Fergie time still going strong for Solskjaer!
SIR Alex Ferguson’s flat cap was pulled so snugly over his brow it was unclear if he was awake in the Old Trafford directors’ box.
Fergie hadn’t nodded off – and had he done so in the second half he’d have been awoken in added time.
For the second month running, United struck in their fabled ‘Fergie time’ to end a hoodoo against Wolves that seemed certain to extend until their last fixture of the year.
David de Gea, their standout performer, hollered encouragement at ‘Rashy’ repeatedly and his voice did not fall on deaf ears. The Reds, seemingly devoid of a solution against the Wolves formula, cracked the code via a deflection off Romain
Saiss from the forward.
The irony was Rashford was so selfish for much of the match and was scolded by his manager for not making enough forward runs. He also resorted to a desperate dive but, come the game’s conclusion, it was the Wolves captain Conor Coady who was prone and disconsolate.
If ever there was a portentous sign for the year 2020 it was that there were three United-Wolves fixtures in its first 32 days. This featured the sixth goalless half between the sides and was three minutes away from a seventh.
Juan Mata, the only goalscorer across the four duels prior to Rashford, sat kicking his heels on the bench and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was prepared to risk scrutiny in leaving his final change unused.
Scott McTominay was only summoned after Rashford’s deflected shot had trickled over the line.
Some on the Reds’ bench could barely believe they had breached Wolves, which delayed the celebrations. Even at full-time, the reactions were hardly euphoric in a stadium once again devoid of fervent matchgoers.
United’s year was almost bookended by stalemates with Wolves and they are in a much better state than eking out a draw in the FA Cup third round nearly 12 months ago. Bruno Fernandes, a debutant in the last 0-0 with Wolves, claimed his 32nd goal or assist in 29 Premier League matches to prevent a third home goalless stalemate before Auld Lang Syne had been played. Wolves played only two days earlier, though the Reds’ freshness was barely apparent, even with six changes from the Boxing Day knockabout with Leicester. Peculiarly, Solskjaer - a vocal campaigner for five substitutions to be restored - ignored Mata, Donny van de Beek and Daniel James to sharpen United’s attack and his patience belatedly paid off.
The Reds boss said on Boxing Day he pulls his hair out over Fernandes’
penchant for stray passes but his risk-taking was essential against a resolute Wolves that switched to a back five whenever United approached with the ball.
Fernandes, the likeliest to pick the lock, was ushered forward by his manager while Mike Phelan became exasperated with referee Jonathan Moss, another tell-tale sign the Reds were becoming frustrated by
Wolves’ resolve.
The loose passing caused team-mates to despair, too.
“Keep the ball up there,” Maguire lamented in just the 21st minute.
One cross from Alex Telles intended for
Some on the Reds’ bench could barely believe they had breached Wolves which delayed celebrations
Edinson Cavani was gathered by Rui Patricio in a six-yard area also inhabited by Wolves’s three centre-backs and United were dilatory in supporting the No.7 until Fernandes arrived to meet a Mason Greenwood centre that Patricio repelled.
Maguire failed to keep his own house in order against Wolves’ quicksilver wingers and was indebted to the recovery pace of Eric Bailly on the brink of the interval.
Bailly drew enthusiastic applause from his substitute team-mates in what was his third successive start for the first time since March 2018.
His brittleness has hampered him again this season as he approaches the last 18 months of his contract and his durability is being tested by the cold snap. There was a clumsy lapse early on but he highlighted United’s need for athleticism at centre half in the absence of the injured Victor Lindelof.
Telles was forced off at half-time for Luke Shaw and Solskjaer was subsequently discouraged from a change earlier than his favoured hour-mark switch, whereas at Leicester the introduction of Paul Pogba within 10 minutes of the restart signalled a swift momentum shift.
Anthony Martial, United’s attacking addition, took all of 10 minutes to leave Mike Phelan cursing his laxness and the club’s analysts expected better from a casual Martial shot.
Coady was audible to those at The Lowry - the hotel, never mind the theatre across the water at Salford Quays.
His England team-mate Maguire was forthright in expressing his misgivings to Moss in United’s first domestic match behind-closed-doors at Tottenham in June and his voice held little sway amid the ear-bending.
Pogba tried his own combination with a pass overhit for Fernandes, much to the Frenchman’s visible chagrin.
Cavani had the ball in the net from an offside position that was deflected into his path by a Coady handball that even Solskjaer half-heartedly appealed from the snugness of his seat.
He was back out of it for Rashford’s winner, as was a gleeful Ferguson.