Wolves Beat Man United To Break 42-Year Old Duck With Victory At Old Trafford

4th January 2022

Victory lifts Wolves up to eighth, just three points behind United

Joao Moutinho celebrates after scoring the winner against Manchester United at Old Trafford. PHOTO | Twitter
Joao Moutinho celebrates after scoring the winner against Manchester United at Old Trafford. PHOTO | Twitter
SUMMARY
  • Joao Moutinho became the oldest player to score a winning goal at Old Trafford as Wolves battled to a 1-0 victory against Manchester United on Monday night
  • Wolves ended Ralf Rangnick’s unbeaten start as Man United interim manager in another lacklustre performance that was just as concerning as the Red Devils were thoroughly outplayed
  • An injury crisis at centre-back with captain Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly all missing, forced Rangnick to hand Phil Jones his first Premier League appearance in two years

Joao Moutinho became the oldest player to score a winning goal at Old Trafford as Wolves battled to a 1-0 victory against Manchester United on Monday night.

Wolves ended Ralf Rangnick’s unbeaten start as Man United interim manager in another lacklustre performance that was just as concerning as the Red Devils were thoroughly outplayed.

A first home defeat to Wolves in 42 years leaves United still seventh in the Premier League table, four points adrift of the top four.

An injury crisis at centre-back with captain Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly all missing, forced Rangnick to hand Phil Jones his first Premier League appearance in two years.

But the former England international was one of few United players to emerge with any credit from a ragged display that raises questions over their chances of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.

Cristiano Ronaldo was named United captain for just the second time in the absence of Maguire.

David De Gea was the difference between the sides when United won 1-0 at Molineux in August and the Spaniard was again his side’s saviour with a finger tip save to turn Ruben Neves’ volley over.

Wolves managed more shots in the first half than they had in their previous three matches combined.

But Bruno Lage’s men have scored just 14 goals in 19 league games and again failed to make their control of the game show in the scoreline.

Rangnick left Bruno Fernandes on the bench after the Portugal midfielder missed Thursday’s 3-1 win over Burnley due to suspension.

Fernandes had been United’s talisman for 18 months till Ronaldo’s return to the club in August, but his slump in form has been symptomatic of the Red Devils’ poor season.

However, it was not until Fernandes’ introduction on the hour mark that the home side even began to threaten a breakthrough.

Fernandes should have opened the scoring when he rattled the crossbar with the best chance of the match from Nemanja Matic’s cross 23 minutes from time.

And the visitors finally got their reward eight minutes from time when Jones’ header fell kindly for Moutinho at the edge of the box and he drilled low into the bottom corner.

Jose Sa was still needed to make a vital save from another fierce Fernandes free-kick with virtually the last kick of the game.

Victory lifts Wolves up to eighth, just three points behind United.