Ten-man United suffer top-four blow with defeat at Wolves
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ByEurosport
Updated 03/04/2019 at 06:15 GMT
Premier League, Molineux – Wolves 2 (Jota 25’, Smalling OG 77’) Manchester United 1 (McTominay 13’)
Paul Pogba, Manchester United
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Wolverhampton Wanderers dealt a big blow to Manchester United’s top four hopes as they beat Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side 2-1 at Molineux on Tuesday evening.
Solskjaer made six changes to the side that claimed a fortuitous victory over Watford on Saturday, with Marcus Rashford and Anders Herrera ruled out through injury, while Anthony Martial was only fit enough for the bench.
United's reward for a lightning start was a deserved opener in the 13th-minute when Scott McTominay, a replacement for Herrera, struck a 25-yard shot which skidded across the wet surface and nestled into the net.
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Scott McTominay of Manchester United celebrates scoring the opening goal during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Manchester United at Molineux on April 02, 2019 in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom
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The visitors' joy was short-lived, however, as Wolves bagged an equaliser in the 25th-minute following a mistake in the United midfield. Fred lost possession, allowing Raul Jimenez to release Diogo Jota who kept his cool to level the scores.
Suddenly, the momentum was with Wolves and after the restart Ashley Young was sent off for a second yellow card - only five minutes after his earlier offence.
United initially coped well with the numerical disadvantage but in the 78th-minute they failed to deal with Jonny Castro's cross from the left flank and in a goalmouth scramble the ball bounced off Chris Smalling and into the net.
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Wolverhampton Manchester United
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Wolves laid siege to the United goal in search of a killer third goal, as Ivan Cavaleiro struck the crossbar, but Nuno Espirito Santo had to settle for just the 2-1 victory - for the second time in 17 days having knocked United out of the FA Cup.
The results means Manchester United remain fifth, behind fourth-placed Tottenham on goal difference having played a game more. Wolves remain seventh and will go into Sunday's FA Cup semi-final with Watford in great spirit.
TALKING POINT
United's top-four hopes are fading. Having produced a lacklustre performance in Saturday's win over Watford, Solskjaer would have demanded a reaction from his players in his first away game as permanent manager. A lively start aside, what the Red Devils conjured up was another concerning display, at least defensively - resulting in a damaging defeat; a great opportunity to move into third, wasted. On a hugely disappointing night for the club, United lost from a winning position for the first time since May 2016. With huge games against Manchester City and Chelsea looming, their top-four hopes are now hanging by a thread.
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Premier League - Wolverhampton Wanderers v Manchester United - Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton, Britain - April 2, 2019 Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Image credit: Reuters
MAN OF THE MATCH - Raul Jimenez (Wolves)
Linking up superbly with Jota, this was another remarkable performance from the Mexican. He has settled quickly into the Premier League and could yet guide Wolves into a European place.
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Premier League - Wolverhampton Wanderers v Manchester United - Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton, Britain - April 2, 2019 Wolverhampton Wanderers' Raul Jimenez in action with Manchester United's Victor Lindelof
Image credit: Reuters
PLAYER RATINGS
Wolves: Patricio 7, Bennett 7, Coady 7, Boly 6, Doherty 6, Dendoncker 8, Neves 8, Moutinho 7, Vinagre 7, Jota 8, Jimenez 9. Subs: Saiss N/A, Jonny 7, Cavaleiro 6.
Man Utd: De Gea 7, Young 4, Lindelof 5, Smalling 6, Shaw 6, McTominay 7, Fred 5, Pogba 4, Dalot 6, Lukaku 5, Lingard 4. Subs: Martial 5, Jones 4.
KEY MOMENTS
13' - GOAL! Wolves 0-1 Manchester United: McTominay scores with a lovely shot from 25 yards! The ball is zipped around quickly in midfield, Fred tees up the Scot who takes a touch to get it out of his feet and with his second he leathers one into the bottom corner! United have taken the game to Wolves and it's a deserved lead.
25' - GOAL! Wolves 1-1 Manchester United: Out of nowhere, Jota levels the scores! United the architects of their own downfall. De Gea kicks it out to Fred who gives the ball away. Jota times his run to perfection to latch onto Jimenez's through pass and he finishes with conviction.
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Diogo Jota of Wolverhampton Wanderers celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Manchester United at Molineux on April 02, 2019 in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom.
Image credit: Getty Images
52' - YOUNG IS SENT OFF! Booked only five minutes earlier, the United full-back is shown his second yellow for a lunge on Jota! Hard to argue with that decision, it was a reckless challenge. How will Solskjaer respond tactically?
77' - GOAL! Wolves 2-1 Manchester United: It's an own-goal by Smalling! Wolves are ahead for the first time in the match! It's a lovely cross from the substitute Jonny and United don't deal with it. Dendoncker gets on the wrong side of Jones, the ball bounces off Smalling and into the net.
KEY STATS
- Manchester United have had more different goalscorers (exc. own-goals) than any other Premier League team this season.
- Abdoulaye Doucouré has scored more league goals from open play (10) than any other Watford player since the start of last season.
- Following Ashley Young's dismissal, Mike Dean has now handed out 100 red cards in the Premier League, the most by a referee in the competition's history.
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