Vitor Pereira’s strong start at Wolves continued with a 1-0 win over 10-man Manchester United at the Molineux on Boxing Day.
United captain Bruno Fernandes was sent off for the third time this year, and his 47th-minute red card was soon met by Matheus Cunha’s Olimpico goal before the hour mark.
United huffed and puffed but couldn’t find an equalizer in a game with only 17 shot attempts, less than a full combined xG, and a shade over 50% possession for the bottom-three hosts.
Wolves pull out of the bottom three with their 15th point, one more than Leicester and three more than Ipswich Town. Both have not yet played their 18th match.
Man United now sits 14th with 22 points, losers of four in their last five Premier League matches and five of seven in all competitions.
Matheus Cunha more dangerous than all of Man United
Matheus Cunha is very much in his prime at the age of 25, and on Thursday he was the best player on the pitch by some distance. He was the best attacker on the pitch by an even wider margin, because Manchester United was bereft of confidence in the final third. Bruno Fernandes’ red card didn’t help anything, as he’s the Red Devils best threat most games, but Ruben Amorim’s system only had three out there to start the game and both Rasmus Hojlund and Amad Diallo — the latter to a lesser extent — struggled to affect the game even with United had 11 men. Antony was better and more direct off the bench, but fellow subs Joshua Zirkzee and Alejandro Garnacho did very little. Garnacho at times was bullied off the ball and it must be asked whether he’s capable of contributing in a system where he isn’t a wide winger with space to get on the ball. It’s clearer than ever that Amorim must know he needs to reshape the squad. How many of these guys might be out the door by the end of January? Enough that United might want to act early enough in the window to avoid playing too many games with this spirit-sapped squad.
Wolves vs Manchester United player ratings
(from fotmob.com)
Wolves vs Manchester United player ratings (from fotmob.com)
Wolves vs Manchester United player ratings (from fotmob.com)
What’s next?
Wolves go to Tottenham at 10am ET Sunday, then Manchester United host Newcastle at 3pm Monday.
How to watch Wolves vs Manchester United live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 12:30pm ET Thursday (December 26)
Venue: Molineux — Wolverhampton
TV Channel: USA
Streaming: Watch live on NBC.com
Wolves vs Manchester United live score: 2-0
Matheus Cunha 59', Hee-chan Hwang 90+9'
Wolves vs Manchester United live updates — By Nick Mendola
Full time — Wolves 2-0 Manchester United
Hee-chan Hwang goal — Wolves 2-0 Manchester United (90+9')
Eight minutes stoppage don’t help the Red Devils score a goal, but nine works for the hosts.
Ex-Man City midfielder Tommy Doyle will love his role, as he picks out a long pass to Cunha, who leads a 2v1.
Cunha slides the ball over to substitute forward Hee-chan Hwang to smash past Onana from close range.
Goodnight.
Close!
Casemiro crosses into the box and Garnacho meets it with a stooping header that loops over the Wolves goal.
Red Devils still trail, down a man, as we’re into the 83rd minute.
Man United subs
Alejandro Garnacho and Joshua Zirkzee enter for Amad Diallo and Rasmus Hojlund, 80'.
Wolves subs
Joao Gomes and Goncalo Guedes for Tommy Doyle and Hee-chan Hwang.
1-0 Wolves, 74'.
Antony wide
The Brazilian left winger cuts past a man slices a hard shot off the outside of the side netting.
United need more impetus like that if they want to get back in this game.
Man United subs
Antony, Christian Eriksen, and Casemiro enter for Leny Yoro, Manuel Ugarte, and Kobbie Mainoo.
1-0, 63'.
Cunha the seventh player to 10 Premier League goals this season
Cunha’s 10th ties him with Chris Wood and Bryan Mbeumo on the Golden Boot leaderboard.
He’s five off Mohamed Salah’s standard, with Cole Palmer, Erling Haaland, and Alexander Isak also in front of him.
Matheus Cunha olimpico goal! Wolves 1-0 Man Utd (59th minute)
Matheus Cunha swings a corner kick on goal.
Andre Onana engages with Matt Doherty in front of him, then walks back into another Wolves player.
The only thing he forgets is the ball.
1-0 to the hosts, and 10-man United trail.
Jorgen Strand Larsen just offside
A brilliant headed goal by Jorgen Strand Larsen sees the flag go up.
He was offside when Semedo swept in the cross.
0-0, 50'.
Manchester United red card — Bruno Fernandes shown second yellow
Fernandes lunges for the ball and brings his studs down the front of Nelson Semedo’s right ankle.
It’s a second yellow, and Fernandes’ third sending off this season (one was later rescinded).
