of their own fans, but it is two wins from two under Pereira to take Wolves to 17th place.

United’s defeat sees them drop to 14th in the Premier League table.

Man Utd’s problems continue

The red card for Fernandes obviously provided some mitigating circumstances in this United defeat and there was enough tension at Molineux to believe that Amorim’s players could conjure up an equalizer until very late in the game. But that was still bad.

Cunha’s goal was the fifth goal United have conceded from a set piece under Amorim, the second directly from a corner in two weeks. No team in the Premier League has conceded a greater proportion of their goals from such situations so far this season.

A lot of the focus at United now is on the long term, but that is something Amorim needs to address quickly to prevent this season from getting any worse. Especially when the broader question of the team’s style of play continues to be an issue for these players.

Last season this game was a 4-3 thriller, but since then both clubs have changed coaches and with the two Portuguese coaches focusing on their 3-4-2-1 system, it was a very different contest. United seemed to be the team that seemed to have more problems.

Even when the game was played 11-on-11, they lacked momentum and moved the ball far too slowly to gain an advantage against opponents who had started the game in the bottom three. Amorim will be more convinced than ever that major changes are needed for next season.

But next season still seems a long way off if United continue to play like this. Newcastle’s next two consecutive away games are against Liverpool and Arsenal in the Premier League and FA Cup respectively. This could get messier before it gets better.

Amorim: No idea how long it will take

Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim speaks at the press conference:

“The idea takes time. I’ve told you before, this is going to be a tough moment and we’re far from the end of this moment. We have to move on and focus on the next thing.”

“They need time to train, they change completely. The style of play is really hard for them, it is also very difficult for the employees to pass on all the information. When you don’t have results, it’s even harder for them to believe. “We have to keep going.”

When asked if he was disappointed to concede another goal from a corner…

“When jumping, the slightest touch against Tottenham was in the arm, today it was in the back. If you touch someone while jumping, it’s really hard to catch the ball.”

When asked if he was worried about United slipping down the table…

“At this moment we just have to survive and take some time to work on the team. We already knew that. I started this job and we started with the team, with the new idea, with no time to learn, with a lot. We already knew it, it’s a long way.

When asked how long it will take for his ideas to be implemented at United…

“I have no idea. Instead of me trying to understand how much time it’s going to take to improve day by day, watching the videos, taking advantage of every minute of training and trying to win a few points because that’s what’s really important right now.”

When asked if he was frustrated with Fernandes over the red card…

“I’m always frustrated by the red card, but it can happen. He wants to go to the ball, it’s not like he wants to stop a move with a yellow card. He wants to go to the ball and then the other person touches him. “First the ball and then there is contact.”

Man Utd’s defeat in the statistics

• Manchester United have lost four of their last five Premier League games, as many defeats as they have lost in their last 15 games in the competition.
• Only Everton and Southampton have failed to score in more different games this season than Manchester United’s seven.
• Rúben Amorim is the first Manchester United manager to lose five of his first ten games in charge of the club in all competitions since Walter Crickmer in 1932.
• No team has conceded more goals from corners in the Premier League this season than Manchester United.
• Bruno Fernandes has become the first Manchester United player to be sent off three times in a season in all competitions since Nemanja Vidic in 2008/09.

Player of the game: Matheus Cunha

After scoring against Leicester in Pereira’s first game as manager, Cunha scored a goal and an assist for Wolves in their win over Manchester United.

“He’s a top player,” Pereira said afterwards.

“He is a special player. He can do things that can make the difference in small details. We’re trying his corner because we want the momentum inside to explore that. But you can work a lot and in the end nothing happens. “With this kind of player, that can happen.”

When asked if Cunha could take on a leadership role in this Wolves team, Pereira praised the Brazilian – and others in his squad. “I discover leaders in the team every day,” he added. “They want to do something. They want to change things.”

History of the game in the statistics…

What’s coming up in the Premier League?