Manchester United 1 Wolves 1 – Report and pictures

After a couple of good early Wolves chances, United took the lead when Fred side-footed into the corner.

Moutinho equalised shortly after half time with a superb curling striker from the edge of the area.

Both teams had chances to win it and Wolves had to defend for their lives at times, but a draw was a fair result.

Analysis

Mourinho wanted the headlines but it was his compatriot Moutinho who gets them – and deservedly so.

The stats will tell you that United had more shots and more possession, writes Tim Spiers at Old Trafford.

But Wolves were excellent value for their well-earned point at the home of one of the biggest clubs on the planet.

They approached the game, as we all knew they would, with positivity and attacking intent. They also, impressively, were not overawed by the big occasion, as by their own admission they had been on the opening day of the season.

This was further proof, if needed, that Wolves belong at this level.

They stroked and caressed the ball around in front of 74,000 people like they were having a leisurely kickabout in the park. Promoted teams just don't normally play this way.

Their technique, their quality in possession, their threats up front, their defensive rigidity...it was almost as good in every area as Manchester United had to offer.

And boy was their heart, their determination and their courage there too; courage not just to attack one of the best teams in Europe on their own turf, but to come from behind and then battle during a very difficult last 15 minutes to win a point.

United threw everything they had at Wolves in the closing stages and we saw the rare sight of Wolves sitting deep, throwing bodies at the ball and whacking it clear. They can do that too.

They've also now taken on both Manchester clubs home and away and matched them. Absolutely fantastic.

A point very, very well earned.

Match report

As expected Nuno had the luxury of selecting the same XI that he had for the first five league games, as well as the same substitutes as for the last four matches meaning no place in the squad for Leander Dendoncker.

The match was billed as 'pupil versus master' with Nuno taking on his old Porto boss Jose Mourinho, but in the opening 17 minutes is was the 'pupil' who saw his team dominate.

Wolves took the game to their illustrious hosts and weren't in the slightest bit overawed.

They created three opportunities in the early stages and attacking with positive intent with the wing backs bombing forward.

Raul Jimenez was getting plenty of joy during a very bright opening, finding pockets of space ahead of centre halves Victor Lindelof and Chris Smalling, holding the ball up and playing to his overlapping fellow forwards.

The Mexican, Wolves' match-winner last weekend, had the first opportunity of the game when his smart shot on the turn was saved by David De Gea with his feet.

Wolves were getting in behind the United defence and won a few corners – two of which led to two more good chances.

Both were from Joao Moutinho outswingers – the first was powerfully headed just over by Ryan Bennett and the second was met forcefully by a diving Willy Boly, drawing an impressive reflex stop from De Gea.

Nuno's team were in the ascendancy – but just a minute later their enthusiasm was punctured by a United opener against the run of play. Conor Coady headed a cross clear to Paul Pogba who slipped a short pass to Fred and he, in the blink of an eye, sidefooted into the bottom corner with a finish that screamed precision and quality.

It showcased perfectly the difference at the very top level. Nuno had been calling for his team to be more clinical and that was the theme again here during a first half in which Wolves took the game to United, but were a tad short of decisiveness and, more importantly, belief in the final third.

United began to hand out a bit of a schooling in terms of controlling the game (they enjoyed 60 per cent possession in the first half) and Wolves didn't threaten De Gea's goal again during the rest of the half.

They were indebted to Rui Patricio for keeping the score at 1-0 at the break – on the stroke of half time the goalkeeper clambered across his line to keep out a curling Fred free kick which had brilliantly bent around the wall.

Wolves had started the first half in the ascendancy and they did the same after the break – but got their reward this time.

Costa's low cross was controlled by Jimenez who could have had a shot on the turn but cleverly looked back and teed up Joao Moutinho, who sent a rasping, curling shot into the corner from the edge of the box. De Gea didn't even move.

It was exactly what Wolves had deserved for a performance of heart, bravery and guts, not to mention quality on the ball.

With the away fans going nuts Nuno continued to send his team on the charge – they certainly weren't playing for a point.

Costa and Jota were both close to wriggling free in the box and Jota forced a save from De Gea at his near post.

At the other end Patricio tipped a Lingard piledriver over the bar and then saved a Fellaini header at his near post, shortly after Lukaku had somehow headed wide from a narrowly-offside position.

The game was stretched, it was end to end and with 17 minutes remaining it was anyone's guess as to who would win it.

Wolves were matching United all over the pitch and the home team didn't like it one bit. Lindelof embarrassingly cleared almost vertically near his own corner flag, much to the delight of the Wolves fans by that area of the pitch.

Nuno then called for the fastest footballer in the country (at least according to FIFA) as Adama Traore replaced the impressive Costa, while United made their third change with Andreas Pereira replacing Lingard (Mata and Martial had entered the fray straight after Wolves' goal.

But Wolves started to lose control in midfield with United attacking in big numbers and winning the physical battle. Nuno sent on Romain Saiss for his first league appearance of the season as goalscorer Moutinho departer.

In the closing minutes it was one-way traffic as Wolves struggled badly to get out their own half. The defending became last-ditch – Boly intercepted in the nick of time with Lukaku ready to pounce and then Nuno replaced Jota with Morgan Gibbs-White to help shore things up.

United were pressing hard and Wolves were sat deeper and deeper, throwing bodies at the ball in what was becoming a very crowded penalty area. Wolves broke when they could and Traore tested De Gea from a tight angle, but otherwise it was all United.

It was desperate stuff at times – but Wolves' solid shape and superb discipline meant Patricio didn't have to make a single save, not even in five minutes of stoppage time.

Key moments

17 – Boly meets Moutinho's corner and produces a good save from De Gea.

18 – GOAL – Pogba passes to FRED who slips a first-time 18-yard shot into the corner.

45 – Patricio is at full stretch to palm Fred's free kick clear.

53 – GOAL – Jimenez tees up MOUTINHO who curls a beauty into the corner from the edge of the area.

Teams

Manchester United (4-3-3): De Gea; Valencia (c), Lindelof, Smalling Shaw; Fred (Martial, 62), Fellaini, Pogba; Lingard (Pereira, 75), Lukaku, Sanchez (Mata, 62). Subs: Romero, Bailly, Young, McTominay.

Goals: Fred (18)

Wolves (3-4-3): Patricio; Bennett, Coady (c), Boly; Doherty, Neves, Moutinho (Saiss, 80), Otto; Costa (Traore, 75), Jimenez, Jota (Gibbs-White, 86). Subs: Ruddy, Hause, Vinagre, Bonatini.

Goals: Moutinho (53)

Attendance: 74,489

Referee: Kevin Friend

League position

10th (nine points from six games)

Next up

Wolves host Leicester in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday before playing Southampton in the league at Molineux next Saturday.