Barry Glendenning 

Manchester United 0-1 Wolves: Premier League – as it happened

Minute-by-minute report: Joao Moutinho scored the only goal of the game at Old Trafford, where the home side were as out of sorts as at any other time this season
  
  

Joao Moutinho of Wolverhampton Wanderers celebrates after scoring.
Joao Moutinho of Wolverhampton Wanderers celebrates after scoring. Photograph: Jack Thomas - WWFC/Wolves/Getty Images

Ralf Rangnick speaks ...

“We didn’t play well at all individually or collectively,” he tells Sky Sports. “In the first half, we had big problems to keep them away from our goal.

“In the second half we changed to a back three and had more control then a spell of 15 minutes where we could have scored. The goal we conceded, we had enough players in the box. The cross had been defended by Jones but the goal we conceded was like too many this season.

“Moutinho could shoot unmarked with no problems, no pressure. We’re very disappointed about the result and parts of our performance. Wolves were playing with four or five central midfielders and we had problems to control that part of the pitch. We decided to change our formation and we had more control – they didn’t have as many chances – but we missed our chances and we have to admit they deserved to win.

“Wolves were the best team we’ve played. We have more problems today than in other games.”

Bruno Lage speaks

“It is one more victory,” the Wolves boss tells Sky Sports. “This is a lovely stadium, a place with a lot of history but the most important thing is how we played. We played in our way, we controlled the first half and missed a lot of chances. We win three points, and have more chances than goals.”

Match report: Manchester United 0-1 Wolves

Premier League: João Moutinho’s sweet 81st-minute volley handed Wolverhampton Wanderers a first league win here since 1980 while starting an inquest into where United are headed under an interim manager whose two main tenets seem to have gone AWOL, writes Jamie Jackson from Old Trafford.

Joao Moutinho speaks

“What I want is to help the team,” says the scorer of Wolves’ winner in a post-match interview with Sky Sports. “Winning here at Old Trafford against a big team is amazing for us. We came here to play football, play with the ball, that’s what we do.

“We created a lot of shots in the first half. They changed a little bit to three centre-backs like us. We controlled everything. We only let them create one opportunity on the bar. We deserved it because of what we did over 90 minutes. I hope we can continue with this performance.

“Phil Jones headed out the ball. I tried to see where it went. After my first touch I said I need to shoot. That’s what I need to do, to shoot more. A beautful goal.”

The Premier League table: Wolves move one place up to eighth, three points behind Manchester United. Ralf Rangnick’s beaten side stay in seventh place, four points behind Arsenal in fourth having played one game fewer.

Wolves have beaten Manchester United: Joao Moutinho scored one of Wolves’s 19 attempts on goal to win the three points for his side and it’s a victory they thoroughly deserved. United were poor this evening apart from one impressive bombardment on the Wolves goal between the 65th and 70th minute.

Full time: Manchester United 0-1 Wolves

Peep! Peep! Peeeeeeeeeeep! It’s all over at Old Trafford, where Wolves have won for the first time since 1980.

90+6 min: Jose Sa saves well from Bruno Fernandes’s free-kick, which was on target.

90+5 min: Phil Jones is the victim of a high boot from Fabio Silva and United have a free-kick just outside the Wolves penalty area, straight in front of goal.

90+5 min: A Rashford cross from the right is put out for a United corner.

90+4 min: Jose Sa is booked for time-wasting.

90+3 min: United corner. Max Kilman shapes to head it clear but hears a shout from his goalkeeper, who gathers under pressure from Cavani, who fancies his chances of beating the Wolves goalkeeper to the ball.

90+2 min: A floated pass from Fernandes towards Rashford is cut out by Romain Saiss as United hunt for an equaliser.

90+1 min: We’re into five recommended minutes of added time. Max Kilman puts the ball out of play for a Manchester United corner. Nothing comes of it.

89 min: Dendoncker wins a free-kick for Wolves deep in United territory, kicking the ball out off Jones.

88 min: Wolves substitution: Leander Dendoncker on for the excellent Daniel Podence.

86 min: Wolves pile the pressure on United, with Daniel Podence advancing on the opposition penalty area. Phil Jones dispossesses him and plays the ball forward, where a promising move breaks down on the back of a terrible Marcus Rashford pass towards Wan-Bissaka.

84 min: That was a decent goal from Moutinho, who took a touch before sending a perfectly placed shot into the corner. David De Gea saw it late and couldn’t get near the ball. There was good work from Adama Traore in the build-up – it was his cross from the right that was headed towards Moutinho by Phil Jones.