When it rains, well it’s really rainy anyway at the Molineux.
Halftime — Wolves 0-0 Man United
Not a great watch, to be honest, and the mist/rain is not helping things at the Molineux. We blame Robert Plant in the crowd, author of “Misty Mountain Hop” and “The Rain Song” with his mighty band Led Zeppelin.
United finish with 58% of the ball, a 6-4 edge in shot attempts, and an xG advantage of 0.24-0.23. Two saves each for Sa and Onana.
Yep, a barn burner.
Stars emerging
Cunha’s been Wolves’ best player, but Manuel Ugarte has been as solid as Cunha’s been electric.
Ugarte has broken up multiple Wolves rushes and is helping the Red Devils maintain their 62% possession mark.
He’s also 5-of-5 on duels and has shown off his passing range a couple of times.
0-0, 39'.
Wolves come close through Strand Larsen
Cunha is everywhere, and now Wolves have a great play stymied by Andre Onana.
Jorgen Strand Larsen climbs over Harry Maguire to head a cross down toward the far post.
It’s bounding for the upper 90 but Onana slaps it around the frame and the corner comes to nothing.
0-0, 28'.
Jose Sa save!
It’s a Portuguese save on a Portuguese shot set up by a Portuguese star.
Fernandes gives it to Diogo Dalot, who curls a shot toward goal only to be denied by the flying Jose Sa.
0-0, 21'.
Another Utd yellow
Cunha is a menace, and he’s dribbling freely in the final third when Bruno Fernandes slides him down before he can take Harry Maguire 1v1.
Now Yoro and Fernandes are on yellow in the first 20 minutes of this game at the Molineux.
All Man Utd but hold on....
Matt Doherty steals the ball in the United half and this could be a goal out of absolutely nothing.
It had been all Man Utd but here’s the break and... the pass into the six is snared by Andre Onana before Jorgen Strand Larsen can side-foot it from the doorstep.
0-0, 17'.
Early yellow card for Man United
Matheus Cunha gets on the other side of Leny Yoro on the Wolves’ left flank.
Yoro brings him down by the arm and it’s a fifth-minute caution for the young Red Devils center back.
Wolves lineup
Sa, Semedo, Doherty, Bueno, T. Gomes, Ait-Nouri, J. Gomes, Andre, Guedes, Cunha, Strand Larsen
Manchester United lineup
Onana, Mazraoui, Maguire, Martinez, Yoro, Dalot, Ugarte, Mainoo, Diallo, Fernandes, Hojlund
Wolves vs Manchester United preview — By Joe Prince-Wright
Wolves host Manchester United on Boxing Day with both teams needing a win for very different reasons, as two Portuguese coaches collide. Vitor Pereira got off to a perfect start as Wolves’ new manager as they hammered Leicester 3-0 on Sunday. That means they’re now just two points from safety and the Portuguese coach seems to have instilled belief and swagger into Wolves’ stuttering side. With the attacking talents they possess, there’s no reason why Wolves can’t surge up the table if they can stay solid at the back. Pereira also knows new Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim well from Portugal.
As for Manchester United’s new Portuguese manager, well, things did not go to plan at home to Bournemouth on Sunday as they lost 3-0. That came after a 4-3 League Cup quarterfinal defeat at Tottenham as Amorim’s side are all over the place at the moment and could not back up their stunning Manchester derby win. United are a work in progress and they’re so inconsistent and Amorim has to make them tougher to beat, and score against. United sit nine points off the top four and 10 points off the relegation zone heading into Boxing Day.
Wolves team news, focus
Matheus Cunha was superb once again as Wolves demolished Leicester with a fine display of first half finishing. Pereira gave his key players confidence to express themselves and Cunha and Guedes were lively playing off Strand Larsen.
OUT: Yerson Mosquera (knee), Boubacar Traore (knee), Pablo Sarabia (calf), Enso Medina (knee), Sasa Kalajdzic (knee) | QUESTIONABLE: Mario Lemina (calf)
Manchester United team news, focus
United will likely make plenty of changes as Amorim continues to rotate in order to find his best lineup. De Ligt being out with illness was a blow against Bournemouth with Leny Yoro set to start. In attack Rasmus Hojlund will surely start and Alejandro Garnacho could come back in too.
OUT: Mason Mount (thigh), Luke Shaw (foot), Victor Lindelof (unspecified) | QUESTIONABLE: Matthijs de Ligt (illness)
Wolves vs Manchester United prediction
This feels like it will be very tight clash and neither team will be delighted with a point but will have to take it. Wolves 1-1 Manchester United.
