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Manchester United edge past Wolves in FA Cup replay as sub Marcus Rashford goes off injured

Juan Mata celebrates putting Manchester United 1-0 up against Wolves - Manchester United
Juan Mata celebrates putting Manchester United 1-0 up against Wolves - Manchester United

It had appeared last season that Juan Mata was on his way out of Manchester United and that this campaign he was becoming little more than a bit part player but he re-emerged to score the vital goal which earned them a FA Cup Third Round replay victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Mata has given the impression of reaching veteran status, despite being just 31, and when he collected Anthony Martial’s clever pass there was an awful lot of the Old Trafford pitch to cover.

But the midfielder did just that and showed a surprising turn of pace as he held off defenders before deftly lifting the ball over Wolves goalkeeper John Ruddy who clattered into him.

It lifted the atmosphere also around Old Trafford, far from full once more for a cup game and despite there being 3,000 Wolves fans, although there was the damper of an injury to Marcus Rashford who had come on as a second-half substitute but lasted just 16 minutes before aggravating a back injury following a robust challenge by Matt Doherty. Rashford walked gingerly down the touchline.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer later admitted that playing Rashford had been a risk but it was one he felt he had to take with the striker coming on as the game remained goalless. It showed the importance of getting through this tie, setting up a fourth round meeting with either Watford or League One strugglers Tranmere Rovers, and of staying in the cup. If United had gone out Solskjaer would have again felt the pressure.

Rashford was not involved in the goal but his arrival gave United more of an edge and the concern will be whether he will be fit enough to face Liverpool away on Sunday. United cannot afford to be without him.

For Wolves this felt like a game too far, on occasions, as their heavy workload caught up on them and manager Nuno Espirito Santo surprisingly fielded his first-choice team but then the Portuguese does not really do rotation and his squad is far the biggest. Even so Wolves, who knocked United out of the FA Cup last season, departed the competition with a sense of grievance after appearing to open the scoring in the first-half only to have it disallowed after a VAR check.

The controversy was not around the use of the VAR but of the handball rule as the ball had rebounded off Raul Jimenez's hand, even though it was clearly inadvertent and the striker was even looking the other way, before it fell to Pedro Neto who easily netted past goalkeeper Sergio Romero.

It was the correct decision as the rule stands but it felt hard on the visitors and especially on Neto, the 19-year-old forward, who has now had goals disallowed at Anfield and Old Trafford after originally being given.

In truth United deserved to concede after comically giving the ball away as they took a throw-in and Fred thumped a pass against team-mate Nemanja Matic before it went to Jimenez who was challenged by Harry Maguire.

This replay had come after a goalless, tepid first encounter at Molineux and after a bright start the game went the same way. Chances were missed and not least by United’s Daniel James who has the speed and the directness but does not have the finishing – not yet anyway.

The winger spurned three good chances. For the first he tried to go around Ruddy, only for goalkeeper to thrust out a hand, and then he tried to lift the ball over the former England international only for him to block with his shoulder before, in the second-half, James did well to create the space but shot low across goal and just beyond the far post.

While James was prominent it was a more difficult evening for 18-year-old Mason Greenwood, who did not quite grasp the position he was asked to play out on the left, while behind him United laboured in midfield with the comedy duo of Matic and Fred. It is, with the injuries to Paul Pogba and Scott McTominay, so painfully an area of the team that United have to improve and the sight of agent Jorge Mendes in the directors’ box was a reminder not just of his links to Wolves but that he is trying to broker the deal to sell Sporting’s Bruno Fernandes.

Wolves also had chances and were unfortunate when they worked a corner short for Ruben Neves to swing in a cross that was met by Doherty whose header back across goal beat Romero but rebounded back off the far post.

If anything the atmosphere inside the stadium became even more subdued with Neto’s protest, after he was booked for sliding in on Williams, audible. Finally the noise was felt. Maguire was heavily involved as he calmly dispossessed Doherty inside the United penalty area and even more calmly cleared with Conor Coady mis-judging the ball as he let it bounce and allowed Martial seize on it.

Wolves’ high defensive line was undone but no-one was sure Mata could stay ahead of the chasing pack but he did just that to finish with aplomb.

Having come back into the team for the 4-0 win to Norwich City, with two assists, it was an even more crucial contribution from Mata who at the start of the season had told Telegraph Sport that he had wanted to sign a new contract and stay at United to help “bring this club back to where it belongs”. There is a long way to go, just as there was with his goal.

