Wolves 1-1 Man Utd LIVE: Paul Pogba penalty MISS, Gary Neville FUMING at penalty decision

WOLVES 1-1 MAN UTD | MARTIAL (27), NEVES (56)

Wolves XI: Patricio, Doherty, Boly, Coady, Bennett, Jonny, Moutinho, Dendoncker, Neves, Jota, Jimenez

Manchester United XI: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw, McTominay, Pogba, James, Lingard, Martial, Rashford

• Anthony Martial opens the scoring with thumping near-post finish

• Ruben Neves wonderstrike levels the score – emphatic finish

• Paul Pogba misses penalty having been tripped by Conor Coady

We have two penalty takers

22:20: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on penalty takers: “The two of them are the designated penalty shooters. It’s up to them there and then to decide that ‘this is mine’. Sometimes players feel they are confident enough – Paul has scored so many penalties for us, today Patricio made a good save.”

Asked if he would change the policy, Solskjaer added: “Not at all. The two have been very confident before – the other week Marcus scored a goal but Paul was confident. I like players to be confident.”

‘Sloppy’

22:15: Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on Sky Sports: “We dominated possession, we get the first goal and second half we know they’ll come out like a house on fire.

“They probably got the goal they deserve. I thought we took control again and could have won it. First half was a mature performance. Second half was a bit sloppy. We are improving. We are a young team who will learn, we learned on the pitch today.

“We get a penalty that normally would get us another two points, sometimes the keeper makes a good save.”

Carragher’s opinion

22:10: Carragher told Sky Sports: “If you’re a manager and you say ‘sort it out between yourselves’ – it looks terrible on the pitch if people are arguing over penalties.

“Marcus Rashford has taken some brilliant penalties, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has got to be strong enough to tell Paul Pogba that Rashford is the penalty taker as we’ve got more chance of winning the game. I hope it’s not the case that Solskjaer has said go and sort it out between yourselves. There’s too much at stake.”

The debate continues

22:05: Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher are really taking this penalty decision to town here. They’ve not stopped talking about it for ten minutes.

They think that it’s unacceptable that Manchester United players appear to have a ‘decide amongst yourselves’ situation going.

They also noticed that young Daniel James looked confused that Marcus Rashford, who banged a cracking penalty in last week, was ousted by Paul Pogba.

“There should never be a debate,” Neville said. “There’s a penalty taker, Pogba’s missed four at the club in the last 12 months. So you think that he’s had his chance now. Rashford scored last week – take the penalty.

“But there wasn’t a leader on the pitch, that’s why you saw the clips there basically it was James there, Martial. They couldn’t make a decision between them. But something wasn’t right, we were watching, something’s not right there. Initially I was fuming with Pogba, I thought it was ’typical you, selfish, why are you even thinking of taking a penalty off a player?’”

‘Great effort’

22:00: Wolves goalscorer Ruben Neves tells Sky Sports: “Man United started really well in the game, we felt difficult to control the game but we adjusted in the second half and took some risks.

“They have a really good team, but it was a great effort from our team. I’m really happy for the goal and the result as we drew against a big team.

“You have to be patient [with VAR], fortunately this time they give us a goal. We did a great job in the second half.”

Gary Neville on penalty

21:55: Gary Neville in the Sky Sports studio isn’t best pleased with Manchester United’s penalty antics. The former Red Devil says ‘there wasn’t a leader’ out there to make the decision.

“Before he took the penalty I was fuming,” Neville said. “Why is there a debate on who takes the penalty? I don’t like it.

“There should never be a debate. Pogba has missed four in the last 12 months. You’d think he has had his chance. Rashford scored last week – take the penalty. But there wasn’t a leader out there. Something wasn’t right. They couldn’t make a decision between them.

“Initially, I was fuming with Pogba. But when I looked at last week’s penalty with Chelsea, it was weird.”

WOLVES 1-1 MAN UTD

FT: These sides share the spoils. Paul Pogba lifts his shirt over his head in frustration – he knows that penalty miss has cost Manchester United three points at a difficult Molineux.

93: Saved! The ball works its way to Luke Shaw arriving unmarked at the back post to leather it straight at Patricio. Ah… looks like Jon Moss had blown up for a foul anyway.

