Manchester United 1, Wolves 0 – Player Ratings
Raphael Varane’s header sealed the points for an under-par Manchester United who were lucky to avoid a late VAR penalty claim for Wolves.
United look short of ideas and vulnerable to a quick break through midfield in the first half as Wolves edged the game on chances.
Matheus Cunha hit the outside of the post early in the second half after United retreated in the face of a Wolves break.
But they were hit by a late bit of magic from United when Bruno Fernandes found some space to release Aaron Wan-Bissaka and the Reds full back put a cross into the box which Raphael Varane headed home with 14 minutes to go.
The Reds were indebted to some fine saves by Andre Onana as Wolves looked for the equaliser and there was even time for a VAR drama as Onana avoided a penalty after a VAR check after appearing to clatter substitute Sasa Kalajdzic deep into added time.
Embed from Getty ImagesPLAYER RATINGS – Manchester United 1, Wolves 0
Andre Onana: 8. Not much drama although Matheus Nunes went close. Spilled a shot by Matheus Cunha which trickled wide and had an easy save from Pedro Neto who should have done better. Saved twice with his feet from Fabio Silva late on. Survived a late penalty VAR check in added time.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka: 7. Up against the dangerous Matheus Nunes. Didn’t show enough going forward and was caught upfield a couple of times to boot. Got into his defensive stride by the end of the first half and by the end he provided a rare assist with a ball into the box and then held United defend hat lead.
Raphael Varane: 7. Exposed by his full back, but broke the deadlock at the other end.
Lisandro Martinez: 6. Booked early, completely outpaced by Matheus Cunha, and balls slid down the side of him. Replaced by Victor Lindelof at the break.
Luke Shaw: 6. Hands full looking after Pedro Neto. Smacked full in the face by the ball in the second half. Late block from Fabio Silva kept United in front.
Casemiro: 6. Cruised around in midfield. Sidestepped by Rayan Ait-Nouri and Matheus Cunha and left gaping holes into which Wolves ran as he tried to overload Wolves.
Bruno Fernandes: 6. Saw too little of the ball but produced a moment of quality to find Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Mason Mount: 6. Not very effective set pieces, little service when he went forward.
Antony: 6. Plenty of pace on show and got deep into the Wolves half. Could have done better with a shot when the loose ball fell to him in the first half. Tricks didn’t come off.
Alejandro Garnacho: 6. Exciting wing-play but was effectively shackled.
Marcus Rashford: 6. Somewhat isolated and started to hunt for the ball in deeper areas.
Victor Lindelof (on for Lisandro Martinez, 46): 6. Pushed into midfield at times but United remained porous.
Christian Eriksen (on for Mason Mount, 68): 6. Sprayed passes around but had little effect.
Jadon Sancho (on for Alejandro Garnacho, 68): 6. Couldn’t find a way through.
Facundo Pellistri (on for Antony, 77): No time to mark.
Scott McTominay (on for Marcus Rashford, 87): No time to mark
GOALS – Manchester United 1, Wolves 0
Man Utd 1, Wolves 0: 76. Bruno Fernandes dinked the ball over the top, Aaron Wan-Bissaka sent it into the mixer and Raphael Varane headed it home from close range.
MATCH STATS – Manchester United 1, Wolves 0
Man Utd: Onana, Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Lisandro Martinez (Lindelof 46), Shaw, Casemiro, Fernandes (C), Mount (Eriksen 68), Antony (Pellistri 77), Garnacho (Sancho 68), Rashford (McTominay 86)
Man Utd Subs not used: Henderson, Maguire, Martial, Dalot
Bookings: Lisandro Martinez 17 (foul on Pedro Neto); Shaw 45 (Foul on Pablo Sarabia)
Goal: Varane 76
Wolves: Sa, Semedo, Kilman (C), Dawson, Ait-Nouri (Bueno 77), Nunes, Joao Gomes (Kalajdzic 87), Lemina, Neto, Cunha (Silva 77), Sarabia (Hwang Hee-chan 63)
Wolves Subs not used: Bentley, Doherty, Traore, Kalajdzic, Toti, Hodge
Bookings: Lemina 27 (foul on Alejandro Garnacho); Ait-Nouri 35 (timewasting), Neto 69 (time wasting)
Manager Booking: Gary O’Neill 90+7
Referee: Simon Hooper
Attendance: 73,358