Manchester United hit four goals for the first time since September to bounce back from their midweek Champions League exit and move to within two points of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League.
Wolverhampton were predictably limp in a 4-1 defeat at Old Trafford but the goals and the points were all Sir Alex Ferguson and his players were looking for after what the manager described as a black week for the club.
"I was well pleased with the performance, our attacking play was terrific and we could have scored a lot more goals," the United manager said. "Goals are what we are about really, and today was a fillip in terms of pushing us on in the league. We are coming up to an important part of the season now and a win like this puts us in good fettle.
"On Wednesday we worked our socks off and didn't get a break. Today we worked our socks off and we did get the breaks. There's no question that what happened on Wednesday was a massive disappointment, but some of the young players will be able to learn from that experience. Some of them have not suffered a bad defeat before, and in the long term it could be good for them."
Wayne Rooney scored twice and could have had a hat-trick having gone eight league games without a goal, though most people's man of the match was Phil Jones, one of the young players Ferguson hopes will learn from his contrasting experiences of the past week. "The manager said the most important thing was to move on, and that's what we did," the 19-year-old said. "We moved on quickly and showed what we are capable of. The fans were 100% behind us and that's exactly what we needed. Everyone at the club was incredibly disappointed on Wednesday, but there's no point dwelling on it. It's gone, and now there are other things to play for."
Mick McCarthy, the Wolves manager, said he knew Manchester United would bounce back quickly and doubted whether this week was a better time to play at Old Trafford than any other. "It's never an easy task whatever the circumstances," he said.
"There's no need to write United off – they'll be back again. They still have the players and they have done it before. It was quite refreshing in a way to see Sir Alex getting a bit of stick and coming under pressure in the past few days. He's the best in the business, so if it can happen to him it makes the rest of us feel a bit better. After all he has achieved he still had a tough time, but that's what happens. You can't always be a success."
