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Welbeck celebraing United's third. Martin Rickett/PA Wire/Press Association Images
AS IT HAPPENED

As it happened: Wolves v Manchester United, Premier League

We were at the Molineux for the first of two Premier League games this afternoon. Check in with our liveblog on the 90 minutes of action.

As always, we’d love to hear your thoughts on this evening’s action. E-mail ben@thescore.ie, tweet @thescore_iepost a message to our Facebook wall, or leave a comment below.

Full time: Wolves  0-5 Manchester United

Good afternoon all, a day after Fabrice Muamba’s collapse at White Hart Lane shocked the sport, we’re at Molineux for the meeting of Wolves and Manchester United.

Bolton’s midfielder remains in a critical condition t The London Chest Hospital and manager Owen Coyle had this to say earlier:

Fabrice’s family have asked me to pass on their thanks for the many, many kind messages of support from not only Bolton fans but also fans from clubs across the country and abroad.

“All our thoughts and prayers are for Fabrice and his family. The family would also like to thank the media for respecting their privacy at this time.”

We’re minutes away from kick-off, so here are the teams:

Wolves: Hennessey, Zubar, Stearman, Bassong, Ward, Foley, Edwards, Davis, Jarvis, Doyle, Fletcher. Subs: De Vries, Kightly, Ebanks-Blake, Hunt, Johnson, Berra, Jonsson.

Man Utd: De Gea, Rafael Da Silva, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra, Valencia, Carrick, Scholes, Welbeck, Hernandez, Rooney. Subs: Amos, Giggs, Smalling, Park, Young, Fabio Da Silva, Pogba.

Former Bohemians striker Stephen Ward captains the home side, while there are places for fellow Irish internationals Kevin Foley and Kevin Doyle. Winger Stephen Hunt has to settle for a place on the bench, however.

United go with Javier Hernandez up front alongside Wayne Rooney after their exit from Europe during the week. Paul Scholes, Antonio Valencia and Danny Welbeck also come into an attacking line-up. Nani and Phil Jones miss out through injury and illness respectively.

We’re just about ready to go.

Wolves defender Ronald Zubar finds some space to run into on the right but wastes the opportunity by over-hitting his cross.

Wayne Rooney advances forward and lays off to Danny Welbeck, who has started out left. The England international scuffs his shot though. A minute later, Rafael bombs down the flank and plays a pass across Wayne Hennessey but Hernandez stretches, and fails, to make contact.

The visitors break with intent. Chicharito, Welbeck and Rooney all get a touch before Michael Carrick comes onto a pass and shoots first time. It’s driven wide of the mark, however.

Matt Jarvis and Rafael collide and the Wolves winger appeals for a penalty after being sent to the floor. Referee Anthony Taylor waves for play to continue.

The once-capped England winger picks himself up and delivers a super ball to Steven Fletcher at the back post, but he can’t direct a header on target.

GOAL! Wolves 0-1 Manchester United (Jonny Evans)

Michael Carrick peels off to the back post and sends a Rooney corner back into the danger area, where Evans is the unlikely scorer. Terry Connor won’t have been happy with that (lack of) defending.

That was the Northern Irish defender’s first career goal for the Red Devils, whose last in the Premier League was five years ago during a loan spell at Sunderland.

It’s United’s 100th in all competitions this season and he was matched at a top price of a whopping 49/1 to be first goalscorer on Betfair!

First yellow card of the day goes to Zubar, who takes Rooney’s legs from under him. The free-kick finds it’s way out wide to Valencia but his cross is cleared. United recycle and the Ecuadorian gets another go but plays his cross straight into the hands of Hennessey.

Good run from Doyle brings a foul from Rafael. Fletcher curls over the wall… and over the bar.

RED CARD – Ronald Zubar

The Frenchman has just made his side’s task a lot tougher as they’ll have to contest all of the second half with 10 men. Having already been booked, he dives in on Welbeck when there’s really no need to and Taylor flashes a second yellow.