GOAL! Manchester United 0-1 Wolves (Moutinho 82)

Wolves go ahead after Joao Moutinho pounces on a headed clearance from Phil Jones on the edge of the penalty area and rifles a low drive into the bottom left-hand corner.

Joao Moutinho celebrates.
Joao Moutinho celebrates. Photograph: Jack Thomas - WWFC/Wolves/Getty Images

Updated

80 min: Daniel Podence optimistically appeals for a penalty after running into Raphael Varane and falling over. Referee Mike Dean isn’t having it. Wolves substitution: Fabio Silva on for Raul Jimenez.

79 min: Adama Traore tries to send a cross in from the right but Shaw intercepts and the ball is deflected high into the air and into the hands of David De Gea.

77 min: Marcal whips a cross to the far post towards Jimenez, who shapes to volley the ball past De Gea. Luke Shaw heroically gets the block in, hurting himself in the process. He’s OK to continue.

76 min: Manchester United substitution: Marcus Rashford on for Jadon Sancho, who has had a quiet night.

75 min: Romain Saiss clips the crossbar with his curled effort. David De Gea had it covered.

75 min: Adama Traore gallops into space and is brought down by Nemanja Matic on the edge of the United penalty area. Yellow card and a free-kick for United in a great position right of centre, a yard or two outside the box.

70 min: With over an hour played, Manchester United have finally sparked into life. Now Scott McTominay gallops forward and has his rasping shot blocked by Coady.

69 min: Ronaldo runs on to a long ball forward from Fernandes and steers a shot wide of the far upright under pressure from Conor Coady.

68 min: Ronaldo heads home a Bruno Fernades free-kick from wide on the right but is correctly flagged for offside.

Updated

67 min: So close! Bruno Fernades runs on to a pull-back and thumps the ball off the cross-bar from about eight yards out with the goal gaping. That is an awful, awful miss!

Updated

66 min: Wolves substitution: Adama Traore on for Trincao. Traore is still looking for his first goal of the season and has only seven career Premier League goals to his name. It’s a poor return.

64 min: A Daniel Podence cross towards Jimenez on the edge of the six-yard box is put out for a corner by Luke Shaw. Good defending. Jimenez got his head to the ball but Shaw was able to intercept. Nothing comes of the set piece.

63 min: A low cross drilled into the penalty area by Wan-Bissaka fails to beat the first man and Wolves clear through Conor Coady.

62 min: A Fernandes pass towards Cavani in the Wolves penalty area fails to reach its intended target and Sa dashes off his line to gather.

61 min: Jose Sa leaps to catch another poor Aaron Wan-Bissaka cross into the Wolves penalty area.

59 min: Manchester United substitution: Bruno Fernades on for Mason Greenwood. Edinson Cavani’s number had been punched into the board by the fourth official originally before Ralf Rangnick had a change of heart.

58 min: Shaw blocks a Nelson Semedo shot from distance after Trincao had dummied the ball and let it run through to the wing-back.

56 min: Having played an advantage for Wolves after a Luke Shaw foul which earns the left-back a booking, Mike Dean brings play back for a free-kick from which notning comes. Along with McTominay, Shaw will miss United’s next Premier League game too.

54 min: Marcal cuts out a low Wan-Bissaka cross from the right. Actually no, on second view - he doesn’t. The United right back actually kicked the ball against his own standing leg and sliced it wide. That about sums United’s performance up in a nutshell.

53 min: Luke Shaw becomes the latest United player to give the ball away cheaply. The home side are dominating possession in the early stages of the second half but doing next to nothing of note with it.

52 min: Trincao fouls Cavani on the halfway line and concedes a free-kick.

51 min: Like all United’s forward players, Mason Greenwood has been quiet tonight but gets on the ball for long enough to send a shot high and wide.

49 min: Wolves win a free-kick wide on the right for a daft McTominay foul on Podence. The United midfielder gets booked and will miss his side’s next game. Standing over the dead ball, Moutinho sends a cross to the near post but fails to beat the first defender.

48 min: Another wayward pass, this time from Sancho to Edinson Cavani. Ruben Neves mops up for Wolves.

47 min: Manchester United attack with Jadon Sancho taking on his man on the inside left and trying to pick out Ronaldo just inside the penalty area. His pass goes astray and Romain Saiss boots clear for Wolves.

