Wolves 2-1 Manchester United: 3 reasons why United lost to Wolves | FA Cup 2018-19

Manchester United was sent packing from the FA Cup as they lost 2-1 to a spirited Wolverhampton Wanderers side at the Molineux Stadium on Saturday evening.

The Red Devils dominated possession in the early exchanges but failed to make any inroads. The hosts slowly grew into the game with their counter-attacking threat proving a tough proposition to tackle for the away side. However, the first half lacked goal-mouth action as both sides were content to spar with each other.

In the second period, Wolves sprang to life and induced a couple of smart saves from Sergio Romero. Nuno Espirito Santo’s men constantly kept knocking at Manchester United’s door and eventually broke through in the 70th minute when Raul Jimenez’s shot on the turn beat Romero. Six minutes later, the hosts doubled their lead, courtesy a superb solo goal by Diogo Jota.

The Red Devils tried to conjure a comeback yet their attacking play left a lot to be desired. The visitors did pull a goal back in stoppage time through Marcus Rashford but the horse had already been bolted.

---

Here is a look at three factors that contributed to Manchester United’s loss:

#3 Manchester United get completely dominated in midfield

Pogba had a bad day at the office

Manchester United named a strong starting eleven for the game against Wolves with their first-choice midfield trio of Ander Herrera, Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matic starting. However, the triumvirate failed to impose itself on the game as the hosts’ midfield stood up to be counted.

Joao Moutinho and Ruben Neves were impressive in the middle third and ran rings around the visitors’ midfield. The former in particular pulled the strings and barely allowed the likes of Pogba and Matic to control the game.

The Frenchman endured a sub-standard game with his passing going astray at times. Though he made surging runs towards the end of the game, his overall game-play wasn’t quite up to the mark.

Herrera, on the other hand, lacked his usual drive and determination. Thus, he was consigned to playing the ball backward and sideways rather than forward.

Since Solskjaer took over the reins, Manchester United’s midfield has enjoyed a renaissance. However, on Saturday evening, they failed to contain a Wolves midfield brimming with talent.

And inevitably, they found themselves on the wrong end of a 2-1 score-line.

Also See : Durand Cup, Durand Cup Schedule, Calcutta Football League

#2 Manchester United turn in an abject attacking display

Martial & Co. failed to inspire for the second game running

Manchester United came into the game having drawn a blank in their last assignment against Arsenal. Though they looked bright in patches during the said encounter, the Red Devils were anything but that at the Molineux.

For most of the game, the away side’s passing looked pedestrian and they failed to move the ball with any purpose. Numerous attacks were stifled due to the lack of tempo and it was only in the final few minutes that United shifted the ball swiftly.

Jesse Lingard was poor on his return from injury whereas Anthony Martial drifted in and out of the game too often. The pair was guilty of not providing the midfield enough options as their movement lacked imagination.

Additionally, the Red Devils’ offensive play was devoid of a cutting edge. On a few occasions, they got in behind the hosts’ defense. Yet, they lacked the incision and the conviction to come up with an end-product.

Moreover, their set-piece delivery was especially dire as they failed to clear the first man on countless occasions.

Manchester United’s return to its attacking roots has been one of the features of Solskjaer’s reign so far. However, with two listless offensive displays close on the heels of each other, the Norwegian has faced his first genuine stumbling block.

A crucial juncture of the season approaches and if the Red Devils keep producing such awful attacking performances, the mid-season positivity could revert to the early season gloom in a trice.

#1 The Red Devils fall prey to the Wolves’ attack

Jimenez was Wolves' best player on the night

Wolverhampton Wanderers has been the surprise package of this campaign. The newly-promoted side has captured everyone’s imagination with their blend of stout defending and effervescent attacking verve.

Though the former aspect wasn’t tested to the hilt by Manchester United, the latter facet came to the fore spectacularly.

Wolves effortlessly switched play and got their wing-backs to bomb forward. Thus, creating numerical superiority on the flanks. However, it was the hosts’ counter-attacking threat that tilted the scales in their favor

Jota was sensational on the night and capped off his display with a sumptuous goal. His direct running was a source of concern while his off-the-ball movement was a little too hot to handle for the visitors’ rear-guard.

Apart from Jota, Jimenez put in a dogged display as the focal point of attack. The Mexican fought for every ball and invariably came up trumps against Victor Lindelof and Chris Smalling. The striker also popped up with the crucial opener to send the home side on their way to the semi-finals.

Through the course of the season, many have opined that Wolves are one of the best counter-attacking sides in England. At the Molineux, they certainly lent weight to the argument.

And on a night when Manchester United was dreadful in the attack, Wolves hunted them down with remarkable efficiency.