92: Manchester United building up patiently for a grandstand finish. It’s now or never…

90: Four minutes of additional time here folks. Nuno sends on Patrick Cutrone for Raul Jimenez. What a way to make yourself a hero this would be…

89: Ruben Neves very fortunate to avoid a booking when blocking a Daniel James counter. Referee Jon Moss ignores it – despite already being on a yellow.

Double change for the visitors with Andreas Pereira and Mason Greenwood on for James and Marcus Rashford. Neto replaces Jota.

87: Good counter from the hosts as Raul Jimenez leaves Daniel James on the deck. He’s sprays it to Jota to bend deep into the Manchester United penalty area. Dendoncker tries a spectacular angled half-volley that flies over.

85: Well if your best trick is to run quickly – keep doing it! Adama Traore knocks the ball beyond Luke Shaw and collects it. His cross is met by Jonny at the far post – but the stooping header doesn’t have enough power to cause David de Gea any problems.

Booked! Aaron Wan-Bissaka cautioned for using his arm to block a through pass.

83: Traore capitalises on a loose pass and drives to the byline. His low cross is blocked before any damage could be down. One of his better crosses actually.

80: Right then, final ten minutes. Where’s the drama coming from? Can Wolves win 2-1 for the third time in succession or will Manchester United score at the death. We’re about to find out. Standby…

Mata replaces Lingard.

78: Daniel James wins the corner after Marcus Rashford’s effort is blocked by Conor Coady. Slab Head strolls into the box but Manchester United inexplicably take it short and Wolves clear.

75: Not much in the way of chances for either side since the saved penalty. Quite interesting that there was a debate between Marcus Rashford and Paul Pogba before that penalty with the Frenchman electing to take it himself.

Paul Pogba has missed four penalties in the Premier League since the start of last season; the most of any player in the competition.

73: And for those asking – YES, Rui Patricio’s foot was indeed on the line. So no question of a re-take.

70: Well I think I speak for the entire fantasy football community when I say… why didn’t Marcus Rashford take it?! Inexplicable that Pogba should take the penalty after Rashford took one and scored last week.

WOLVES 1-1 MAN UTD | SAVED!

68: Paul Pogba steps up… saved! He went for power over placement and Rui Patricio makes a fine stop. We’re still level at Molineux.

PENALTY TO MANCHESTER UNITED

67: Paul Pogba hits the deck after a running into Conor Coady. It was a nice one-two from the Frenchman with compatriot Anthony Martial. And having won it – it looks like the midfielder will take it too.

68: So Wolves have won this fixture 2-1 in the last two meetings. It’s on the cards again as the visitors struggle to get their foot on the ball.

65: 10 of Ruben Neves’ 13 goals in all competitions for Wolves have come from outside the box; only Harry Wilson (12) and Christian Eriksen (11) have scored more from distance in English football since his debut for the club.

64: Little factoid for you. Everton are now the only side in the Premier League who are yet to concede a goal this season. Go tell your friends…

62: Can Manchester United hit back immediately? Adama Traore, who has made a big difference since his arrival, concedes the free-kick on the left touchline.

There’s no possible way Marcus Rashford can score from here… but that doesn’t stop him from trying. He drags it hopelessly wide.

59: That was quite a worry for the football purist. Nobody, aside from Manchester United fans, wanted to see a goal of that quality chalked off for a marginal offside decision. That was something special.

WOLVES 1-1 MAN UTD | NEVES

56: GOAL! What a hit son, what a hit! Ruben Neves levels the score for Wolves with a absolute banger from distance.

Joao Moutinho flicks the ball back to the Portuguese midfielder, who leathers it into the top right-hand corner.

VAR checks it. There’s a tense wait. The goal stands and thousands of fans sing “F*** VAR”. Lovely stuff.

54: I just hope that at some point, Adama Traore and Daniel James find themselves in a foot race. Please may this happen. Please.

53: Another frenetic start to the half. Manchester United look to play it out from the back and nearly come a cropper with Jota breathing down McTominay’s neck.

Ruben Neves goes in the book for a late lunge on Daniel James. Booked.

50: Daniel James will need to be careful. He’s just slipped and caught Jota on the touchline. Remember, he’s already on a booking for simulation in the first half.

48: Daniel James and Anthony Martial attempt a quick kick-off from the centre-circle before immediately being shut down by five gold shirts. Vintage playground move that always fails.

WOLVES 0-1 MAN UTD

45: And we’re back underway folks.

