Manchester United’s struggles deepened on Boxing Day with a 2-0 defeat at Wolves, compounded by captain Bruno Fernandes’ red card early in the second half.
Fernandes, dismissed for a second bookable offence, left United with an uphill battle at Molineux. Wolves capitalised on the man advantage, with Matheus Cunha scoring directly from a corner and later assisting Hwang Hee-chan’s stoppage-time goal.
The defeat marked United’s third consecutive loss, leaving Ruben Amorim’s side in 14th place. Wolves, meanwhile, climbed out of the relegation zone under new manager Vitor Pereira, securing back-to-back victories.
United’s frailty from set-pieces was exposed yet again as Cunha’s in-swinging corner evaded goalkeeper Andre Onana, who appeared obstructed but received no reprieve from the referee. This marked the fifth consecutive Premier League game where United conceded from a dead-ball situation.
Amorim, appointed last month to revive the fallen giants, has won just two of his first seven league games. The optimism that greeted his arrival now feels like a distant memory, with United’s attack looking toothless even before Fernandes’ dismissal.
“We lacked composure and discipline,” Amorim said post-match. “It’s a long journey, and we need time to fix these issues.”
Fernandes, already on a first-half booking, received his marching orders after a reckless challenge on Nelson Semedo two minutes into the second half. It was the 30-year-old’s third red card of the season, adding to United’s mounting disciplinary woes.
United’s best chance to equalise came late on when Harry Maguire’s header floated harmlessly into Wolves keeper Jose Sa’s hands. Wolves sealed the result in stoppage time, with Cunha teeing up Hwang for an easy finish past Onana.
United’s next test comes against high-flying Newcastle at Old Trafford, followed by daunting trips to Liverpool and Arsenal in early 2025. Amorim faces a challenging road ahead to restore confidence and address the team’s defensive vulnerabilities.
