It was a familiar tale for Wolves against Manchester United as a performance full of attacking intent and good opportunities went unrewarded, after Mason Greenwood struck ten minutes from time. Like against Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur, Wolves were the better side, but finish the opening three without a point or goal.
Romain Saiss missed the biggest of the opportunities, being denied by David de Gea at point-blank range, while Francisco Trincao had three opportunities to give Wolves the lead at 0-0, but couldn’t find the required finish - even when de Gea was beaten, Aaron Wan-Bissaka was on hand to clear from the line as Wolves finished empty handed.
It was little surprise a fiery atmosphere met the occasion at Molineux and Wolves responded by starting on the front foot, particularly Adama Traore, who showed Paul Pogba a clean pair of heels in the opening stages before setting up Trincao, who was denied by the feet of de Gea.
The Portuguese, fresh from his first Wolves goal in the week, was heavily involved early on and a stunning goalline clearance by Wan-Bissaka denied him his first Premier League strike, still within the opening ten. Just two minutes outside of that came the next big chance for Wolves, this time Joao Moutinho firing over after a mistake by Jadon Sancho.
A pair of chances then came and went for the Wolves back three, as Conor Coady headed over at the back post and Saiss’ bicycle kick dropped the wrong side of de Gea’s goal. United’s flurries forward were rare, but when Greenwood got in down the left, his crisp effort flew just wide – Wolves avoiding the sucker punch on the stroke of half-time.
Half-time | Wolves 0-0 Man United
After the interval, United were improved, but a speculative volley from range, courtesy of Fred, did little to trouble Jose Sa in the Wolves goal. However, it was Wolves still enjoying the better chances and when Raul Jimenez sent Traore scampering, the Spaniard picked out a free Trincao in the middle, but the wide man opted to go first time and failed to get a clean connection on his effort.
The massive chances kept falling to Wolves, but again went without reward. When Moutinho whipped a free-kick onto the head of Saiss, the Moroccan’s first effort was blocked by de Gea, before the goalkeeper spread himself big to keep out the rebound at point blank range too.
And Wolves would be made to rue their missed chances for the third game running, as United claimed the winner in controversial circumstances. The hosts felt Ruben Neves was fouled by Pogba in the build-up, before Greenwood worked an opening past Marcal and fired in, via a big touch from the right hand of Sa.
Full-time | Wolves 0-1 Man United
Wolves | Sa, Semedo, Kilman, Coady (Gibbs-White 87), Saiss, Marcal, Neves, Moutinho, Trincao (Podence 70), Traore (Silva 87), Jimenez.
Unused subs | Ruddy, Hoever, Ait-Nouri, Boly, Dendoncker, Cundle.
United | De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Maguire, Shaw, Fred, Pogba, Fernandes, James (Cavani 53), Sancho (Martial 72), Greenwood (Dalot 90).
Unused subs | Heaton, Lindelof, Mata, Lingard, Matic, van de Beek.