Match details

Manchester United (4-2-3-1): Romero; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Williams; Matic, Fred; Mata, Greenwood (Pereira 64), James (Rashford 64, Lingard 80); Martial. Subs Grant (GK), Jones, Dalot, Chong. Booked Fred, Maguire.

Wolverhampton Wanderers (3-4-3): Ruddy; Dendoncker, Coady, Saiss; Doherty, Moutinho, Neves, Jonny (Vinagre 75); Neto (Gibbs-White 71), Jimenez, Traore (Buur 88). Subs Patricio (GK), Bennett, Kilman, Ashley-Seal. Booked Neto, Dendoncker.

Attendance: 67,025

Referee Kevin Friend (Leicestershire).

9:39PM

That was not the finest performance from either side

But OGS looks pretty pleased. They need to get back in the habit of winning and the FA Cup is silverware. They are still in all three cup competitions they have entered. Just about. Wolves were poor in the second half and looked a bit tired towards the end of the game. They were too sloppy, overall.

9:37PM

FULL TIME - Man United 1 Wolves 0

Wolves commit men forward with a free kick just in their own half but they can't keep possession. Man United break with Martial, who finds Pereira on the edge of the box. Cane he make it two? He tries to open his body and curl it in but it's straight at Ruddy. So, no. And soon after that Kevin Friend - who has had a very good game - blows the final whistle. United through to face Watford or Tranmere.

9:35PM

90+2 mins - Man United 1 Wolves 0

This second half has been a bit...bleurgh. Wolves sat back until they conceded, United created few chances until they scored and there was not much quality on the park. Certainly not in the final thirds, anyway.

9:33PM

90 mins - Man United 1 Wolves 0

A shout for handball on Lindelof in the box but no. It was fired at him from close range and his arm wasn't up in any way. Four additional minutes; a minimum of.

9:32PM

88 mins - Man United 1 Wolves 0

Goalscorer Juan Mata is awarded Man of the Match by BT Sport's Steve McManaman. He's been good. Yep. Fair. Meanwhile, Fred is still on the pitch but he has done little of consequence this half.

9:30PM

86 mins - Man United 1 Wolves 0

Jiminez breaks down the right in space, finds the cross into the penalty box but it's just beyond the head of Gibbs-White. Wolves still in this game, obviously as it's only 1-0. But there are chances to be had. Adama Traore has pulled up and I think could be coming off imminently. He is replaced by the youthful Dane Oskar Buur.

9:27PM

85 mins - Man United 1 Wolves 0

Martial gets 10/10 for effort tonight. He almost gets through to the byline on the left but wins a corner.

9:26PM

83 mins - Man United 1 Wolves 0

Wolves getting a little frustrated now. Dendoncker pulls a charging Wan-Bissaka back who, in fairness, tries to continue forward and doesn't go down. Kevin Friend sees it though and it's a foul and a booking.

9:25PM

81 mins - Man United 1 Wolves 0

Wolves press forward and get another corner. It's one of those training ground routines as it goes to Neves 20-odd yards out - he's scored from there before but he doesn't this time. It's well struck but is just high and wide. Would have been Scholes-esque had he pulled that one off.

9:22PM

Mata puts United 1-0 up

9:21PM

79 mins - Man United 1 Wolves 0

Rashford comes off. He can't continue. Not great, with Liverpool at the weekend. Lingard, who is not having his best season, replaces him. Barely 15 minutes he was on. It doesn't look too serious.

9:20PM

78 mins - Man United 1 Wolves 0

Wolves naturally putting a few more bodies forward and they nearly find an opening through Traore on the right. They just can't get the final shot away, though.

9:18PM

75 mins - Man United 1 Wolves 0

Moutinho takes from the right, it goes right through everyone and United clear. Wolves didn't have too many men in the box, though. Rashford was back on his feet, however he's down again. I don't know whether he's pulled  something. Doherty went through him a couple of minutes ago. It could just be a knock on his back.

9:16PM

73 mins - Man United 1 Wolves 0

An incredibly scrappy passage of play sees Harry Maguire booked after sliding in on Jiminez on the touchline. Rashford briefly went down injured but is back on his feet. A free kick for Wolves in a dangerous position, though.

9:14PM

Dave's watching at home

Or at least someone who has access to his account is.

9:13PM

69 mins - Man United 1 Wolves 0

As well as an excellent performance at the weekend, Mata has been very good tonight also. Gets his reward with that goal. He doesn't get too many of them these days - that was just his second of the season.

