Wolves 2-0 Man United: Ruben Amorim suffers third consecutive defeat with Matheus Cunha and Hwang Hee-chan on target to sink 10-men visitors after Bruno Fernandes red card

The Molineux fog and funk of a desperate first half of the season saw Manchester United sink to a new low at the hands of a resurgent Wolves.

A fourth defeat in five Premier League games – and a fifth in seven in all competitions – left United Boxing Day in 14th place in the table, just four places above the relegation zone.

It is a remarkable scenario for a team that was put together at enormous cost under Erik ten Hag and which seems to be going backwards under his successor Ruben Amorim.

The decisive goal came from outstanding player Matheus Cunha, a man who shows the kind of flair and freedom that United are sorely lacking at the moment.

His second-half corner flew straight past goalkeeper Andre Onana as United’s nightmare continued to haunt them.

It was Cunha’s seventh goal in the last 10 league games and he added a fourth assist in extra time when he set up substitute Hwang Hee-chan to add to United’s misery.

It was enough to put Wolves out of harm’s way in Vitor Pereira’s first home game in charge and give the new boss back-to-back wins. That’s the kind of recovery United were hoping Amorim could give them, but any momentum built under the former Sporting Lisbon boss has already disappeared.

The 58th-minute goal came shortly after United were reduced to 10 men when captain Bruno Fernandes was sent off for the third time this season shortly after half-time.

Fernandes has already seen red against Tottenham and FC Porto – although Spurs’ dismissal was later rescinded – and was walked again when he received a second booking for a late tackle on Nelson Semedo.

Amorim once again left Marcus Rashford out of United’s squad for the fourth game in a row after confirming on the eve of this match that the troubled star wants to return to action.

Alejandro Garnacho, who was left out of the Manchester derby along with Rashford, was left on the bench for a third game, suggesting he hasn’t quite redeemed himself either.

The fact that Amorim made just two changes from the side that were beaten 3-0 by Bournemouth on Sunday hinted that he is getting closer to his best line-up – or perhaps his least bad side.

Rasmus Hojlund replaced Joshua Zirkzee up front and Leny Yoro came on for Tyrell Malacia, with Noussair Mazraoui switching to right wing-back and Diogo Dalot to left.

It didn’t make for a huge improvement from United in the first half against a Wolves side who overshadowed the match. Cunha was the best player on the pitch and showed outrageous ability to fool United at times.

It produced an early booking for Yoro and another for Fernandes, who brought the Brazilian down after a nice run and run.

From the free-kick, Cunha attempted to catch Onana with a cheeky effort inside the near post, which was worthwhile considering United’s poor record from set pieces. This calendar year they had conceded no fewer than seventeen, a club record.

Onana also tipped away Jorgen Strand Larsen’s downward header from Semedo’s cross, while Goncalo Guedes fired over from distance and Semedo got the crowd out of their seats just before half-time with a descending long-distance runner.

United are certainly giving their best for Amorim, and none more so than Amad Diallo, who worked tirelessly and supported the job in tigerish fashion. But the team is lacking quality at the moment and Wolves have rarely looked like opening before half-time.

Dalot saw one effort tipped away by Jose Sa and another went wide, while Sa made a comfortable save from Lisandro Martinez’s header.

United couldn’t have made a worse start to the second half as Fernandes grabbed a second booking within two minutes of the restart.

The United captain should have known better as he walked over the ball and stretched out to try and win it back, catching Semedo mid-shin. Referee Tony Harrington actually had no choice and despite Fernandes’ protests, the red card was issued.

Things almost got worse for United moments later when Semedo whipped in a cross from the right and Larsen headed a header into the back of the net, but a flag was immediately raised for offside and VAR confirmed the Norwegian striker was a few yards away . offside.

However, the delay did not last long as the home team took a deserved lead in the 58th minute. United conceded a corner and Wolves tried to make the most of their set-piece jitters by putting Matt Doherty and Santiago Bueno on the line either side of Onana.

It worked when Cunha turned a delivery from the left and Onana was completely at sea as it sailed over his head into the net. Once again United’s protests that he was being obstructed were in vain.

It was Onana’s third blunder this month after he was beaten by a tame shot from Morgan Gibbs-White against Nottingham Forest and was punished for a poor pass-out against Viktoria Plzen in Europe.

Amorim responded immediately by sending Casemiro, Antony and Christian Eriksen for Kobbie Mainoo, Yoro and Manuel Ugarte, followed by Garnacho and Zirkzee for Diallo and Hojlund.

But they couldn’t provide the spark he needed and Wolves secured victory in just eight minutes of extra time as they broke through with Martinez on his own against Cunha and Hee Chan Hwang.

The Brazilian placed the ball in the substitute’s direction and buried it past Onana with roughly the last kick of the match.

Molineux erupted and United must somehow pick themselves up at Old Trafford on Monday night against a Newcastle side who have won their last four games and scored 14 goals in the process.