Ralf Rangnick’s fourth Premier League match in charge of the Red Devils is one to be forgotten as Wolves stun Manchester United. It could’ve been known as being Phil Jones’ long-awaited comeback. Instead, it will go down in history as Wolverhampton Wanderer’s first triumph at Old Trafford since 1980.
Wolves Stun Manchester United at Old Trafford And Pick Up Deserved Three Points
Wolverhampton’s Respectable Offense Overshadowed by an Even Greater Defence
The opening minutes set the tone for the overall match, with Wolves playing more intensely than United, owning the ball more and daring more than any team should be able to do at Old Trafford while having no problems sending up long balls and filling up with many
players. The first half characterised the good and bad with Wolves throughout this season – creating many chances but failing to convert them. They lack a true goalscorer. What they don’t lack is a solid defence, having the second-best defensive record in the league. This was something the United attack learned first-hand, as Wolves’ back-three consistently thwarted any half-chances the home side tried mustering throughout the first 45 minutes. Goalkeeper José Sá was also instrumental when it came to this.
Despite mildly improving as the first half progressed, United never seemed like a cohesive unit. Their only positive ray of light was Mason Greenwood, who was active and often found good space.
Bruno Fernandes Lift Not Enough for Manchester United
The second half started with sporadic optimistic long-distance strikes from both teams. Wolves were, unlike United, great at surrounding lone players with the ball and winning possession. It’s no coincidence that the visitors enjoyed seven corners to United’s zero by the hour-mark. This was also when Bruno Fernandes came in and momentarily evened out the odds. He almost instantly made an impression, hitting the bar in the 67th minute and less than 60 seconds later, a Cristiano Ronaldo header goal was ruled offside. This lift was just temporary, however.
Among the smorgasbord of Portuguese players, it’s no coincidence that Portimonense-fostered João Moutinho scored the winning goal for Wolves – their first victory at Old Trafford since February 1980.
The win moves Wolves to eighth, just three points behind the Red Devils, who find themselves four points behind fourth-placed Arsenal.
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