Matt Doherty has been taken off with a suspected injury. Man, myth and never-an-end-product legend Adama Traore replaces him. Always enjoy watching him streak the length of the field before knocking it back politely to the opposition goalkeeper.

WOLVES 0-1 MAN UTD

HT: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side take a deserved one-goal lead in with them at the break. It could have been two right on the break as Anthony Martial pounces on a poor back pass from Bennett. Fortunately for Wolves, the strike treads on the ball and Patricio grabs it.

45: Ruben Neves is lucky to avoid a booking when chopping down Paul Pogba in frustration. Wolves simply can’t impose themselves on this game or venture forward with any real purpose. One minute of added time.

43: Another corner for Manchester United, and another winning header from Harry Maguire to send the ball back into the danger zone. Willy Boly just about clears with Anthony Martial waiting to pounce.

40: “Off off off”, is the chant from from Wolves fans a Paul Pogba and Joao Moutinho have a wee scrap for the ball on the deck. Just seen a replay and there’s nothing to see. VAR agrees.

38: Harry Maguire’s passing has been excellent in this first half. He looks so confident at the back for Manchester United – charging forward when needed and retaining possession. I won’t go as far as calling him a bargain – but he’s certainly slotted in seamlessly.

35: Daniel James is the first Manchester United player to be booked for diving since Chris Smalling at Newcastle in February 2018. Not quite sure what you’re supposed to do with that information – but there you go.

33: Wolves have responded as you would expect. No panic or hurried play. The hosts are keeping things tight as Manchester United spread it from right to left looking for a killer second.

30: Well good news and bad news for Manchester United. The Red Devils have only lost once in 83 games when scoring first. The bad news? That one came against Wolves last year.

29: Anthony Martial has scored with the very first shot in this match, becoming the 53rd player to score 50 goals in all competitions for Manchester United.

WOLVES 0-1 MAN UTD | MARTIAL

27: GOAL! Manchester United draw first blood through new number 9 Anthony Martial!

It’s a well-worked goal from the visitors with Marcus Rashford slipping a delicate ball through to the striker, who emphatically fires past Patricio with a clinical first-time finish.

27: Booked! Daniel James is cautioned for simulation having thrown himself to the deck after Joao Moutinho made the fatal mistake of breathing on him. Quite needless considering the winger had done him for pace.

24: Manchester United’s set-piece plan seems pretty simple. Send it to Harry Maguire, who will use his massive head to turn it back into trouble. Well it worked with England at the World Cup, so who are we to judge.

21: Close! Marcus Rashford collects Paul Pogba’s sweeping ball forward. The striker turns Bennett out of the ground before cutting back and whipping in a devilish cross for Anthony Martial, who watches it flash past him. Looks like Willy Boly did enough to put him off.

19: It’s tough to get beyond Aaron Wan-Bissaka. Diogo Jota appears to be learning that now as the full-back waits and waits and waits before executing a great tackle on the touchline. Wolves have seen more of the ball over the last 10 minutes.

16: Did you know Wolves have six fixtures between now and September 21? Europa League commitments are never a gift for sides will smaller squads. Still, doesn’t seem to have affected Nuno’s side yet.

Paul Pogba drags Jota back around 40-yards from goal. Harry Maguire clears the initial delivery before Jota fouls Daniel James.

13: Raul Jimenez charges at the away goal before he is eventually crowded out and the visitors concede a corner. It’s swung in but Victor Lindelof flies in to clear.

10: Sir Alex Ferguson and Gareth Southgate are in attendance. No shortage of talent for the Three Lions boss with a combined 12 players in tonight’s squads.

Daniel James feels the wrath of home supporters when blatantly trying to con referee Jon Moss with a crafty dive outside the Wolves penalty area. Fans then tell Luke Shaw what they think of him as he strolls over to take a corner. Let’s just say it’s a well-known chant about his weight…

8: Conor Coady with an early cruncher on Anthony Martial. Referee Jon Moss allows it but that looked a cut-and-dry free-kick to me.

Manchester United controlling these opening stages. Wolves are content to concede the bulk of possession and hit the visitors on the counter. Why change a winning formula?

5: I didn’t mention that VAR is in use this evening. Partly because we all know that anyway, but mostly because I’m one of the dinosaurs that doesn’t like it in its current form. That’s the last I’ll complain about it… until it rears its head again.

