Manchester United 0, Wolverhampton Wanderers 0
Manchester United could not break down a stubborn Wolves side who earned a point despite the best efforts of new Reds signing Bruno Fernandes.
Embed from Getty ImagesFernandes, a £46m signing from Sporting Lisbon, made his debut for United and got stuck into the battle against Wolves, diving in on Joao Moutinho and later getting booked for a foul on Raul Jimenez.
The Portuguese may have been buoyed by being on an Old Trafford pitch surrounded by his own countrymen – albeit a large number of them playing for Wolves – but his passing and shooting was early, adventurous, and improved throughout the game.
Wolves became increasingly happy to time waste – with the Old Trafford crowd baying at the lengthy treatment to Adama Traore on the pitch before he was replaced by new Wolves signing Daniel Podence who was hurriedly getting ready on the sidelines.
Mason Greenwood, on as sub, tried a long range effort that was deflected by both Willy Boly and Conor Coady into the arms of Rui Patricio.
Fellow sub Diogo Dalot wasted a superb chance to score an injury time winner – his header from 6 yards went wide after Aaron Wan-Bissaka picked him out with a cross right at the end.
PLAYER RATINGS – Manchester United 0, Wolverhampton Wanderers 0
David De Gea: 7. Not much to deal with but dealt with it well.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka: 7. Worked hard defensively, making some good interceptions including stopping Neto from a late run on goal. His injury time cross could have produced a goal but Diogo Dalot put his header wide from 6 yards.
Harry Maguire: 7. Looked after Adama Traore robustly. The big winger was eventually forced off with a dislocated shoulder.
Victor Lindelof: 7. Solid defending, enjoyed the battle against Raul Jimenez but lost Diogo Jota in the second half as Wolves improved.
Luke Shaw: 7. Stayed quite high on the left, one cut back fell to Bruno Fernandes but the Portuguese couldn’t convert it.
Andreas Pereira: 6. Played deeper alongside Fred to accommodate Bruno Fernandes – had an early shot and got stuck in. Played further forward after the break.
Bruno Fernandes: 7. Instant fan favourite started in the number 10 role and not afraid to put it about – going into an early 50/50 with Joao Moutinho and booked for a foul on Raul Jimenez. Improved his accuracy throughout the game on set pieces, passing, and shots on goal – testing Rui Patricio several times.
Fred: 6. Sat deep alongside Andreas Pereira with Nemanja Matic suspended. Had to deal with runners from midfield. Claimed a penalty for handball when he shot at the Wolves goal and saw his ball blocked by Joao Moutinho but got nothing from Paul Tierney.
Juan Mata: 6. Stationed out wide on the right but came inside to shoot just wide in the second half.
Daniel James: 6. Sloppy in possession. Couldn’t quite break through the last line for Wolves defence – often Willy Boly – and swapped sides after the break but couldn’t get past Jonny Otto.
Anthony Martial: 6. The impending arrival of Odion Ighalo didn’t seem to make the Frenchman play well. He got no change from Romain Saiss and Conor Coady and looked disinterested.
Mason Greenwood (on for Andreas Pereira, 72): 6. Pushed Anthony Martial wide to the left as United chased a winner.
Jesse Lingard (on for Juan Mata, 88): No time to mark
Diogo Dalot (on for Daniel James, 88): No time to mark
MATCH STATS – Manchester United 0, Wolverhampton Wanderers 0
Man Utd: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Maguire, Lindelof, Shaw, Pereira (Greenwood 72), Fernandes, Fred, Mata (Lingard 88), James (Dalot 88), Martial
Man Utd Subs not used: Romero, Jones, Chong, Williams
Booked: Fernandes 56 (foul on Raul Jimenez); Lindelof 79; Shaw 84 (foul)
Manager Booked: Nuno Espirito Santo 64.
Wolves: Patricio, Coady, Boly, Saiss, Doherty, Moutinho, Neves, Otto, Traore (Podence 76), Jimenez (Dendoncker 90+1), Jota (Neto 70)
Wolves Subs not used: Ruddy, Jordao, Gibbs-White, Dendoncker, Kilman
Booked: Neves 57 (foul on Juan Mata); Moutinho
Referee: Paul Tierney
Attendance: 73,363