Second half: Manchester United 0-0 Wolves

46 min: Play resumes, with Manchestrer United needing to stamp some home side authority on proceedings. They’ve been pretty pedestrian and sloppy so far. No changes in personnel on either side so far.

Half-time: Manchester United 0-0 Wolves

Peep! An absorbing half comes to a close and Wolves’ inability to get the ball in the opposition net is in danger of costing them again. They’ve controlled the game and had 14 or 15 shots but failed to score. Ruben Neves missed the pick of the chances, a splendid volley that David De Gea performed heroics to keep out.

45+2 min: Neves has a shot blocked by Phil Jones and the ball breaks to Raul Jimenez, who shoots over the bar.

45 min: Daniel Podence threads a lovely ball into the path of Jimenez in the United penalty area. His touch is poor. Wolves recycle the ball and Semedo squares the ball, but Phil Jones sticks out a leg to deny Podence. Wolves have a corner, from which they win another.

44 min: Raphael Varane hacks clear as Trincao tries to pull a cross into the United penalty area from the byline.

43 min: Edinson Cavani sends a wild shot high over the bar from just outside the Wolves penalty area.

41 min: Trying to shoot on the turn from a tight angle, Jimenez has an effort blocked.

40 min: Daniel Podence tries to escape down the left wing but runs into a stout wall of resistance in the form of Scott McTominay.

37 min: Wolves enjoy a sustained spell of possession and eventually win a free-kick wide on the left for an Aaron Wan-Bissaka foul on Marcal. Trincao’s inswinger is met by the head of Romain Saiss, who can’t steer his effort on target. Another chance goes a begging for goal-shy Wolves.

35 min: Raul Jimenez misses with a near post header from close range following an ill-advised header back towards his own goalkeeper by Cristiano Ronaldo. Offside.

Updated

33 min: A heavy pass from Edinson Cavani fails to pick out Ronaldo, who was in a good position in the Wolves penalty area.

32 min: Romain Saiss heads a Luke Shaw cross clear.

31 min: Neves picks out Semedo with a long, low pass to the right flank but he’s forced backwards by Luke Shaw.

29 min: There’s a break in play as Ruben Neves receives treatment for an injury following a coming-together with Scott McTominay. He seems OK.

28 min: Greenwood and Wan-Bissaka combine down the right and the full-back sends a cross towards the far post from the byline. Not for the first time this evening, it’s too high for Ronaldo.

27 min: Wolves tenth attempt at goal comes and goes as Raul Jimenez sends a shot high over the bar from distance.

26 min: Marcal is penalised for a foul on Ronaldo and United win a free-kick halfway inside the Wolves half. They play the ball forward but Ronaldo is flagged for offside.

24 min: Trincao and Neves combine down the right for Wolves but are forced into retreat. Moments later, Daniel Podence forces David De Gea into action with a shot to the near post from inside the United penalty area.

24 min: Ruben Neves miscontrols a Mason Greenwood pull-back into the Wolves penalty area with a heavy touch but gets away with it. Wolves clear.

21 min: Luke Shaw sends a wayward cross wafting across the Wolves penalty area and goalkeeper Jose Sa takes possession. Wolves are undoubtedly having the better of proceedings but there’s not a great deal between the sides.

19 min: An Aaron Wan-Bissaka cross from the right is too high for Cristiano Ronaldo to connect with.

18 min: A constant thorn in United’s side, Nelson Semedo cuts in from the right with Luke Shaw backing off him. The Wolves man ubnleashes a shot that stings the palms of David De Gea.

16 min: Podence, Semedo and Neves combine down the right. Neves unleashes a shot but sends his rising effort high and wide of the United goal.

15 min: From the right flank, Semedo sends another cross through the Manchester United penalty area but there’s nobody in a Wolves shirt present to capitalise. The Wolves wing-backs are causing United all sorts of bother, getting in behind Luke Shaw and Aaron Wan-Bissaka on the counter whenever they venture up the field.

13 min: My word! From a Wolves corner, the ball finds its way to Ruben Neves outside the United penalty area. He chests it down and volleys towards the top corner. De Gea saves superbly. What a goal that could have been!

Updated

12 min: Podence gets a shot off from a tight angle but David De Gea gets down to save at his near post.

10 min: Facing his own goal, Phil Jones does well to stretch and cut out a curled cross into the centre towards Podence from Nelson Semedo.

9 min: No chances of note for either side so far but Wolves have started brightly and are on the front foot, attempting to take the game to United.

