Wolves end Rangnick's honeymoon at Man Utd
Wolves ended Ralf Rangnick's unbeaten start as Manchester United interim manager on Monday as Joao Moutinho's strike earned a deserved 1-0 win at Old Trafford.
A first home defeat to Wolves in 42 years leaves United still seventh in the Premier League table, four points adrift of the top four.
But it was another lacklustre performance that was just as concerning as the result for Rangnick as the Red Devils were thoroughly outplayed.
"We didn't play well at all, neither individually or collectively," said Rangnick, who had taken 10 points from his first four games in charge.
"We didn't press at all. We tried but after 10 or 15 minutes we were not able to get into those pressing situations.
"The games show we still have a lot of work to do. Especially against the ball, but also in the first half when we had the ball, we had too many unforced giveaways."
An injury crisis at centre-back with captain Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly all missing, forced Rangnick to hand Phil Jones his first Premier League appearance in two years.
But the former England international was one of few United players to emerge with any credit from a ragged display that raises questions over their chances of qualifying for next season's Champions League.
Cristiano Ronaldo was named United captain for just the second time in the absence of Maguire.
In his new year message on social media, Ronaldo said he was "not happy" with the state of affairs at United and that "we have to work harder, play better and deliver way more than we are delivering right now."
However, there was no sign of improvement as Ronaldo was kept quiet up against a number of his Portuguese international teammates.
David De Gea was the difference between the sides when United won 1-0 at Molineux in August and the Spaniard was again his side's saviour with a finger tip save to turn Ruben Neves' volley over early on.
Wolves managed more shots in the first half than they had in their previous three matches combined.
But Bruno Lage's men have scored just 14 goals in 19 league games and again failed to make their control of the game show in the scoreline.
"It is one more victory," said Lage. "Lovely stadium, a place with a lot of history, but the most important thing is how we played.
"We played in our way, we controlled the first half and missed a lot of chances. We win three points but again we have more chances than goals."
Rangnick left Bruno Fernandes on the bench after the Portugal midfielder missed Thursday's 3-1 win over Burnley due to suspension.
However, it was not until his introduction on the hour mark that the home side even began to threaten a breakthrough.
Fernandes should have opened the scoring when he rattled the crossbar with the best chance of the match from Nemanja Matic's cross 23 minutes from time.
Moments later his free-kick was headed home by Ronaldo, but clearly from an offside position.
United's attacking flurry quickly fizzled out and Romain Saiss hit the bar from a free-kick as Wolves continued to pose a threat.
The visitors finally got their reward eight minutes from time when Jones' header fell kindly for Moutinho at the edge of the box and he drilled low into the bottom corner.
Jose Sa was still needed to make a vital save from another fierce Fernandes free-kick with virtually the last kick of the game.
Victory lifts Wolves up to eighth, just three points behind United.
-
The Analog Embrace: How Some Experiences Are Surviving the Digital AgePicsart's new SketchAI app is transforming images into digital artExperts warn of possible Russian, North Korean nuclear tests in 2024Kakao's legal risk intensifies over alleged stock manipulation9 Planetariums to Get Lost in the CosmosTCL's RayNeo X2 will translate conversations right before your eyesFacebook briefly hid its 'delete' option on posts厦门大学雅茗社会实践队 千里寻茶路 助推雅安茶I used the Pixel 9 Pro XL in the shower — does the screen work when wet as claimed?TikTok creators will soon be able to restrict their videos to adults
- ·We Bought the Cheapest DDR5 RAM Modules We Could Find, Are They Any Good?
- ·Van Dijk, Ronaldo and Messi shortlisted for FIFA best player award
- ·'Take A Knee, My Ass (I Won't Take A Knee)' is a terrible new country song
- ·Samsung union begins first strike
- ·50 Years Later: The Revolutionary 8008 Microprocessor
- ·Junior league goalie scores on an empty net and his team goes wild
- ·Yoon calls for strengthening surveillance, reconnaissance against North Korea
- ·领会重建方针政策 加强重建项目管理
- ·Apple finally sends out payments for MacBook's butterfly keyboard settlement
- ·Man stabs younger peer for ‘showing disrespect’: police
- ·N. Korea likely to stage provocations next year to intervene in S. Korean, US elections: think tank
- ·Man stabs younger peer for ‘showing disrespect’: police
- ·Yoon touts pension reform drive amid stagnant popularity rating
- ·Only remaining polar bear in S. Korea to move to British wildlife park
- ·'Aquaman' star Jason Momoa defends 'Justice League' from bad reviews
- ·实测朗行 引领越级两厢“大时代”
- ·NASA says Earth just had the hottest day ever recorded
- ·接受心理抚慰 感受少年宫教学课程
- ·Experts warn of possible Russian, North Korean nuclear tests in 2024
- ·Quarrel over first lady’s text messages opens new rift in ruling bloc
- ·What to expect from Apple's September event: iPhone 16, Apple Watch 10, and more
- ·Picsart's new SketchAI app is transforming images into digital art
- ·Best of CES 2023: The important gadgets, TVs, cars, and announcements
- ·N. Korea's premier holds talks with visiting Russian governor
- ·A Journey Into the Mind of Stephen King
- ·First look: Elon Musk unveils the Tesla Semi truck
- ·How do you make safe, cheap nuclear reactors? Bury them a mile deep
- ·Parties bicker over extramarital affair scandal involving governor candidate
- ·Minor opposition party rules out post
- ·成就餐饮梦想 寻觅幸福味道
- ·LG Display starts production of advanced OLED displays for gaming
- ·肾虚、肾病、肾炎和肾盂肾炎有何不同?
- ·维修加固 市区部分学校操场暂停对外开放
- ·N. Korea set to convene plenary meeting of ruling party this week
- ·“精致小春姐”顾春芳:华丽白西装、镶钻水晶拖鞋,带来新兴凉果No.1
- ·Past negotiations over NK nukes marred by distrust, security dilemma, political hurdles