MAN UNITED 1, WOLVES 1
Jose Mourinho was critical of sixth-placed Manchester United as they were held at home by newly-promoted Wolves.
“It was not a good performance and not a good result and Wolves played the way I like to and as it were a World Cup final,” explained the Reds’ manager.
Mourinho was impressed by Wolves’ intensity and desire adding they deserved the draw as his former pupil Nuno Espirito Santo – he was Porto’s reserve keeper when they won the Champions League – has assembled a side capable of prospering in the Premier League.
The United manager added his side began both halves poorly and with low intensity and, in those circumstances, it is difficult to win games.
Mourinho added his side was not sharp enough in the last third of the pitch, saying he was happier with the performance against Tottenham in their last home game, even though they lost that game.
He explained it was a mystery as his team had returned home in “good spirits” after recording three wins on the road at Burnley, Watford and Young Boys.
And there wasn’t the excuse of fatigue following a Champions League game as many of the side did not feature in Switzerland.
Santo was proud of his team and the character of his team, the way they defended and also created chances adding it was a deserved draw.
“Let’s improve so we can play like this in every game,” explained Santo as Wolves’ fans chanted he was the ‘Special One’.
United made four changes from the side that won 3-0 in Switzerland in midweek.
Marcus Rashford and Nemanja Matic were ruled out through suspension while Diogo Dalot and Anthony Martial also lost out.
There were recalls for Alexis Sanchez, Jesse Lingard, Antonio Valencia and Marouane Fellaini.
Pre-match there were emotional scenes as Sir Alex Ferguson made his Old Trafford return after recovering from surgery following a life-threatening brain haemorrhage earlier this year.
It was a lively opening and Wolves came close to snatching a seventh-minute lead when David De Gea made a terrific save with his right leg to keep out an excellent shot on the turn from Raul Jimenez.
And they had a second clear-cut chance when Ryan Bennett headed narrowly over following a corner.
Wolves were in the ascendancy as De Gea was forced to make another splendid save to keep out Willy Boly’s header from another corner.
United, who could conceivably have been 3-0 down, snatched an 18th minute lead against the run of play.
Paul Pogba produced a sublime touch for a reverse pass to released Fred who fired home a low shot from the edge of the box.
The goal was followed by a lull as play became disjointed as chances dried up from both sides.
Then in the third minute of stoppage time – only one had been signalled – United almost doubled their lead when Wolves keeper Rui Patricio brilliantly Fred’s free kick on to the crossbar.
Wolves were rewarded for their enterprising play when they made it 1-1 eight minutes after the restart.
Helder Costa crossed from the right, Raul Jimenez laid off the ball, with the help of a deflection off Valencia, to Joao Moutinho at the edge of the box and the former Monaco player fired high into the roof of the net, his first goal for the club.
Mourinho’s response was to make a double substitution as Sanchez and Fred made way for Martial and Juan Mata.
Patricio was at his best to turn over a 25-yard drive from Lingard as United pressed to regain the lead and Fellaini then headed straight at the keeper.
United made their last changes with 15 minute left when Lingard made way for Andreas Pereira.
If there was going to be a winner, it looked likeliest to come from Wolves through the electrifying pace of substitute Adama Traore.
Three times in the five minutes of added time he made terrific forward bursts to unsettle United’s defence.
Twice he forced saves from De Gea and also blazed wide when it would have been wise to have released team mates supporting him either side.