7 min: Jadon Sanchez takes a quick pass upfield from Greenwood and bears down on the Wolves penalty area as United counter. Rather than play Ronaldo in to his left, he elects to shoot and has his effort blocked. He should have passed but Ronaldo keeps his counsel for now.

6 min: Ruben Neves sends Jimenez on his way down the inside right but his delivery towards Podence is put out for the first corner of the game. Manchester United clear at the second attempt.

5 min: Wolves go forward but a crossfield ball towards Daniel Podence on the left touchline is cut out by the head of Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

3 min: United play out from the back, eventually lofting the ball towards Ronaldo in the penalty area. He miscontrols and loses it. Wolves clear their lines.

1 min: Raul Jimenez sends a cross into the Manchester United penalty area from the right and Phil Jones thumps it clear with a header. His clearance is greeted by a loud roar of approval from those in the Stretford End.

Updated

Manchester United v Wolves is go ...

1 min: Wolves get the ball rolling courtersy of Raul Jiminez, looking for their first win at Old Trafford for 40 years. Crikey!

Not long now: Conor Coady leads Wolves out and the visitors are followed moments later by Cristiano Ronaldo and his Manchester United teammates. Both sets of players line up either side of Mike Dean and his match officials, and kick-off at Old Trafford is just seconds away.

Cristiano Ronaldo: With Harry Maguire out, the Portuguese striker will skipper Manchester United this evening for only the second time in his two spells at the club.

Ralf Rangnick on the inclusion of Phil Jones in Manchester United’s starting line-up. “I can only judge him from the last four weeks in training,” he tells Sky Sports. “And he has always been very professional, very much involved in all the things that happen on the pitch and since the other three centre-backs are all out for injury or Covid reasons, for me he was the logical choice for tonight’s game.”

Championship: In a big game at the lower end of the second tier, Derby County defender Curtis Davies has just powered a header home in the third minute of added time to rescue a point against Reading. It’s finished 2-2 at the Madejski Stadium, where rock bottom side Derby have come from two goals down. Meanwhile at Stoke, Preston have beaten their hosts by the odd goal of three.

Those teams: It’s a huge night for Phil Jones, who makes his first appearance for Manchester United in 707 days, starting alongside Raphael Varane in the heart of the home side’s defence in the absence of Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly.

The defender, whose last appearance was in a 6-1 FA Cup win against Tranmere on 26 January 2020, comes into defence along with Raphael Varane, replacing Harry Maguire and Eric Bailly.

Francisco Trincao and Nelson Semedo come in to the Wolves starting line-up.

Manchester United v Wolves line-ups

Man Utd: Dde Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Jones, Shaw, McTominay, Matic, Greenwood, Sancho, Cavani, Ronaldo.

Subs: Rashford, Lingard, Fred, Bruno Fernandes, Dalot, Henderson, Alex Telles, Van de Beek, Elanga.

Wolves: Jose Sa, Kilman, Coady, Saiss, Nelson Semedo, Trincao, Neves, Joao Moutinho, Marcal, Jimenez, Daniel Podence.

Subs: Hoever, Ait Nouri, Bruno Jordao, Silva, Ruddy, Dendoncker, Traore, Cundle, Bueno.

Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)

Manchester United: Ralf Rangnick has told Edinson Cavani that he “desperately” wants the striker to stay at Manchester United and will not allow him to leave in January despite reported interest from Barcelona. Read on ...

Early team news ...

Something of a defensive crisis for Ralf Rangnick has prompted exciting chatter that Phil Jones could make his first appearance for Manchester United in two years.

With Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof absent for Covid-related reasons and lingering doubts over the fitness of Eric Bailly, Jones could partner Raphael Varane in the heart of United’s defence.

While midfielder Paul Pogba is absent with a thigh problem, Un ited can welcome Bruno Fernandes back from a spell on the Naughty Step.

Wolves left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri could miss out with a groin injury, while Hwang Hee-chan, Pedro Neto, Yerson Mosquera, Jonny and Willy Boly are all absent.

Premier League: Manchester United v Wolves

The festive football schedule rumbles on, with Old Trafford the setting for today’s Bank Holiday fixture between Manchester United and Wolves.

The hosts sit seventh in the table having played just 18 games, the same number as Wolves, who are six points and two places further back. A win for United this evening would move them to within a point of Arsenal in fourth. Kick-off is at 5.30pm (GMT) but stay tuned in the meantime for team news and build-up.

 

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