Manchester United 2, Wolves 0
Alejandro Garnacho came back from injury to score a stoppage time goal to secure a 2-0 win over toothless Wolves.
United spent much of the game a goal up thanks to a first half Anthony Martial strike into an empty net but couldn’t make the game safe until the Argentine youngster came off the bench to score a solo effort.
Although the Reds won the game the number of chances on offer underlined their need for a striker with Marcus Rashford out injured.
The Reds finished with nine shots on target and should have put away the tame Wolves who never really threatened in the game.
The win also prevents Liverpool from overtaking the Reds for the coveted fourth Champions League spot this weekend.
Embed from Getty ImagesPLAYER RATINGS – Manchester United 2, Wolves 0
David De Gea: 6. Little to trouble him but almost blotted his copybook running out of goal to clear the ball and misjudging it. Fortunately there were other defenders back to cover for his error.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka: 7. Valuable contribution defensively but didn’t offer enough going forward.
Raphael Varane: 6. First game back after weeks out injured. Showed his class again.
Victor Lindelof: 6. Little to trouble him from Wolves.
Luke Shaw: 7. Back at left left, a superb cross into the box deserved more from Antony. Other crosses didn’t come off so well though.
Casemiro: 7. Took a booking for the team as Matheus Cunha threatened to dribble though the United midfield. Had a late pot shot saved by Dan Bentley.
Christian Eriksen: 6. Few speculative shots wide.Tired in the second half.
Antony: 7. Curled an early shot wide of the back post and headed a great chance over the bar. Cut back from the right set up Anthony Martial’s opening goal. Should have scored himself after several great shots saved.
Bruno Fernandes: 7. Whipped in free kick saved by Bentley, plenty of theatrics in between before landing a cross onto the top of the net late on and then playing the through ball that released Alejandro Garnacho for United’s second goal.
Jadon Sancho: 6. Quiet game again. Denied late on by a great low save by Dan Bentley with the goal at his mercy.
Anthony Martial: 7. Not very effective up front until he was handed a sitter from 7 yards out with the goalkeeper out of position – a tap in to an empty net – and he again didn’t finish the game despite the Reds needing another goal to make the game safe.
Wout Weghorst (on for Anthony Martial, 69): 6. Showed willing. Headed over the bar from a late corner by Bruno Fernandes.
Harry Maguire (on for Raphael Varane, 81): No time to mark
Fred (on for Christian Eriksen, 81): No time to mark
Alejandro Garnacho (on for Christian Eriksen, 81): Cheered heavily upon his return. No time to mark.
GOALS – Manchester United 2, Wolves 0
Man Utd 1, Wolves 0: 32. Anthony Martial had a tap in to an empty net after Antony found him with a cut back just outside the six yard box following some nice approach play by Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro.
Man Utd 2. Wolves 0: 90+4. Alejandro Garnacho was released by Bruno Fernandes on a break and beat Nelson Semedo before his shot beat Dan Bentley and came off both posts before nestling into the bottom corner.
MATCH STATS – Manchester United 2, Wolves 0
Man Utd: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Varane (Maguire 81), Lindelof, Shaw, Casemiro, Eriksen (Fred 81), Antony, Fernandes, Sancho (Garnacho 81), Martial (Weghorst 69)
Man Utd Subs not used: Butland, Malacia, Dalot, Pellistri, Elanga
Bookings: Casemiro 36 (foul on Matheus Cunha); Shaw
Goal: Martial 32
Wolves: Bentley, Semedo, Dawson, Kilman, Toti (Bueno 61), Nunes, Neves, Lemina (Traore 75), Neto (Hwang 46), Cunha (Podenco 61), Costa (Jimenez 78)
Wolves Subs not used: Sa, Collins, Sarabia, Gomes
Bookings: Costa 15 (foul on Antony); Dawson 88 (foul on Fred)
Referee: John Brooks
Att: 73,517