By Chris O'Brien
February 2 2006

Manchester United swept aside Wolves to secure a place in the last sixteen of the F.A Challenge Cup. The eager-to-impress Kieran Richardson scored twice with Louis Saha also finding the net as Nemanja Vidic made his Red Devils debut at Molineux in a 3-0 win.

"Incey, What's the score?"

Manchester United cruised into the fifth round of the F.A Cup with a 3-0 demolition job at Wolverhampton Wanderers. The travelling Red Army were wary of a shock against Glenn Hoddle's Championship side, skippered by the ineffective ex-Red Paul Ince, but Sir Alex Ferguson's gamble for starting with three strikers paid off as United swept aside their less illustrious opponents.

Wayne Rooney, Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Louis Saha formed a deadly strike trio, but Kieran Richardson was the unlikely hero for United with a brace. Saha, showing some excellent form after shaking off more frustrating injury problems, was also on the scoresheet in a totally one-sided Cup tie at a packed Molineux.

A three-man midfield of Rio Ferdinand, Ji-Sung Park and Richardson, with Rooney tracking back, did not fill supporters with optimism prior to kick-off. However, the visitors were out of the blocks early and had the lead as early as the sixth minute with Richardson firing home a low drive from 20-yards after good work from Saha down the flank.

The England youngster, anxious to make an impression with a rare start, was showing great confidence and fed through Saha moments later only for the Frenchman to fire his shot at keeper Stefan Postma.

Hoddle was clearly frustrated at his team's dissappointing start, but the Midlands team settled as United squandered opportunities and enjoyed a strong spell that did provoke fears of an unlikely comeback. Carl Cort headed narrowly over from 6-yards with United's defence, including debutant Nemanja Vidic, starting to look vulnerable.

The equaliser never came and Saha put the tie beyond reasonable doubt on the stroke of half-time. Vidic sent a huge long-ball over the Wolves defence and was latched onto by the former Fulham forward, beating the offside trap before slotting home. It was relief for United who had always threatened on the break and, despite some pressure from the hosts, were good value for their lead at the interval.

Wolves through men forward minutes into the second-half, desperate to get back into the contest. Striker Colin Cameron, one of two half-time substitutes, fired a shot at Edwin Van Der Sar whilst Cort also went close. Any hopes of a revival were short-lived though, with Richardson again finding the net as he capped a fine Red Devils move to secure a place in the last 16.

Park powered through midfield and sent the ball forward for Ruud Van Nistelrooy. The Dutchman neatly held the ball up, coolly handing off defenders and clipping a cross-goal pass to the head of Richardson who nodded home from only a yard out. It was a well-worked goal and exposed the gap between the Hoddle's men, desperately chasing a play-off place, and the top flight.

To their credit, the hosts continued to battle in vain. Cort should have done better after being gifted the ball by Rio Ferdinand, whilst new signing Tomasz Frankowski was introduced from the bench and fired only inches wide. Consolation never came and United are in the fifth round of the F.A Cup and are on course for Wembley, or, unless the builders get their act together, another trip to Cardiff and the superb Millennium Stadium.

Full Time - Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-3 Manchester United
Attendance - 28,333

Wolverhampton Wanderers: Postma, Edwards, Lescott, Gyepes, Naylor, Seol (Cameron 45), Anderton (Davies 45), Ince, Kennedy, Miller, Cort (Frankowski 64).
Substitutes Not Used: Craddock, Ganea.

Manchester United: Van der Sar, Neville, Brown (Smith 57), Vidic, Silvestre, Ferdinand, Park, Richardson (Evra 65), Rooney, Saha (Fletcher 64), van Nistelrooy.
Substitutes Not Used: Howard, Bardsley.