Manchester United’s poor Premier League season hit a new low as they slumped to their 15th defeat, losing 1-0 at home to an in-form Wolves side. While the result meant United were finally safe from relegation, it underlined the grim state of a campaign marked by inconsistency and underperformance.
The decisive moment came in the 77th minute when Pablo Sarabia, barely two minutes after coming on as a substitute, curled a free-kick from 20 yards into the bottom-left corner past André Onana. The set piece was awarded after Christian Eriksen conceded a soft foul, and Sarabia made no mistake, sealing Wolves’ fifth consecutive top-flight victory their best run since 1972.
For Wolves, it was a moment to savour, and their travelling supporters made sure their joy was heard, taunting the Old Trafford faithful as they celebrated an unlikely but deserved win. For United, it was another match that began with lethargy, flickered with brief promise, and ended in disappointment.
Mason Mount had two late chances to level the game. The first, a wild scoop over the bar from close range, drew groans from the home crowd. The second, a misjudged volley from a delightful Eriksen delivery, failed to trouble the keeper. It summed up United’s day plenty of buildup, little end product.
For much of the first half, the match offered little in terms of quality or excitement. It took until the 50th minute for a true moment of energy and skill, when Rasmus Højlund picked up the ball near the touchline, shrugged off Emmanuel Agbadou and burst forward into space. However, rather than feeding teammates arriving in support, the striker hesitated, and the opportunity fizzled out.
United’s woes in attack were again apparent. Højlund, whose last league goal came in mid-December, was starved of clear-cut chances. A promising move in the second half involving Eriksen and Alejandro Garnacho almost resulted in a breakthrough, but Højlund just failed to connect with the Argentine’s cross.
A moment of unintended drama came when Wolves captain Nélson Semedo nearly scored an own goal with an underhit backpass, forcing goalkeeper Dan Bentley into a frantic recovery. It was one of the few light-hearted moments in an otherwise drab affair.
In an effort to inject life into the game, United made a triple substitution on 58 minutes. Mount, Bruno Fernandes, and Diogo Dalot came on, with the likes of Kobbie Mainoo and Patrick Dorgu given a rest after Thursday’s Europa League thriller. The changes brought some spark, with United dominating possession in the Wolves half, but clear chances remained scarce.
Despite the late pressure, Sarabia’s goal stood as the defining moment, leaving United once again searching for answers. After the euphoric 5-4 Europa League win over Lyon earlier in the week, this performance was a stark and sobering contrast.
The referee’s six minutes of added time did little to alter the outcome. Some joked that even with six hours, the game would still have remained devoid of any real bite or brilliance. As the final whistle blew, it marked yet another missed opportunity for United and a shining moment in a historic run for Wolves.
