MASHETANI WEKUNDU OYEEE!!

MY BALL ... Michael Owen finds space to get in a header at goal last night








And he played a key role in a brilliantly worked 68th-minute goal for Welbeck.


Forward Welbeck, 18, was congratulated by Owen who would have been proud of the clinical finish.


It was a big relief to United after they played an hour with 10 men following Fabio's red card for a challenge that was more like a rugby tackle.


And, sadly for Wolves, the referee played only 19 seconds more than the indicated three minutes of stoppage time.


Owen's contribution this time was more low key than on Sunday but he still earned a pat on the back from boss Alex Ferguson.


Fergie said: "I told you right from the start Michael would be a winner for United.


"It was a great pass, the angle he gave Danny made it easy for him. The return pass he gave was tremendous.


"It was a fantastic goal with some great passing. I think one goal was always going to win it. Then we showed our resilience."


Ferguson chose a completely different side to the one who edged out neighbours City 4-3 at the weekend.


But United's players were still slow to get going and their old boy Sylvan Ebanks-Blake went close early on with a 20-yard shot.


Kevin Foley forced a smart save from Tomasz Kuszczak who was determined to make the most of his chance with Ben Foster rested.


United had offered little going forward and looked to be facing a real uphill task when Fabio was given his marching orders.


Segundo Castillo's 30th-minute pass was held up by Stefan Maierhofer allowing Michael Kightly to burst clear from the halfway line.


Brazilian Fabio, 19, was left floundering and eventually pulled the Wolves man to the ground when he was through.


It left ref Peter Walton with no choice but to send him off.







MICHAEL OWEN is flavour of the month at United.

The hitman set up starlet Danny Welbeck's winner as the Carling Cup holders saw off Wolves - despite being reduced to 10 men.


England hopeful Owen, 29, was handed only his second United start as reward for Sunday's dramatic derby strike against Manchester City.


From the resulting free-kick Kuszczak made a spectacular stop to deny David Jones.


Boss Mick McCarthy said: "Strangely I'd have preferred the game to stay 11 v 11.


"United have done it before against 10 men and are adept at getting back and then picking teams off."


Ferguson added: "Prior to the sending off they were a handful. But after that we seemed better organised.


"We showed a good spirit, it was difficult to play for a full hour with only 10."


Wolves must have headed back to the Midlands kicking themselves for missing a great chance to record a notable win at Old Trafford.


McCarthy admitted: "Even with 10 men, they have shown us what it's all about. The problem is our belief in beating a team with 10 men."


Owen's big chance to score again came just before the break. He peeled off his man but a header from Gary Neville's cross was too tame.


Back at the other end, an horrendous slice by full-back Neville gave Jones a gift of a chance but he could not keep his effort down and it sailed high over the bar.


Wolves looked likeliest to nick the tie early in the second half but Christophe Berra wasted a golden headed chance.


Wes Brown then made a brilliant last-ditch tackle to deny Karl Henry after Ebanks-Blake had flicked it on.


It proved a turning point as United then enjoyed their best spell.


First, Nani's cross almost embarrassed Marcus Hahnemann and hit the post.


But in their next attack, United broke the deadlock with a superb move involving Darron Gibson and Michael Carrick.


Welbeck picked it up on the edge of the box and exchanged a quick-fire one-two with Owen before beating Hahnemann with a superb finish into the far corner.


The local-born forward - who burst on to the scene 12 months ago in this competition - looks well worth keeping an eye on.


Fergie thinks he could go to the World Cup finals with England this summer - it may be a long shot, but do not rule it out.


Kevin Doyle almost forced extra-time with a couple of late efforts but there was to be no last-gasp drama this time.


The board revealed only three minutes of added time - much to the annoyance of Wolves fans who chanted 'We want six'. Nice try.