Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-4 Manchester United result: Bruno Fernandes scores twice as Red Devils move up to sixth in Premier League

Manchester United surged into sixth place in the Premier League table with a resounding 4-1 away win at bottom club Wolverhampton Wanderers, as Red Devils skipper Bruno Fernandes led the way in a superb performance from Ruben Amorim's men.

Fernandes opened the scoring with a scrappy, bundled effort on 25 minutes, then put a bow on the performance with an 82nd-minute spot-kick after a VAR review punished Yerson Mosquera for leaning into an Amad Diallo volley with his arm.

In between those Fernandes strikes, United added two more, with Bryan Mbeumo tapping in after a sweeping counter-attack, and Mason Mount brilliantly volleying home after a sublime lofted pass from Fernandes.

Wolves' only high spot came on the stroke of half-time, when Jean-Ricner Bellegarde drew the hosts level and broke the club's 43-day goalless run.

But despite drawing themselves level before the break, they had no answer for United in the second half, as the visitors used their pace and quality in the final third to punish Wolves for their defensive mistakes as they ran out comprehensive winners.

United now sit in sixth, level on points with Chelsea ahead of them, and just one point behind Crystal Palace in fourth.

For Wolves, meanwhile, their defeat guarantees that they will be rock bottom of the Premier League table at Christmas as the turmoil around Molineux, and the fan protests of the club's ownership, look set to continue into the new year.

The match saw fans protest the club's ownership, with a significant number of their core support opting to remain outside the ground for the first 15 minutes of the match.

It was a coordinated protest involving several different fan groups, and showed the level of unrest at the way the club is currently being run.

Speaking after seeing his side lose 4-1, Wolves head coach Rob Edwards said he understood the fans' anger.

"Yeah, of course, they've not seen a team win for ages," he told Sky Sports.

"So I get the anger and the frustration completely. You know, if I was supporting, I'd be angry myself, because we all want to see our team competing, and at the moment, we're not doing that."

Edwards also admitted there was little he could do about the fan protests, and said he would focus on the job of rebuilding confidence in a side who look completely bereft of belief at the moment.

"I can't control [the fan protests]," he said. "I'll just try and look after the team and try and help build some confidence and try and build some belief, and those are the only things that I can concentrate on, to be honest."

Manchester United goalscorer Mason Mount heaped praise on Bruno Fernandes for the lofted pass that set him up for United's third against Wolves.

"We all know the calibre of player he is, and as soon as he gets on the ball, he's looking to create something," Mount told Sky Sports after the game.

"So yeah, it's a joy to play with as a player that's a bit more higher up on the pitch, because he's going to try and play the ball over the top. So yeah, I thoroughly enjoyed that one."

Bruno Fernandes was the best player on the pitch. His opening goal might have been one of the messiest goals you will see in the Premier League this season, but his pass for Mason Mount to net the third was a thing of beauty, and he added another via the spot in the final minutes.

A great display from the United skipper.

It comes as no surprise, but that defeat has guaranteed that Wolves will be at the bottom of the Premier League table on Christmas Day.

It has been a nightmare of a campaign for the club, but they look like dead men walking in the Premier League this season.

The big question now is how will they attack the transfer window in January?

Will they start to build for the Championship, or hold off and save their pennies for the summer, when the prices might be a little lower?

Despite being outgunned and outclassed, Wolves have kept going. Krejci's late header drops wide of the post, and will probably be the hosts' final effort of the game.

There will be NINE additional minutes at the end of this game.

To say the Wolves fans aren't happy about that would be an understatement. They just want to go home.

The home fans are chanting "DER DER DER DER, BLOW THE WHISTLE!" at the referee.

This has been Manchester United's most prolific day in front of goal, in terms of shots at goal.

Ruben Amorim's men have had 27 efforts at goal tonight, the most we've seen from any United game under his stewardship. Ten of those efforts have been on target, with four of them finding the back of the Wolves net.

By contrast, Wolves have mustered just six efforts at goal, with only two on target.

Meanwhile, Tchatchoua comes on to replace Hoever for the hosts.

The United skipper tucks away the penalty with ease and it's 4-1 to United.

United scream for a spot-kick after Amad's effort hits the upper arm of Mosquera, who got away with a similar incident in the first half.

He might have got away with that one, but he hasn't this time. After a VAR review, it's a penalty to United, and a yellow card to Mosquera.

The Portuguese playmaker goes close from the free-kick, but his effort grazes the top of the wall and goes narrowly over the crossbar for a United corner.

Meanwhile, Kobbie Mainoo comes on to replace Casimiro, and is met with a huge roar from the travelling United faithful.

Mason Mount is brought down right on the edge of the D, and United have a free-kick from a VERY dangerous position.

There's plenty of candidates to take it, but Bruno Fernandes looks like he'll pull rank here...