Fernandes struck twice and set up another as United overcame a brief wobble to secure a result that lifts them into sixth; while Wolves remain winless after 15 Premier League matches the longest barren run to start a season in the club’s history.

Wolves’ manager Rob Edwards, already under pressure, found himself at the centre of growing unrest from the stands, while Ruben Amorim’s side delivered the ruthless second-half response he demanded after a frustratingly wasteful opening period.

Before the football even took control of the evening, the mood around Molineux underlined the scale of the crisis engulfing the club.

Large groups of home fans deliberately delayed taking their seats until the 15-minute mark, using the moment to chant loudly against executive chairman Jeff Shi. Their message was unmistakable: the issues go far beyond the dugout.

Despite calls for change, owners Fosun have shown no intention of selling but the pressure is mounting as the team sinks deeper into trouble. United’s opener will not feature on any defensive coaching reels.

Under little pressure, Wolves lost possession cheaply inside their own half, allowing United to flood forward. Fernandes initially lost his footing as he tried to latch on to Casemiro’s pass, but the captain recovered brilliantly, shrugging off Emmanuel Agbadou before poking a low finish beyond Sam Johnstone.

It was the spark United needed but their failure to convert further chances would prove costly. United’s squandered opportunities encouraged Wolves, who somehow reached stoppage time still in the contest. Then, remarkably, they found the breakthrough they had been desperate for.

Jean-Ricner Bellegarde arrived to meet David Moller Wolfe’s cut-back, adjusting superbly to produce an awkward yet effective finish that brought Wolves level. The roar around Molineux was as much relief as celebration, ending a grim run of five games without a goal.

At half-time, the momentum felt uncertain and Amorim’s frustration was clear. Whatever the United boss said in the dressing room, it worked instantly.

With Wolves pushed aggressively up the pitch, United sliced through them on the counter. Cunha released Diogo Dalot, whose low ball across the box found Bryan Mbeumo after Johnstone had committed too early. The Cameroon international rolled the ball home to restore the lead.

Moments later, it was 3–1. Fernandes picked out Mason Mount with a precise pass, and the midfielder swept a confident finish across goal to register his second strike in three games. With Bellegarde limping off injured, Wolves visibly deflated.

Wolves’ hopes of containing the scoreline evaporated when Yerson Mosquera blocked Amad’s shot with a raised arm. After a swift VAR review, the referee pointed to the spot.

Fernandes stepped up and dispatched it with typical composure, securing a second goal for himself and a resounding result for United.

United’s win lifts them upward in the European race, while Wolves remain rooted to the bottom and face an increasingly desperate fight for survival.

Edwards’ side has suffered their worst start to a Premier League season and, with tension growing off the pitch, the pressure is closing in from every direction.

For United, however, it was exactly the performance they needed authoritative, clinical, and led by a captain who once again delivered when it mattered.