3: Oh this is frantic. Challenges flying in from all angles with neither side allowing the other to settle. Wolves fans seem particularly happy when Daniel James is thrown to the deck. Is there some beef that I’m not aware of?

WOLVES 0-0 MAN UTD

1: “Hi Ho Wolverhampton,” is sung loudly by home supporters. Always love an evening game at Molineux. We’re underway folks!

Here they come!

19:57: We were treated to a lights show at Molineux folks! No fireworks but flamethrowers were aplenty and that’ll do nicely for me.

Players going through the handshakes. It’s nearly time for what should be an absolute corker. I have very high hopes indeed.

Twitter round-up

Loser92: I can’t see Manchester United getting anything from this game. Wolves defeated the red devils twice at Molineux last season and I expect them to continue their good run against the side from Old Trafford. 2-1 to the home side.

Kyle: Really excited about tonight’s game both sides are really good going forward. The front four of Manchester United’s is exciting and full of pace. I think they will edge it 2-1 if Wolves win they will take control of midfield their 3 in midfield are fantastic.

Think you should change your handle, Loser92.

Ten-minute warning

19:53: Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher are still busy analysing anything and everything on Monday Night Football – but football is imminent with the players arriving in the tunnel.

Wolves usually treat us to a lights show but it’s actually a very pleasant, right evening in the midlands. So my fireworks wishes look like they’ll have to wait a few months.

We’re confident

19:50: Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer: “Wolves are a hard team to break down. They defend deep and they don’t give you a lot space.

“But our form, our attitude and the mood of course after a win is great, so we go into this game confident.”

Solskjaer also joked that Molineux was not a happy hunting-ground for him having visited three times and lost on every occasion.

Compare that with…

19:45: Wolves captain Conor Coady, who has personally written to all 48 fans who made the 6,370-mile round trip to their Europa League match in Armenia.

He thanked all those who attended personally (and signed each letter) – and expressly said that this was “not a publicity stunt”.

A brief word from Nuno…

19:40: And I mean really brief. You can tell Wolves boss Nuno can’t be bothered with programme notes.

Exhibit A is tonight’s programme, where his message to supporters is 59 words long. And yes, I really counted it out.

Should you wish to read this impressive epilogue – I’ve posted the tweet below. Not sure if I used the word epilogue correctly – but we’re going with it.

Twitter round-up

Garry: Judging by Alexis Sanchez’s last tournament, and his pay check, I’d keep him under observation for the next six months.

Max: With great power come great responsibility. Wolves invested heavily to get to where they find themselves at the moment. They should relish every opportunity and make it count.

Samuel: Sanchez was purchased primarily to keep him out of the grasp of arch rivals Man City. To avoid the risk of city becoming too potent in attack. His style and preferred playing position do not fit within the current structure. He should leave for his own sake and Manchester United.

Mondays

19:35: So work this one out…

Wolves have never won a Premier League game on a Monday in five previous attempts

The Red Devils have won 68% of their Premier League games played on a Monday

Right… well if we’re to take these Monday-ish stats seriously – then it looks like a Manchester United win. Yeah? Who’s on board? Me neither. Forget this nonsense.

Barometer…

19:30: It’ll be really interesting to see how far Manchester United have come since last season.

I wouldn’t say United hit rock-bottom when losing 2-1 twice in 18 days to Wolves last season – but it was a low point.

Now, with three new signings through the door (and all starting) Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be able to see improvements against a Wolves side, who are consistent as gravity.

Twitter round-up

Sully: Alexis Sanchez should be allowed stay and prove himself, we all know what he can do, we saw that with Arsenal and Chile at the Copa America.

Sandy: Made up for James, reckon he can cause some problems tonight and give Rashford and Martial freedom in the middle.

Callum: It’s a pacy front three but it will be useless because Manchester United will have the ball but Wolves will just sit deep and be compact waiting for a chance to counter. We absolutely need Paul Pogba to be at his best because he is the only good creative player in the side!

All excellent points. Well all with the exception of Sully. Sanchez has had enough chances. It’s a sell, sell, sell situation in my eyes.

So… Alexis

19:20: Alexis Sanchez’s agent, who must either be a genius or a very capable blackmailer, has held talks with Manchester United on behalf of Inter Milan.

