Wolves prove to be United's kryptonite

Manchester United had to go into this match without Marcus Rashford who was sent home at the last minute through injury. Instead, Lingard and Lukaku started up front for United.

The last time Wolves faced United ended in a memorable victory, as they knocked Solskjaer's side out of the FA Cup. That will have undoubtedly played on the minds of everyone involved tonight.

Jesse Lingard attempted to get United off to a lightning fast start by launching the ball up-field from the kick off. That would set the precedent for United's first 10 minutes who continued to look for the likes of Lukaku and Lingard up front.

Play was scrappy however, allowing Wolves to claim their own periods of possession.

United, however, were the team who could make their possession count first as Scott McTominay released a fizzling diagonal shot throught the defence and past the outstretched arm of Rui Patricio. In scoring the opening goal at the Molineux on Tuesday night, Scott McTominay claimed his first in a United shirt.

However, the celebrations and smiles didn't last too long for the young United man as Wolves took just over 10 minutes to respond and register their equaliser. Fred was too relaxed in possession and his pass towards the midfield was intercepted by Jimenez who set up Jota to lift it up and over de Gea.

The remainder of the half was mainly peppered with Wolves' chances and perhaps the break came too soon for the home side who looked to be gaining momentum before half-time.

No changes were made at half-time, indicating that both managers were happy that their men were capable of taking the lead after the break.

Incidentally, it was United who took the bull by the horns at the restart, although Wolves did well with Bennett, Coady and Boly in defence to keep Solskjaer's side at bay.

United's luck would soon take a turn for the worst after Ashley Young was sent walking for a second bookable challenge, this time for going in studs-first on Diogo Jota. The Wolves man wasn't injured as a result but it remained to be seen as to how Solskjaer's side would react to going down to 10 men.

Rather than an injection of desire and creativity, United reacted by making a personnel change. Solskjaer swiftly adapted his back line to introduce Phil Jones into the mix in place of Fred. Unsurprising, given the Brazilian's earlier error to gift Wolves their equaliser.

Martial was brought on for Lukaku, who had a quiet game, in search of a winner to seal the three points for United away from home.

On the contrary and much to everyone's surprise it looked as though the three points would remain at the Molineux after a combination of Wolves' dogged hard work and a defence in disarray saw the home side take the lead with just over 10 minutes of regulation time to play.

Jimenez went up for a header which rebounded between Dendoncker and Smalling. The ball dribbled over the line for Wolves' second which went down as a Smalling own goal. A dire defensive display from a shambolic United.

From that point onwards, it was as if United's defence completely forgot how to play football. David de Gea came to their rescue at least twice after Lindelof and Smalling, again, were inches away from own goals.

At the other end however, Cavaleiro embarrassed Lindelof by absolutley immobilising him on his way through to goal. Once in the box, he released a bullet which clattered the crossbar and left Wolves fans wondering how they didn't win the match by at least two or three.

That would be the final action of the game as Mike Dean blew the final whistle to end United's nightmare. Not the start Solskjaer would have wanted after having been appointed as the permanent manager at Old Trafford.

Wolves played well but were nothing special, and didn't need to be against a United side who lacked conviction and motivation after Ashley Young's sending off.

Back to the drawing board for Solskjaer, who really missed Rashford's menace up front against Wolves, who repeated their previous FA Cup scoreline against United to claim three points.