Manchester United edge FA Cup replay vs Wolves, but Marcus Rashford injury takes gloss off result

Manchester United squeezed into the fourth round of the FA Cup after Juan Mata’s delicate finish earned a 1-0 replay win over Wolves at Old Trafford - but the result may have come at a cost with a potential injury to Marcus Rashford.

Mata’s strike proved decisive, coming after more than two-and-a-half hours of goalless football across two games, and sets up a meeting with either Tramere Rovers or Watford, whose fixture was postponed because of bad weather on Tuesday.

Unfortunately for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Rashford - on as a second-half substitute - was forced off with an apparent back injury, leaving United facing a nervous wait to see if their star striker will be fit to face Liverpool on Sunday.

Solskjaer made three changes to the side that hammered Norwich at the weekend, with Rashford among those to be given a rare rest as Mason Greenwood, Sergio Romero and Daniel James came into the side.

Nuno Espirito Santo went even close to full strength, with the inclusion of regular cup ‘keeper John Ruddy over Rui Patricio the only alteration to the XI that had begun the 1-1 draw with Newcastle.

There was more chances in the opening ten minutes than there had been in the entirety of the original meeting at Molineux.

First, Ruddy produced a terrific one-on-one block to deny James after his pace had broken the Wolves offside trap, before, at the other end, Raul Jimenez deceived the entire backline with a stunning touch and turn, only to scuff tamely at Romero.

The visitors did have the ball in the net shortly afterwards, courtesy of some shambolic United play, as Fred cannoned the ball off his own teammate, Nemanja Matic, to allow Jimenez to set up Pedro Neto to score, but VAR spotted that the ball had struck the Mexican’s hand as he challenged Harry Maguire.

Matt Doherty struck the base of the post with a header from a delightful Ruben Neves cross, and despite the linesman’s flag being raised, replays showed that VAR would have overruled and allowed the goal to stand, with the wing-back played onside by Brandon Williams.

Ruddy bookened the half with another superb block from James, before the Welshman began the second period by dragging across the face of goal.

Chances, however, were hard to come by, and shortly after the hour mark Solskjaer made a double change, sending on Rashford and Pereira in place of James and Greenwood.

The breakthrough finally came on 67 minutes, Wolves caught wide open on the break as Anthony Martial fed Mata, and though the little Spaniard was almost swallowed up by the chasing defenders, he showed just enough pace to hold them off and lift an exquisite finish over Ruddy.

Victory would come at a cost though, with Rashford taking a heavy challenge off Doherty and going down clutching his back before being forced off only 15 minutes after coming on.

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