Comment- Match Report- Wolves v Manchester United

Turns Out Fergie Has Used His Nine Lives for the Season…​

Well, it all started so well on a blustery night in Wolverhampton but tonight was the night that Sir Alex‘s luck finally ran out. Having gone ahead within the first few minutes United seemed strangely powerless to stop the three points from falling out of their grasp, during a lacklustre performance at the boggy Molineux.

United named a strong side to face Wolves but suffered the loss of Rio Ferdinand, due to a calf strain, in the warm up that will keep him out of the derby next week. Ferdinand must surely detest Molineux now having made his final appearance here before serving his eight-month ban in Jan 2004 – a day when Wolves defeated league leaders United. Surprisingly, Jonny Evans was given the nod to replace the injured England captain ahead of Chris Smalling. However, these worries were all set aside in the third minute when the ever-improving Nani cut inside on the right and produced a thunderbolt into the near post, scoring his eighth goal of the season. After the reds poor performances away from home it was a relief to see the ball hit the back of the net with what was the fourth goal, in the first five minutes, in the last six Premier League matches. Mancini said this week that he wanted to win every game 1 0 this season, something which was criticized heavily by fans at Old Trafford, but I’m sure Ferguson would have loved to have heard the final whistle after that goal.

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The Top v Bottom Clash Really Turned the Table Upside Down
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Despite the initial setback Mick McCarthy‘s men were not afraid to push on and get back into the game, eager to avoid a third defeat to United this season. Soon after Nani’s fine individual goal Wolves struck back with a well worked quick corner between Jarvis & Hammill who caught our defense napping. As United prepared for the corner the two of them worked some space and whipped in a lovely ball to the huge Cameroon LB, Geroge Elokobi. Unmarked, the defender guided the ball into the corner of the net easily past the helpless Van Der Sar. United were nonplussed; Wolves and the home crowd were lifted.

For the rest of the first half United were generally the better side but they struggled to adapt to to unpredictable surface. Debutant Jamie O’Hara worked well the Mijilas, the ‘One to Watch,’ and the Serb very nearly put the home side ahead when his curling free kick was deflected agonizingly wide of the post, just after Nani had seen his one free kick dip just over the cross bar. Then, in the 39th minute, from a dangerous free kick sloppily given away by Nemanja Vidic, following a careless Rooney mistake, Wolves took the lead through Kevin Doyle who lost his marker, Jonny Evans, as the ball was played. Kevin Doyle, who ended the game with a nose bloodied by Chris Smalling’s flailing arm, might have scored the first winning goal against United in the Premier League since Didier Drogba last April, but United’s shambolic defending was central to the defeat, with Evans looking a long way from the player that Sir Bobby Charlton said would Captain Man United one day.

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Vidic Belated Tried in Vein to get to Elokbi​

In the second half Wolves sat back and defended their lead, with United having over 70% of the possession. Paul Scholes replaced the poor Michael Carrick at the interval but this change did not seem to help Fergie’s men find the creativity that they so sorely lacked. Jonny Evans was also substituted on the hour after suffering from cramp, just like he did at Southampton- something totally unacceptable for a Premier League professioanl- either there is an underlying injury or Ferguson needs to have words. The whole team looked frustrated and it was particularly unusual to see the normally so relaxed Ryan Giggs get so frustrated by the Wolves defense. Even the introduction of super-sub, Javier Hernandez, for the obsolete Dimitar Berbatov failed to level the match as Hennessey & Co weather United’s admittedly weak final storm, which included an embarrassing volley-ball shot from Paul Scholes.

Overall, it was an awful performance by the lead leaders against bottom of the table Wolves but credit must go to Mick McCarthy and his men for their unbelievable spirit and fight which transformed another predictable defeat into a memorable night for the Wolves faithful- meaning they’ve beaten five of the top seven in the league now. Regardless, after 29 games and ten months, United’s unbeaten league run is over, and the damage was self inflicted. Au revior the Invincible’s.

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What is one thing United have never done? Lost a 4 goal lead. What is another thing United have never done? Hero worshipped a man who lost to his arch rivals on his managerial debut. What is another thiang United have never done? Relied on Roman Abramovich's brilliant Youth Cup winning team. What else have we never done? Relied on Roman to realise that said Youth Cup winning team was ****. What else have we done? Not been City. All bases covered (until some other miniscule club gets bought out and becomes significant).