GOAL! Wolves 0-2 Manchester United (Luis Antonio Valencia)

Rooney picks out Valencia and he outpaces two defenders and, with options inside, decides to go it alone with an excellent finish from an acute angle.

GOAL! Wolves 0-3 Manchester United (Danny Welbeck)

There’ll be no coming back from this. Wolves’ troubles are compounded by a third on the stroke of half-time. Valencia cuts a ball back to an onrushing Welbeck, who takes it first time and side-foots home.

Half-time: Wolves 0-3 Manchester United

Boos ring around Molineux as the sides stroll off for the 15-minute interval. Back in a tick.

Were Wolves right to sack Mick McCarthy?


Poll Results:

No, Steve Morgan needs to give him a call. (145)
It's too early to say. (27)
Yes, they're better off without him. (16)

We’re up and running again. How many more can United add with the extra man?

Rooney skips over the challenge of David Davis. Credit: Martin Rickett/PA Wire/Press Association Images

GOAL! Wolves 0-4 Manchester United (Javier Hernandez)

They’ve started the second half at a canter but a striker from Rooney wins them a corner. Valencia and Carrick exchange passes and Rafael whips a ball onto the head of the Little Pea, who rarely misses from there.

Alex Ferguson decides to give Paul Pogba a half-hour to impress while Kevin Doyle is withdrawn for Michael Kightly.

GOAL! Wolves 0-5 Manchester United (Javier Hernandez)

Terrific build-up play between Valencia, who is running riot, and Welbeck tees up Hernandez at the back stick and he smashes the ball high past Hennessey for his second.

Fabio has been introduced for Patrice Evra, meanwhile.

Three rare chances for the home team in quick succession. Kightly pulls a save out of David de Gea and Fletcher’s header wins them a corner.

Former Grays Athletic man Kightly is tripped by Welbeck, who receives a yellow, and Stephen Ward should really score from the resulting free-kick.

You’d swear Wolves were 5-0 as Fletcher attempts to pick out a team-mate with a rabona. Chris Smalling, still wearing that protective hat, is about to come on while Hernandez isn’t far away scoring his hat-trick.

In the first of two FA Cup quarter-finals, Chelsea lead Leicester at half-time thanks to goals from Salomon Kalou and Gary Cahill. Back at Molineux, goalscorer Evans leaves the pitch for Smalling.

Home support remaining in good spirits I see…

Former United youngster Sylvan Ebanks-Blake is on in place of Steven Fletcher. United looking good for at least one more.

French teenager Paul Pogba blazes an effort wide after Welbeck invites him to have a go. Five minutes remain at Molineux and United are just ticking over here.

Huge cheer from the crowd as Richard Stearmen throws a few step-overs and is awarded a free-kick.

‘It’s just like watching Bilbao’ now being belted out.

Full time: Wolves 0-5 Manchester United

Late push for a consolation ends unsuccessfully. United take their lead at the top of the Premier League to four points while Wolves are now rock bottom.

“It was a great result for us. Thursday was a disappointing night and it was important to bounce back.” – Wayne Rooney

It was ok. I don’t think it was anything special. We’ve taken our goals well but it was okay. What’s significant is that we’ve cut the goal difference down by five goals. Antonio (Valencia) is back in the team and he was fantastic today.” – Alex Ferguson

Rio will be loving all the talk of staying on your feet in Sky’s post-match analysis. I’m just about to wrap this up but we’ve got two more games coming up at 4pm… Fenno will be covering Norwich’s trip to Newcastle, while it’s FA Cup action for me, as Liverpool take on Stoke in the quarter-finals.

Chelsea now lead Leicester by three goals to nil at Stamford Bridge by the way. Ooh, and FERNANDO TORRES HAS SCORED for the first time in over 24 hours of football. Yes, you’ve read that right.

Update: Fabrice Muamba remains in critical condition after collapse

World Cup 2002 relived: Mendieta’s penalty breaks Irish hearts

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