9:11PM

GOAL! Man United 1 Wolves 0

Juan Mata! A ball over the top from Harry Maguire - who works very hard to keep the ball deep in his own half - finds Martial and with Wolves committing men in attack, he releases Juan Mata with a delicate ball. It cuts right through the Wolves defence and puts the Spaniard is through on goal. He dinks it over Ruddy as it bounces on the goal line and into the back of the net. That was the bit of quality needed. Wolves need to change it up now.

9:09PM

65 mins - Man United 0 Wolves 0

This second half is fairly symptomatic of Manchester United's current troubles. Wolves sitting back but there isn't enough quality or intent to break through. It has become a little insipid since the start of the second 45. You get the feeling that there will be an opening for Wolves, either through United's mistakes or them over committing.

9:05PM

63 mins - Man United 0 Wolves 0

It is, however, looking a bit looser at the back from Wolves. Martial gets in a promising position in the middle of Wolves' half but is fouled before he could release anyone. Pereira and Rashford coming on, the lively Daniel James and the anonymous Mason Greenwood coming off.

9:04PM

61 mins - Man United 0 Wolves 0

Well, I was wrong about Rashford. Looks like he's about to come on. Wolves are bit happier to sit back this half and hope to get a chance on the break. Because of that United have found it tougher but Wolves have created few chances of their own on the counter. So far, anyway.

9:03PM

58 mins - Man United 0 Wolves 0

Marcus Rashford in woolly hat and tracksuit warming up on the sidelines.  Can't see him coming on before 70 minutes, though. A bit of pace wouldn't go amiss, though. Bit of a lull in play at the moment. More than 150 minutes of play and still no goal...

Wolves nearly get a chance but it's expertly snuffed out by left back Williams, who launches another United counter. Which comes to nothing.

8:59PM

55 mins - Man United 0 Wolves 0

Maguire carries the ball to the edge of the Wolves box, marauding, I think you might say. He loses the ball before he can do anything with it but the centre back has looked to get forward a fair bit this game to try and inject something into United's forward play.

8:57PM

53 mins - Man United 0 Wolves 0

Wolves' first real attack comes to nothing after a little promise, with a shot sailing well over the bar.

8:55PM

51 mins - Man United 0 Wolves 0

Greenwood has had a pretty anonymous game so far. Martial has tried hard but to little avail. It hasn't been dreadful, though. Brandon Williams slots in James on the left edge of the penalty box, he runs it past Coady and then fires across the face of goal with his left foot. It slides just past Ruddy's far post who seemed to know it was not a threat to the net. A good move but it was never going in.

8:52PM

48 mins - Man United 0 Wolves 0

Wolves getting in the way of lots of sideways passing from the home team. It's all coming to nothing at the moment, though, with little forward movement. Mata gets the ball 25 yards out, hits it well but Ruddy is right behind it. Mata has been decent tonight but United are lacking a bit of spark.

8:49PM

46 mins - Man United 0 Wolves 0

United trying the ball over the top tactic again and why not, their three best openings have come that way. Mind you, you' would expect Wolves to be wise to it by now. They have put in many insipid performances from them this season but this has not been too bad, I guess.

8:47PM

SECOND HALF - Man United 0 Wolves 0

United kick off. Surely this won't end 0-0 at 90 minutes...

8:33PM

HALF TIME - Man United 0 Wolves 0

Not a great deal of quality in front of goal but plenty of chances out there, though. Neither side really much more than 6 on 10, however.

Fred takes a wayward shot at goal - Credit: AP
Fred takes a wayward shot at goal Credit: AP

8:31PM

45 mins - Man United 0 Wolves 0

A minimum of one minute of added time. Decent first half with a handful of chances for both sides. Certainly better than the 0-0 at Molineux already.

8:31PM

43 mins - Man United 0 Wolves 0

A bit of shoving goes on between Neto and Williams. It lasts for a fair few seconds but there was nothing in it, really. A free kick to United, though, who are having a good 10 or so minutes. They are almost in again but none of their forwards can get the ball and their body in the right shape to shoot.

8:28PM

40 mins - Man United 0 Wolves 0

James in again with another ball over the top. He shoots from close range after a ball from Fred, a superb first touch gives him space but his shot from 12 yards out is blocked by Ruddy, who makes another great save to deny United.

8:27PM

38 mins - Man United 0 Wolves 0

One United corner brings another. The second one does not come to anything, with Ruddy claiming Mata's cross comfortably. Not quite enough quality to find an opener. Well, Wolves' disallowed one aside and that was mostly down to a right old mess at the back.

