Moore misery as Jota hits the mark
WOLVES moved 11 points clear at the top of the Championship with a clinical win against 10-man United.
The hosts took the lead in the fifth minute through Ruben Neves with Diogo Jota’s 13th goal this term doubling their advantage on the half-hour.
Ivan Cavaleiro’s 76th-minute free-kick rubber-stamped the points after United keeper Simon Moore had been sent off for his challenge on Jota just outside the area.
While Wolves are heading for the top flight, United’s own promotion hopes are fading fast.
They have only won two of their last 13 league games and are now five points adrift of the top six.
The lively Cavaleiro had a hand as Wolves took the lead in spectacular style through Neves.
Cavaleiro cut in from the left wing and the ball fell kindly to Neves.
He took a quick look up before curling home a right-footed shot from 25 yards that flew into the net.
United struggled to mount a threat and their task became even harder when Cavaleiro played creator again to tee up Jota.
Matt Doherty crossed from the right wing to pick out Jota on the edge of the area.
He rolled the ball to Cavaleiro, whose return pass was then turned into the bottom corner by Jota.
United did try and rally before half-time, with long-range efforts from James Wilson and Lee Evans.
John Fleck finally forced Wolves goalkeeper John Ruddy into action from a free-kick nine minutes into the second half.
But the Blades’ hopes of fighting back were then extinguished completely after the dismissal of Moore for his challenge on Jota.
From the resulting free-kick, Cavaleiro’s shot was deflected past substitute rookie goalkeeper Jake Eastwood, whose first task was to pick the ball out of the back of the net.
Wolves handed a late outing to striker Benik Afobe following his loan switch from Bournemouth and his late header drifted wide.