Bruno Fernandes receives THIRD red card of the season - after Man United star dives in on Nelson Semedo at start of second half against Wolves

Bruno Fernandes has picked up his third red card of the season after receiving a second yellow card just 90 seconds into the second half of Manchester United's game against Wolves.

The Red Devils headed to Molineux on the back of a humiliating 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth last week, leaving them stranded in 13th after a mixed start to Ruben Amorim's reign.

Wolves had the best of the first half, testing Andre Onana with a Jorge Strand Larsen header, while Matheus Cunha proved the talisman once again with his driving runs.

The pressure was on United to come out stronger in the second period and give the travelling fans some festive cheer but captain Fernandes provided a moment of madness to hinder their chances.

The Portuguese dived into a 50-50 and caught Nelson Semedo before being given his marching orders.

Fernandes could have no complaints, as slow motion replays showed that the midfielder was late on the Wolves right-back and caught him on the ankle.

Bruno Fernandes has picked up his third red card of the season after receiving a second yellow card

The Portuguese could have no complaints after a bad tackle on Nelson Semedo

Matheus Cunha then scored directly from a corner for his 10th Premier League goal this season

Not the start to the second half Ruben Amorim would have had in mind.

Bruno Fernandes receives his second yellow card and is shown his marching orders for the second time this season.#WWFC | #MUFC | #WOLMUN

🎥 @primevideosport pic.twitter.com/SJWa1vrxjM — The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) December 26, 2024

Wolves then made their numerical advantage pay, as Cunha scored directly from a corner to give him his 10th Premier League goal of the season.

This was the third time the Portuguese has had to trudge off this campaign although his red card against Tottenham, in another 3-0 loss was later rescinded.

Shortly after the game in September, a panel found that VAR should have told referee Chris Kavanagh to overturn Fernandes's red card against Spurs.

The midfielder was sent off just before half-time at Old Trafford after scraping his boot against James Maddison's leg while contesting the ball.

Both sets of players quickly surrounded the referee but, despite Fernandes's protestations, Kavanagh was told to stick with his original decision and the Portuguese had to trudge off down the tunnel.

United were a goal down, courtesy of Brennan Johnson's fourth strike in four matches, when Fernandes saw red and conceded two more in the second-half, with Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke adding to the tally.

In the aftermath of what proved to be the key incident of the encounter, Fernandes could be seen chatting with Maddison on the pitch. Following the match, the United man revealed what was discussed.

He said: 'I just wanted to come and talk and be myself because my team-mates deserve that for what they have done in the game playing with one man less – particularly as I was the man sent off, the one that let them down.

Fernandes picked up a red card against Tottenham in September which was rescinded

The Portuguese midfielder was sent off just before half-time in United's humiliating home 3-0 loss after scraping his boot against James Maddison's leg

The star followed up his dismissal against Tottenham with another against Porto days later

'No one likes to be sent off. It's not a good feeling. We end up conceding another two goals.

'I don't go in with the studs, it's a clear foul but never a red card. Maddison said it is a foul but it's not a red card. If this is a red card we have to look at other incidents. I think it's never a red card. It's a foul if he wants to give a yellow. I don't understand why VAR doesn't call the referee to the screen.'

The Portuguese then followed up his dismissal with another just four days later against Porto before his side rescued a 3-3 draw thanks to a late strike from Harry Maguire.

This time Fernandes earned two yellow cards, the second coming when he raised his boot high to try to get on the end of a cross in the six-yard box with United 3-2 down.

Click here to read article