8:23PM

35 mins - Man United 0 Wolves 0

It's been an eventful half so far and Wolves are nearly through United's back line again with a ball over the top. Romero sees the danger and clears from outside his box, though. Some - but not much - quality, sloppiness and maximum intent is making this an exciting watch. Fred has picked up a yellow card for a fairly cynical foul.

8:20PM

32 mins - Man United 0 Wolves 0

Some sloppy play in midfield from both teams, United giving the ball away and allowing Wolves to counter before the opposite happens when Wolves lose the ball. Martial ends the quick counter with a shot from 20 yards out, it's stuck well with the inside of his boot, an inswinger in the way that he favours but it is straight at Ruddy.

8:16PM

29 mins - Man United 0 Wolves 0

Wolves go close again! Matt Doherty comes in with a diving header after a pinpoint ball from Neves. It goes past the outstretched right arm of Romero and hits the post...bouncing back out into the danger area...but the flag goes for offside.

8:15PM

27 mins - Man United 0 Wolves 0

Good chance for Mata, who shoots low from the left-hand side of the penalty box. Ruddy is equal to it as he gets down and gets a strong hand to it. I think that's United's first shot on target, something they did not manage at all at Molineux.

8:13PM

24 mins - Man United 0 Wolves 0

Manchester United's Daniel James collides with Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper John Ruddy - Credit: PA
Daniel James vs John Ruddy Credit: PA

Daniel James has been the danger man for the home team so far.

8:12PM

24 mins - Man United 0 Wolves 0

Greenwood hasn't had too much of the ball so far, Wan-Bissaka, Matic, James and Mata being the liveliest players on the pitch for the home team. Decent game so far, although Wolves have been a bit wasteful in the last few passages of play.

8:09PM

22 mins - Man United 0 Wolves 0

Wolves have a corner after another excellent tackle on the byline from Wan-Bissaka. They take it short and the it's a game of head tennis on the goal line as Matic loops a header over the bar. It was probably going in...

8:08PM

21 mins - Man United 0 Wolves 0

Doherty desperately tries to keep an overhit pass on the pitch and in doing so he releases Daniel James on the left wing. The ball ends up with Fred, whose deflected shot goes out for a corner. The ball from the corner finds its way to Fred again, some 20 yards out and his shot is...bad. He's leaning back and hits it miles over the bar. Sorry, I'll stop bashing Fred shortly. Or at least once he's subbed off.

8:05PM

19 mins - Man United 0 Wolves 0

Fred, too often, lacks composure in possession too often. He's not quite of the Phil Jones standard but you know. He's a midfielder - decent passing should be a given. Lindelof goes in heavily into the back of Jiminez as they challenge for a loose ball in midfield. Looks like a fair clout but not a foul as he ends up on the ground in a heap. Kevin Friend stops play and it'll be a drop ball.

8:02PM

16 mins - Man United 0 Wolves 0

Fred caught in possession in midfield again and that gives Wolves the chance to counter with Neto down the right. Matic extinguishes the danger, though.

8:01PM

Wolves thought they were 1-0 up...

8:01PM

13 mins - Man United 0 Wolves 0

That awful pass from Fred was characteristic of his mistakes this season. Hammering a short pass and making a great mess of it. He got away with it, though, this time. Martial finds himself 22 yards out from goal and in space but fluffs his shot well wide. Openings for both teams here.

7:58PM

10 mins - Man United 0 Wolves 0

Calamity!Fred misplaces a pass, off the back of a team-mate, it finds its way to Raul Jiminez in the penalty box, Maguire slides in to tackle, fails to make it and then it falls to Neto  in acres of space who coolly slots it past Romero! Wolves think they have scored but a quick VAR check shows it came off Raul Jiminez's hand in the build-up. NO GOAL! That really was awful from Fred, though

7:55PM

9 mins - Man United 0 Wolves 0

Again United break through with James, who has a chance to shoot. Martial picks it up in the centre of the penalty box but can't get a shot away either. It was another ball over the top to the lightning quick Welshman, which nearly created another opening.

7:54PM

7 mins - Man United 0 Wolves 0

Well, that should have been one nil to Wolves. Traore finds space on the left and fires in a brilliant cross to Raul Jiminez who controls it at the second attempt, in space,  swivels around 12 yards out and shoots straight at Romero tamely.  Poor effort.

