Manchester United won through to the next round of the Carling Cup despite changing the entire team which beat Manchester City on Sunday

And they prevailed with ten men for an hour after Fabio Da Silva saw red for hauling down a goalbound Michael Kightly.

United’s starting eleven still contained eight internationals. And the finishing ten held on as Wolves pushed first for a winner, then an equaliser.

Wolves made seven changes themselves from the side which beat Fulham on Sunday.

But they had the best early chance when United ex-trainee Sylvan Ebanks-Blake sent a dipping left-foot shot narrowly over the bar on 12 minutes.

Indeed, the visitors were acquitting themselves well and Kightly looked set to give them a 29^th minute lead having shaken off the initial attentions of Fabio.

However, Fabio slipped, regained his feet, and slipped again, bringing down Kightly with a tackle more suited to rugby.

Fabio was dismissed but United keeper Tomasz Kuszczak turned aside David Jones’ resultant free-kick.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, United had their best spell of the half but wasted a golden opportunity when Michael Owen headed weakly at Wolves keeper Marcus Hahnemann.

And Wanderers were nearly gifted the opening goal on 44 minutes when Gary Neville sliced and skied an attempted clearance only for Jones to send his effort into the Stretford End.

Defender Christophe Berra headed over from close range after the break, while the closest United came in the third quarter was when Nani’s deflected cross rebounded onto the post from Hahnemann’s chest.

The winning goal, though, soon followed. The classiest move of the match saw Owen combine with Danny Wellbeck, who slotted the ball home with his right foot from ten yards.

Wolves’ Kevin Doyle twice came close to a late equaliser, one left foot shot being inches wide of the post with Kuszczak well beaten.