Manchester United climbed into the Premier League’s top six with an assertive 4-1 victory over Wolves at Molineux — a match that will be remembered for Bruno Fernandes’ commanding performance and the welcome resurgence of several under-fire stars.
Fernandes, criticised heavily after an off-colour outing against West Ham, responded with a captain’s performance: two goals, one assist, and influence in every major attacking moment. United were far from impeccable, but Wolves — who entered the match on an eight-game losing streak and without a league goal since late October — offered minimal resistance.
Still, United’s defensive lapse before half-time allowed Wolves to finally end their scoring drought, creating a nervy moment for Erik ten Hag’s side. But unlike recent weeks, United recovered quickly and controlled the second half with energy, smart movement, and far more purpose.
Here’s a breakdown of how each United player fared on a night full of positives for the Red Devils:
Goalkeeper & Defence
Senne Lammens — 6/10
A steady presence between the posts. Commanded his area well, especially under aerial pressure, and looked assured with the ball. Had no chance with Wolves’ goal.
Noussair Mazraoui — 6/10
Shook off an early heavy challenge and settled into a composed rhythm. Defensively switched on, rarely troubled, and distributed the ball calmly down the right.
Ayden Heaven — 5/10
A surprise starter after a shaky outing against West Ham. Still looked unsure at times and nearly gifted Wolves a chance with hesitant play. Did make a couple of timely interventions, but his lack of authority showed in the buildup to Wolves’ goal.
Luke Shaw — 7/10
One of United’s safest performers on the night. Aggressive in duels, confident carrying the ball out, and crucially sparked the counterattack that restored United’s lead. A strong, disciplined display.
Midfield
Amad Diallo — 6/10
Flashes of promise but lacking end product. Missed a big chance after a goal-line block and produced a lively run in the second half that fizzled out. Needs more decisiveness in crucial moments.
Casemiro — 7/10
A gritty, disciplined performance. Pressured Andre into the mistake that led to the opener and shielded the back line with experience and calm. Looked more like the Casemiro United fans know.
Bruno Fernandes — 8/10
Man of the Match.
Influenced all four goals and dictated the pace of the game. Scored United’s opener even after slipping, engineered the break for the second, delivered a sublime assist for Mount, and dispatched the VAR-awarded penalty with ease. A captain’s masterpiece.
Diogo Dalot — 7/10
Playing on his weaker side, but you wouldn’t know it. Dalot was bright, confident, and attack-minded. Should have scored early on but redeemed himself with clever build-up play and a perfectly weighted pass for United’s second goal.
Attack
Bryan Mbeumo — 7/10
Energetic and clinical when it mattered. Took his goal calmly and stretched the Wolves defence with clever movement throughout the second half.
Matheus Cunha — 6/10
Involved in several big chances but lacked sharpness in his finishing. Linked well with Fernandes and Dalot, though his decision-making was inconsistent.
Mason Mount — 7/10
A badly needed confidence boost for the midfielder. Took his volleyed goal brilliantly and combined smoothly with Fernandes. Looked sharper and more settled than in previous outings.
Final Verdict
Manchester United were far from flawless, but this was an important step forward.
They scored four goals away from home, key players regained form, and the response to Wolves’ equaliser showed a level of maturity often missing this season.
If Fernandes continues playing at this level and the supporting cast maintains this energy, United could finally build the consistency needed to stay in the top-six conversation.