The Serie A side are reported to be interested in signing the 30-year-old on a season-long loan with the option to buy.

Apparently Inter would be prepared to pay £15.5million for Sanchez next year – should the deal go smoothly.

Give youth a chance

19:15: The average age of Manchester United’s starting XI tonight is 24 years and 173 days – the youngest in the Premier League this season and their youngest in the competition since the final day of the 2016-17 campaign (22y 284d vs Crystal Palace).

What was it that Alan Hansen said? You can’t win anything with kids…

I know he said that in 1995 but it will forever go down in history at Michael Fish blunder level in my eyes.

Team News

19:10: Quick and easy team news this evening.

Wolves start back to the same side that started in the 0-0 draw against Leicester, having made nine changes for last Thursday’s Europa League win over Pyunik.

As for Manchester United, there’s just one change with summer signing Daniel James replacing Andreas Pereira.

No sign of Alexis Sanchez… but there’s a reason for that. And I’ll let you know what it is in just a few minutes. What a tease…

Awkward fixture…

19:05: Gary Neville: “This is one of those awkward fixtures that tells you whether you’re going to have a good season. Most top clubs would rate beating Wolves at Molineux as a really good result.”

Well he’s right to call it awkward.

Wolves were undefeated in three matches against Manchester United in all competitions last season. The Red Devils have also lost more Premier League away games at Wolves than they have won (W2, L3).

The only other three teams they’ve faced at least five times away and have a negative record against are Chelsea, Arsenal and Sheffield Wednesday.

The sides

19:00: Line-ups announced. Surprises? None. Well, none aside from Daniel James starting I suppose.

Wolves XI: Patricio, Doherty, Boly, Coady, Bennett, Jonny, Moutinho, Dendoncker, Neves, Jota, Jimenez.

Subs: Ruddy, Neto, Cutrone, Gibbs-White, Saiss, Vinagre, Traore.

Manchester United XI: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw, McTominay, Pogba, James, Lingard, Martial, Rashford.

Subs: Romero, Mata, Young, Pereira, Greenwood, Matic, Tuanzebe.

To Alexis or not…

18:58: Somehow, someway, Alexis Sanchez has made the headlines.

The Chilean has been paid an astonishing £41million since signing for Manchester United in January 2018 – which works out at £8.2m for each of the five goals he has scored for the club.

That’s not the news by the way – the news is that he’s in contention to make the squad tonight. I just found the money stuff more interesting.

Greatest story ever…

18:55: You may have missed this over the weekend – but trust me – it’s a superb story.

Amateur footballer Lee Todd received the quickest red card in history, timed at two seconds, for using foul language towards a referee.

He shouted “f**k me, that was loud” when the referee who was standing right next to him, blew the whistle to start the game.

I promise that’s true!

Evening…

18:50: Hello everyone and welcome to our LIVE coverage of Wolves vs Manchester United.

Not sure if you noticed – but I was struck down by a vicious bout of man flu over the weekend. Nasty stuff that saw me restricted to the couch – making unreasonable demands and making sure everyone knew I’d been struck down in my prime.

I do hope it didn’t impact on your lives too much…

Anyway, now that I’ve officially told everyone – let’s get started on tonight’s showdown at Molineux.

Manchester United travel to Wolves looking to build on their emphatic 4-0 victory over Frank Lampard’s Chelsea while Nuno Espírito Santo will be eager to continue his fine run against the Red Devils.

More on that and plenty more coming up folks. Standby for team news…

WOLVES vs MAN UTD – TEAM NEWS

Wolves are expected to recall a host of players to face Manchester United after their Europa League win against FC Pyunik.

Strikers Pedro Neto and Patrick Cutrone impressed on Thursday but Raul Jimenez and Diogo Jota, who scored a spectacular fourth goal in the 4-0 Europa League victory, should return.

Rui Patricio, Ryan Bennett, Ruben Neves, Jonny and Matt Doherty are also set to be recalled by boss Nuno Espirito Santo on Monday.

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has no fresh injury concerns ahead of Monday’s trip to Molineux.

The Premier League season got under way with a 4-0 win against Chelsea last weekend and the Norwegian expects to have the same options for the match against Nuno’s men.

Alexis Sanchez and Fred are building fitness after disrupted pre-seasons, while Eric Bailly and Timothy Fosu-Mensah remain sidelined through injury.