Wolves 3 Sheffield United 0 – Report and pictures

Ruben Neves put Wolves into an early lead with a beautiful strike from 25 yards and on the half hour it was 2-0 when Diogo Jota finished a sumptuous passing move from 12 yards.

Ivan Cavaleiro's deflected free kick – after keeper Simon Moore was sent off for clattering Jota outside the box – was the end of the scoring and shortly afterwards the returning Benik Afobe came on to a rapturous ovation at a delirious packed house.

Analysis

They're going to need a new dictionary to try and adequately describe this Wolves team.

This was a demolition job of the highest order in which Nuno Espirito Santo's team found fifth gear and looked unstoppable, writes Tim Spiers at Molineux.

When they're in this mood there's probably only a fairly small number of teams in the country who are better to watch. Wolves are that good.

Their desire, their will to win, their lust for goals...it's all relentles.

And my how Molineux lapped this up. A packed house was treated to a show of high quality passing, movement, pace, creative and skill from a team at the top of its game – and the fans duly responded with incessant noise.

The loudest cheer of the game was reserved for a player who is a window into Wolves' past, Benik Afobe, when he replaced Ivan Cavaleiro with 13 minutes left.

Afobe, who almost scored to put the icing on this deliciously filthy cake, may or may not be part of Wolves' future long term but if the likes of Ruben Neves, Diogo Jota and Ivan Cavaleiro are it's almost scary to think where Wolves could end up.

It must be stated again just how important the week-long trip to Marbella has already proved to be...Wolves left for Spain jaded and returned refreshed and revitalised, producing two of the best performances of the season in successive weeks.

It's a privilege to watch this Wolves side and at this rate the final three months of the season will be a procession.

Match report

Nuno kept faith with the team that had won 1-0 at Ipswich a week earlier meaning Benik Afobe had to settle for a place on the bench.

Sheffield United had three ex-Wolves players in their team – Richard Stearman, Lee Evans and captain Leon Clarke, who scored both goals when the Blades beat Wolves 2-0 back in September.

They are one of only four teams to have beaten Wolves in the league this season – but there was to be no repeat here.

Instead Wolves demolished Chris Wilder's team in a first half display as good as anything they've produced this season...which is saying plenty.

Nuno's team simply oozed class, confidence and skill. Some of the football they played looked out of place in a Championship encounter...it belonged at a much higher level.

The trickery, the pace, the touches, the movement and the sheer audacity of some of the ridiculous skill they put on show was almost beyond belief. You almost felt sorry for Sheffield United.

The fun started just five minutes in when Ruben Neves picked his spot from 25 yards – and that spot was the very top corner, with the ball kissing the post on the way in. The noise Molineux produced was one you only normally hear after the watershed.

Neves – who simply doesn't score average goals – had set the ball rolling and from there Wolves just got better. Helder Costa looked like, well, Helder Costa, Diogo Jota was back to his pre-Christmas best and Ivan Cavaleiro joined in the show with some sublime touches.

The half time scoreline of 2-0 was flattered to the Blades...Wolves toyed with them at times. If Neves' goal was a magnificent individual effort, the second strike was the product of a wonderful team move involving Costa, Jota, Cavaleiro and Doherty who sliced through the Blades before Jota played a one-two with Cavaleiro and beat the keeper.

United threatened sporadically but John Ruddy wasn't tested. At the other end Costa volleyed wide, Boly headed over and a three-on-one break ended in controversy when Costa was bundled over but the referee was unmoved.

There was no change in personnel at half time but the tempo and urgency wasn't quite there at the start of the second half as Wolves took it down a notch and the visitors began to enjoy more of the ball although they weren't troubling Wolves where it mattered.

Ricky Holmes shanked an 18-yard shot with their best opportunity of the game to date but Wolves just didn't look in any danger.

Leo Bonatini, currently enduring a goal drought that stretches back to December 4, fired just wide shortly after replacing Costa as Wolves threatened to extend their lead and kill the game.

They did so with 14 minutes on the clock after the Blades gave them a helping hand – keeper Moore was sent off for clattering Jota outside the box with a dangerously high challenge and from the 20-yard free kick Cavaleiro's effort deflected off the wall and wrong-footed sub keeper Jake Eastwood, whose first action was to pick the ball out of the net.

That was Cavaleiro's last action as he was withdrawn for Afobe, who received a hero's ovation as he made his second Wolves debut. He so very nearly crowed it with a goal, heading Doherty's perfect cross just inches past the post.

That was that for the goalmouth action, with the final few minutes played out with ease.

Key moments

5 – GOAL – Coady sprays a gorgeous pass to Cavaleiro, he plays inside for RUBEN NEVES who curls an achingly gorgeous 25-yarder into the net via the inside of the post.

30 – GOAL – Sublime, intricate build-up play involving Doherty, Costa, Jota and Cavaleiro. It ends when DIOGO JOTA plays a one-two with Cavaleiro and beats the keeper from 12 yards. A stunning goal.

71 – Leo Bonatini spins and fires just wide from 12 yards.

73 – RED CARD – United are reduced to 10 men after goalkeeper Moore races from his line and wipes out Jota with a dangerous and high challenge.

76 – GOAL – And from the resulting free kick IVAN CAVALEIRO curls from 20 yards, it hits the wall and bounces past a wrong-footed Jake Eastwood.

Line ups

Wolves (3-4-3): John Ruddy, Bennett, Coady (c), Boly; Doherty, Neves, N'Diaye, Douglas; Costa (Bonatini, 65), Jota (Gibbs-White, 81), Cavaleiro (Afobe, 77). Subs: Norris, Batth, Hause, Enobakhare.

Goals: Neves (5), Jota (30), Cavaleiro (76)

Sheffield United (4-3-3): Moore; Baldock, O'Connell, Stearman, Stevens; Basham (Leonard, 71), Evans, Fleck; Wilson (Eastwood, 75), Clarke, Holmes (Donaldson, 71). Subs: Lundstram, Sharp, Duffy, Lafferty.

Attendance: 29,311

Referee: Darren Bond (Lancashire)

League position

1st (68 points from 30 matches)