Manchester United 1 (Welbeck 66)
Wolves 0
Wolves were beaten but far from disgraced as they bowed out of the Carling Cup after a narrow defeat against Cup holders Manchester United.
The Reds were reduced to ten men for an hour of the game after the dismissal of Fabio Da Silva for a professional foul but despite creating plenty of chances Wolves couldn't break through the home defencebefore succumbing to a well worked 66th minute winner from Danny Welbeck.
Just four players that began the game against Fulham remained in the starting line-up as United kicked-off defending the Stretford End of Old Trafford.
The home defence cleared Michael Kightly's second minute corner as Wolves made a confident start to the game.
In the 12th minute Dave Jones found Kightly on the right. He cut inside before slipping a short pass to Sylvan Ebanks-Blake who turned and fired narrowly over the bar from just outside the area.
Jody Craddock was in position to clear a low cross from Nani after he had won possession from George Elokobi and United keeper Tomasz Kuszczak dived to take a low drive from Jones when play switched to the other end.
Christophe Berra made a fine headed clearance from Michael Owen as the pair vied for a cross from Welbeck and one time Molineux loanee Darron Gibson was inches away with a dipping shot from 22-yards.
United were reduced to ten men in the 29th minute after last man Da Silva used his arm to trip Kightly who was clean through on goal.
The chance came about through Stefan Maierhofer who block tackled Wes Brown. The ball span into the path of Kightly who sped towards goal only to be upended by Da Silva (pictured) who was immediately shown the red card.
Jones tapped the free-kick to Maierhofer and then ran forward to hit a terrific shot that looked destined for the roof of the net until Kuszczak pulled off a superb reflex save.
Welbeck charged down a Marcus Hahnemann clearance but, fortunately, the loose ball ran to Elokobi who was able to clear.
Owen missed an opportunity when he headed straight at Hahnemann after a cross from Gary Neville who then almost cost his side the lead shortly before the break.
The veteran defender miss-hit a clearance and Jones ran in but his shot went high over the bar after he had lifted it over the advancing keeper.
United 0 Wolves 0
Nenad Milijas was an interval replacement for Segundo Castillo.
Brown had to clear a Kightly cross as Maierhofer threatened and from Kightly's corner Berra powered a close range header over the bar.
Gibson was wide with a shot on the run before Brown cleared a short cross from Karl Henry from just in front of the line.
United went close when Elokobi deflected a Nani centre onto the outside of the near post but, shortly after Kevin Doyle was sent on in place of Ebanks-Blake, The Reds took the lead.
The half was midway through when Welbeck took a return pass from Owen as he sprinted into the box before he stroked the ball past Hahnemann.
Doyle shot over the bar with a shot on the turn as Wolves looked to hit back and then the Irish striker forced a smart save from Kuszczak.
Mick McCarthy then made a final change with Andy Keogh replacing Kightly.
The home supporters breathed a sigh of relief in the 80th minute as Doyle volleyed just wide of the far post after he swung and connected with Elokobi's shot.
In the dying moments Kuszczak saved again from Doyle whilst Hahnemann had to block a well struck shot from home substitute Joshua King.
United:Kuszczak, Neville (capt), Brown, Owen (Valencia 69), Carrick, Nani, Welbeck (King 81), Da Silva, Evans, Macheda (De Laet 30), Gibson.
Unused subs: Ferdinand, Tosic, Amos, Eikrem.
Sending-Off: Da Silva (29 - foul).
Wolves: Hahnemann, Foley, Elokobi, Henry (capt), Berra, Craddock, Kightly (Keogh 77), Castillo (Milijaš 45), Ebanks-Blake (Doyle 65), Maierhofer, Jones.
Unused subs: Halford, Zubar, Hill, Ikeme.
Referee: P. Walton.
Attendance: 51,116.
