MAN UTD 1, WOLVES 0
Spaniard Juan Mata brought a glint of sunshine to wintry Old Trafford as Manchester United edged a narrow victory against Wolves to reach the fourth round of the Emirates FA Cup.
Mata, so often a peripheral player for the Reds in the current campaign, hit the only goal of a lacklustre game.
It was only Mata’s second goal of the season and followed two assists in Saturday’s 4-0 home win against Norwich City.
The Reds were forced to battle hard for their victory while Wolves were unlucky after having a goal controversially ruled out for handball after the intervention of VAR and struck the frame of the goal.
Embed from Getty ImagesUnited manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was overjoyed to finally beat Wolves having failed to do so in their last five matches in all competitions and believed fatigue played a part in it being a marvellous spectacle.
He said: “We’re delighted to beat Wolves finally. Juan Mata is different class, he’s got the skill, composure and even pace.
“When you have players like Sergio (Romero), David (De Gea) and Juan they are important and help the bring the young players through.
“He has been scoring, creating and gets us playing. He finds pockets of space on and off the ball.
“He is a fantastic human being in the dressing room. He is frustrated not to be playing but he never knocks on my door and zaps energy from the team.”
On the game, Solskjaer said: “I think you could see it was two teams towards the end that were tired. It was end to end and an open game – sometimes that doesn’t suit us.
“Dan (James) had three or four great opportunities one-on-one with the keeper. Fair play to our boys. We created them but didn’t take them.”
Solskjaer admitted it “backfired” bringing on Marcus Rashford as a substitute and he will have to be tested for Sunday’s game at Liverpool.
He said: “I didn’t want play Marcus as he has been struggling for some time which is why we kept him away.
“We needed him and he was involved in the goal.”
Solskjaer added Rashford is struggling with knocks to his knee and back.
He continued: “Marcus is a quick healer and will play with pain if it is not a bad injury.
“He has struggled, especially when he is tired. He was not on long enough to be tired.
“We will do everything we can to get him fit for Sunday but, if he doesn’t make it, we will play without him.”
The respective line-ups reflected how seriously both sides were treating the tie.
United made only three changes from the side that beat Norwich City on Saturday.
Rashford, who is carrying various knocks, was rested along with De Gea and Andreas Pereira.
Romero took over in goal while there were also starts for Daniel James and Mason Greenwood.
Wolves had only one change from Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Newcastle as John Ruddy took over in goal from Rui Patricio.
United had a chance in the opening minutes when James was put clean through, but Ruddy raced from his line to get a touch to the ball before the winger.
Wolves should have opened their account when Adama Traore crossed for Raul Jimenez who turned on a sixpence before forcing a save from Romero when he had time to place the ball wide of the keeper.
The visitors thought they had taken a 10th minute lead when Pedro Neto scored, but VAR ruled out the goal through a handball by Jimenez in the build-up.
After a period of dominance from Wolves, United had a chance when Juan Mata forced a diving save from Ruddy.
Wolves had another chance when Matt Doherty headed against the upright from Ruben Neves’ cross, but Jimenez was ruled offside as he tried to convert the rebound.
James was put clean through for a second occasion, this time by Fred, but Ruddy spread himself well to make a vital block.
And he had a third glorious chance to break the deadlock early in the second half when, released by Brandon Williams, he pulled a shot narrowly wide.
United made a double change midway through the half when Rashford and Pereira were summoned to replace James and Greenwood.
The breakthrough finally came in the 67th minute when Wolves’ Conor Coady lost the ball on half way.
Anthony Martial seized on the error to quickly release Mata who raced clear before slotting the ball past the advancing Ruddy.
Substitute Rashford found himself substituted by Jesse Lingard after only 15 minutes on the field. He did not look right from the start, picked up a knock, went off for treatment and returned before going down again and calling it a day.
United had a great chance to seal victory in the fourth and final minute of stoppage time on the break.
Martial raced clear before sliding a pass to Pereira who forced a decent diving save from Ruddy.