Mata sinks Wolves but night marred by Rashford injury Back Page & Sport
SUBLIME SPANIARD SENDS UNITED THROUGH IN CUP BUT NIGHT MARRED BY RASHFORD INJURY
UNITED need a playmaker yet Juan Mata still makes them play. For the second successive match, Mata conducted United’s youthful orchestra when none of the juniors relished taking on the baton.
Mata’s decisive dink over John Ruddy was only his second in a campaign where Mata has been restricted to six Premier League starts. A seventh is a certainty on Sunday at Anfield, rechristened Juanfield by United fans in 2015.
That is partly out of necessity. United’s attack is always one injury away from collapse and Marcus Rashford literally did that 10 minutes into his second-half cameo.
The United forward lasted 14 minutes after a collision with the Wolves wingback Matt Doherty that left him prone and United supporters praying for his fitness.
Rashford has been using a bone healing device in recent weeks.
Whether Rashford’s trudge down the tunnel spurs United’s deal-maker Matt Judge to finalise a transfer for Bruno Fernandes sooner than the January 31 transfer deadline remains to be seen.
Fernandes would ironically supplant Mata if he were to ever be driven through the barricades at Carrington and Mata has suddenly become undroppable in a matter of days. Mata was another United contract renewal viewed by some as dubious, despite the logic behind extending his stay. In a callow squad, United need seasoned experts and Mata’s merits extend beyond the perimeter of the pitch.
Like Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s old collaborator Teddy Sheringham, Mata is possibly saving his efficacy form for the run-in.
United will need more than the nous of Mata at Liverpool this weekend. Mike Phelan’s hands smacked his crown in despair at the chasing Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho gave Nemanja Matic and Fred and there were glances of lament at the dugout. Some of the recent revisionism around Matic is merely a consequence of a midfield as barren as the stadium on Wednesday evening. “S*** Joao Moutinho,” was the verdict of the Wolves following. The slump of Daniel James leaves Solskjaer further lacking in attack. James spurned three goalscoring opportunities inside eight minutes alone and in each chance he resembled a winger without a goal since August. The Wolves cup ‘keeper John Ruddy psyched out James in their first duel and in the second the contrast in body language effectively meant Ruddy had thwarted James before he had even connected.
James was subbed on 63 minutes and his indirect replacement Andreas Pereira’s first noticeable impact was to cede possession.
Winger Tahith Chong – a substitute against Wolves – and playmaker Angel Gomes could pad out the squad at Liverpool. The rate of Fernandes just went up by 10 per cent.
Anthony Martial, bereft without Rashford as his foil, at least rallied to play Mata through from a breakaway sparked by a Harry Maguire challenge by his own corner flag.
That will smart for Wolves; beaten by a breakaway at the sixth attempt by United since their 2018 return to the top tier.
Old Trafford was so sparse it could have been a League Cup or Europa League tie, although that would be overstating the FA Cup’s significance.
The crowd was in keeping with the competition’s demise and its scandalous scheduling and disconnect with matchgoers. FA Cup replays should have been
In a callow squad, United need seasoned experts and Mata’s merits stretch way beyond the perimeter of the pitch
scrapped over a decade ago and it was preposterous the regulars in the nosebleed seats of the north stand third tier were not relocated. Wolves understandably did not accept their 15 per cent allocation with some tickets priced at an extortionate £55.
The irony was Wolves fielded their strongest team of outfielders and United were similarly strong, save for the rested Rashford and the tempo of the match reflected the intent of the managers.
In the 11th minute, Jimenez vied for the ball with Maguire and the ricochet took it into the path of Neto to beat Romero effortlessly.
The Wolves staff converged for their celebrations in the technical area but Solskjaer stormed down the steps and was on to the fourth official. Neto was also subdued.
Both seemingly spotted the ball bounce off Jimenez’s hand and the Orwellian announcer at Old Trafford confirmed the goal would not stand. Matt Doherty nodded against the post and the flag stayed down, only the replay showed he was just ahead of United’s lax line.
“It’s not football anymore,” bemoaned the Wolves following. Jimenez had already spurned a clearer opportunity with a spin that sent Maguire and Brandon Williams towards the seats in the north stand but his shot was tame. Williams was otherwise secure on another accomplished evening in his fledgling career.
Solskjaer intervened by switching James to the right on 35 minutes, with Martial moved to the left to accommodate Greenwood at the tip of the arrow. Come the start of the second half, Martial was occupying the role that reflects his squad number.
Rashford started warming up as soon as the second-half commenced and took his tracksuit off 15 minutes later.
Within three minutes of Rashford’s entrance, Mata was sent clear and the playmaker made United play.