7:52PM

6 mins - Man United 0 Wolves 0

A pretty full-blooded start from both sides, which is promising. Then again, how many thousands of games have you watched where an intense first 20 minutes ends up being 90 minutes where neither team has enough quality to deliver on their intent? I have seen many. Too many.

7:50PM

3 mins - Man United 0 Wolves 0

United respond with some slick passing of their own in midfield, Matic, Fred and Mata linking up nicely. Oooh, Ruddy saves Wolves with Daniel James sprinting through after an excellent ball over the top from Mata. It looks initially like it could have been a penalty shout but it was Ruddy's arm that caught the ball and not James, who tumbled over. Nice move, though.

Wan Bissaka gets through soon afterwards, breaking down the right wing but Ruddy smothers it before he can get a shot away.

7:47PM

1 min - Man United 0 Wolves 0

Traore bursts through the midfield from the very start and looks really up for it. A few moments later he wins a free kick 35 yards from goal. Positive start from him so far. Fred gets across to snuff out the danger from the dead ball and fortunately wins a goal kick.

7:46PM

KICK OFF! Man United 0 Wolves 0

Kevin Friend the ref, blows his whistle and away they go. Wolves kick off, United will be attacking the Stretford End in the second half.

7:43PM

The teams are coming out of the tunnel

Harry Maguire leading Manchester United out. Paul Ince, of both Wolves and United, says he fancies Wolves for the win tonight on BT Sport. I would not be surprised but the team in red really need to string some performances together. This match would be a good place to continue a half-decent run.

7:40PM

Quick reminder

Whoever wins tonight will face Watford or Tranmere, who play their third round replay later on.

7:34PM

It's hard to know what Man United's best side is at the moment

You'd be hard pushed to call this full strength, though it still has enough quality to be more than a handful if they turn it on. It's just which version of Man United shows up. To be fair, they have been pretty good at home recently. Among all the inconsistency and frustration for United this year the presence of Mason Greenwood, Brandon Williams and Daniel James have been three of the most positive and exciting parts of their play this year.  All three start tonight.

7:29PM

OGS speaks before the game

7:13PM

Nemanja Matic makes his 100th appearance for Man United tonight

I wonder how many more he'll add?

7:10PM

Ashley Young's hopes of joining Inter take a blow as Roma's Leonardo Spinazzola set for Milan move

Ashley Young of Manchester United during the FA Cup Third Round match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Manchester United at Molineux on January 04, 2020  - Credit: Getty Images
Ashley Young's move to Inter Milan looks unlikely at present Credit: Getty Images

It looks increasingly like Ashley Young is going to stay at Old Trafford for eternity.  Read more from James Ducker here.

7:04PM

It was a case of almost but not quite for Wolves the first time around

Although they have a good record against United since returning to the top flight, they have not won at Old Trafford since February 1980. Yeah, that's nearly 40 years. But to give it a bit more context, they haven't won here in 10 attempts. Which isn't quite so bad.

6:50PM

The Wolves team

6:49PM

The teams are in!

Here's the Manchester United starting XI.

6:34PM

Good evening...

And welcome to our live coverage of the FA Cup Third Round replay between Manchester United and Wolverhampton Wanderers. Whenever this competition resumes with the big teams in January there is inevitably lots of talk about the Magic of the Cup (TM) Giant-killings, glamour ties and the like. In some cases it's true that a side (say Rochdale) may want a replay away to a bigger club (say Newcastle). But when Man United and Wolves played out their 0-0 draw at Molineux a little over a week ago, it is fair to say that neither side would have been too pleased about a replay.

Both teams are fighting for fifth spot in the Premier League (and ostensibly a Champions League spot...) and have made it through to the knock-out stages of the Europa League. Man United, too, have progressed to the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup and have the second leg of that against their Manchester rivals to go. So, a packed January is not ideal after a busy December for sides fighting on multiple fronts. Still, it's better than getting knocked out, I guess?

As has been the case for most of the season, both sides' form is a little patchy. Man United have won five of their last 10, drawing two and losing three (in four different competitions) but have notched up wins of 4-0 twice (against Norwich at the weekend and vs AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League) and 4-1 against Newcastle on Boxing Day. Wolves are looking for their first win in all competitions since beating Manchester City 3-2 in December. Since then they have drawn two (including the initial tie in this competition) and lost two.

Since Wolves returned to the Premier League in 2018 they have an excellent record against tonight's opponents and have never lost, winning twice (including in last year's FA Cup) and drawing twice. This will be the fifth time these two teams will have met within the space of a year. Who will triumph and make it to round four of the FA Cup? It's anyone's guess...