Hernandez the hero again

JAVIER HERNANDEZ confirmed his status as Manchester United’s new hero with a brilliant winner to take the Carling Cup holders into the last eight of the competition last night.

Hernandez came off the bench to secure victory over Wolves in the last minute of normal time and keep alive United’s quest to become the first side to win the trophy three times in-a -row.

Defender Wes Brown hailed the Mexican as a “new cult hero” after his dramatic intervention. “He’s got a great attitude to the game. He’s a player who wants to learn and score goals and is good at it,’’ Brown said.

“He tries his hardest and deserved his goal at the end. He’s a new cult hero and I’m sure he can keep it going.”

United boss Alex Ferguson was impressed with Hernandez.

“They tend to build heroes quickly here but he’s justifying the praise at the moment,’’ he said.

“He’s very professional, the first out on the training ground and the last one back in every day and he’s rightly getting a lot of praise for his goalscoring.

“When he gets a chance you know he’s going to take it. His touch, control of the ball and vision are improving and that’s because the training is intense — we care about it and make sure the players do improve.”

The night wasn’t all about Hernandez though.

Bebe, the relatively-unknown striker signed in the summer from Portuguese side Vitoria de Guimaraes, crowned a promising first start with a fortunate opening goal before George Elokobi equalised.

Park Ji-Sung made it 2-1 to the home side but Kevin Foley hauled Wolves level again before Hernandez’s excellent finish.

Alex Ferguson made 11 changes and Wolves boss Mick McCarthy seven, and the first half in a quiet Old Trafford, with plenty of empty seats, was a dismal affair.

United’s striker Gabriel Obertan and Federico Macheda were poor, the best chance coming when the Italian sent a shot straight at Wolves goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey after Bebe’s scuffed centre ended up at his feet.

The second half opened up with more apparent problems for United as Matt Jarvis rampaged down the right and sent over a ball to the far post that Steven Fletcher met with a cracking left-foot volley which went wide.

Darron Gibson gave United encouragement with a swerving free-kick that was on target, the only problem being that it swerved straight into Hennessey’s arms.

It finally needed a touch of fortune – and an excellent decision by assistant referee Darren Cann – to see United take the lead.

Bebe did well to muscle past Elokobi but his deflected cross went right over the Wolves keeper and dropped over the line. Foley thought he had headed the ball off the line but Cann waved his flag for a goal, and TV replays showed the World Cup final linesman had judged it perfectly.

No sooner had United taken the lead when Wolves equalised. Fabio’s brilliant block denied Stephen Hunt but from the corner Elokobi rose superbly and thumped a header into the goal.

Park put United 2-1 up following a driving run that took the ball into the heart of Wolves territory and it came back to him somewhat fortuitously after Macheda lost control, and the South Korean placed the ball neatly into the corner of the net.

Once more however Wolves came back with a nice build-up involving Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and a flick from Fletcher to set up Foley who fired through Jonny Evans’ legs past Ben Amos.

With extra-time approaching Ferguson took off the tired-looking Bebe, and sent on the weekend’s goalscoring hero Hernandez.

The young Mexican was immediately influential, sending Obertan sprinting in on goal but his finish was once again disappointing, flashed wide with only the keeper to beat.

Hernandez’s class finally made the difference in the very last minute of normal time when he left two Wolves defenders in a heap and lifted the ball coolly over Hennessey.

MAN UNITED: Amos, Brown, Smalling, Evans, Fabio Da Silva (Neville 74), Obertan, Carrick, Gibson, Park (Morrison 90), Macheda, Bebe (Hernandez 81).

WOLVES: Hennessey, Foley, Mouyokolo, Berra, Elokobi, Hunt, Mancienne, David Jones, Jarvis (Doyle 85), Ebanks-Blake (Bent 80), Fletcher.

Referee: Michael Jones (Cheshire).