Manchester United failed to win at Old Trafford for the fourth time in the last five home matches, held to a 1-1 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers on Tuesday.
The visitors, who have just three points through
19 matches, held their own defensively and did well to create against the Reds, but the result is largely a consequence of Ruben Amorim’s side failing to sustain attacks or create and convert on meaningful opportunities in front of goal.
The Reds opened the scoring in the 27th minute after a nice counterpressing job by Ayden Heaven to win the ball. He had space to run in front of him, eventually playing a pass central to Joshua Zirkzee, who turned and fired a left-footed shot from the top of the box. The Dutchman’s strike took a kind deflection from a defender on the way through toward goal, taking some sting out of the ball but sending Jose Sa helplessly to the left as the ball was diverted to his right.
Much like the events of the first meeting between these two sides earlier this month, United did not pursue an opportunity to capitalize on momentum, and instead, Wolves created the better efforts going into halftime. Sesko had an opportunity he’ll likely want back, a back-post header hitting the post after a corner kick routine, and it was one United fans will want back as well, considering what followed.
A lobbed cross to an open Arokodare, who sent a header over the bar, but it was the start of a series of efforts from the visitors. Eventually, they won a corner and an open Ladislav Krejci at the back post, and his header found the bottom right corner of the net.
Again, the score was level at the break, and United needed a spark against the worst team in the league.
The goalscorer, Zirkzee, was replaced at halftime for Jack Fletcher, which resulted in a change in shape as well with Cunha granted more freedom of movement and Fletcher operating at the top of the midfield. There were some early opportunities, with the best falling to Benjamin Sesko. Casemiro set him up clear through on goal with a lobbed pass, but the Slovenian forward headed the ball right at Sa.
Wolves nearly took the lead just after the hour mark as Krejci got another shot off in the box. Senne Lammens had to make a really good diving save to his left to stop the effort, and completed a double save by parrying away a rebound in the vicinity of Mane.
Jhon Arias was teed up for another shot on 79 minutes, and his strike was deflected just wide with a sliding tackle by Diogo Dalot.
United’s next look again fell to Sesko, who again sent a soft header into the arms of Jose Sa, and the Old Trafford crowd’s frustration continued to grow. Moments earlier, they were urging the Reds on with “attack attack attack” in a 1-1 deadlock against one of the worst Premier League sides of all time, and yet there was very little indication that the side was capable of sustaining attacks.
The ball was in the net for United in the 90th minute, but the flag went up for offside to rule out Patrick Dorgu’s effort on a rebound. Benjamin Sesko had the initial effort, turning away from a defender on a pass from Casemiro and shooting low. Sa got a hand to it and Dorgu pounced to smash it in, but replay confirmed that he was just beyond the last defender when the first shot left Sesko’s foot.
In stoppage time, it was the visitors who looked to have the last chance in the fifth and final minute of stoppage time, but Cunha intercepted the short pass. United wound up with some extra time to attack, but did nothing meaningful with it.
An embarrassing result for United at home against a dreadful Wolves team, and perhaps a warning of the void of goal threats in the team.
