Liam Keen comment: Chances taken as Wolves march on with winning run

A first league double over Manchester United for 45 years and the first time Wolves had won five consecutive top flight games for 55 years marked a memorable Easter Sunday for Vitor Pereira's side.

They are now mathematically safe from relegation with five games left to play and are cruising towards an impressive end to the campaign.

Winning run

A season that looked destined for relegation has been saved by Pereira and his winning run has added some extra shine to the excellent job he has done.

When he arrived in December, Wolves were in the bottom three and 13 points behind United. They are now 15th and level on points with Ruben Amorim's side.

Finishing 13th is a possibility, following a campaign where 17th would have been a success.

But for much of Sunday's game, Wolves looked likely to take a drab goalless draw back to the Black Country.

Referee Robert Jones' stop-start approach to the fixture slowed it down considerably, but Wolves were also at fault for their sloppy play.

Matheus Cunha and Jorgen Strand Larsen were isolated up front and the team was struggling to gel. 

A magnificent winning moment changed it all in the second half and although Wolves will need to perform better in future fixtures, it is the sign of a strong team when they win without playing particularly well.

Chance taken

Pablo Sarabia's goal and assist off the bench played a crucial role in Wolves' comeback win at Ipswich earlier this month.

He is likely to leave Wolves this summer when his contract expires and that Ipswich cameo could have been the last major contribution Sarabia had in a Wolves shirt.

But just two games later the Spaniard showed us all the technical class he possesses with a perfect left-footed free-kick that Andre Onana had no chance of reaching.

It was not as important in the context of Wolves' season as the Ipswich substitute appearance, but it was even more sublime.

Pereira also had to rely on another player from the bench at Old Trafford - but before kick-off - as Dan Bentley was called up to replace Jose Sa who got injured in the warm-up.

It was only his second appearance of the season, first this year in the Premier League, eighth total in the top flight and came two years after his debut at Old Trafford two years ago.

Bentley, who is an important figure in the dressing room, was given an unexpected chance and took it professionally with an assured and confident display.

The third-choice goalkeeper said: "About 20 minutes notice to be precise!

"Obviously, I'm doing my utmost to help Jose in the warm-up, and give him the service that he needs to best prepare for the game, and obviously in turn give us the best chance for the team to win.

"I look up after striking the ball at him, and he's on his knees and can't move. So my brain instantly turns to, I have to further prepare to go and play.

"Even five minutes before kick-off, he was still trying to get himself right and having treatment to make sure that he could play, but in the end it just obviously wasn't to be for him.

"I wish him well, but it gives me an opportunity to go in and show what I can do and for these eventualities I have to prepare correctly every single day and train right.

"I've been in a position this year that I don't specifically like in terms of being number three.

"I want to be challenging to play, and putting pressure on whoever's playing, but I'm a firm believer that things happen for a reason, and this was one of those days where I end up on the pitch, keeping a clean sheet, and getting three points at Old Trafford."

Missing forward

Goncalo Guedes was again left out of the squad and Pereira had a strong message for the forward after the game.

The head coach revealed Guedes' mentality and 'spirit' is not in the right place and after a conversation the pair had together, he expects that to change before the end of the season.

But it still raises an important question around Guedes' future when a 17-year-old academy prospect is making the bench ahead of him.

Signed for £27.5million in 2022, Guedes' Wolves career never took off and this season was his first full campaign at the club without leaving on loan.

Issues off the pitch seemed to be put to bed this season, but have now reared their ugly head again.

If Guedes cannot buy into the Pereira model then he will have no place at Wolves. This summer could be vital in helping him find a permanent home elsewhere.