A bad Boxing Day for Manchester United
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 - 0 Manchester United
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes saw red for the third time this season, as Wolves maintained their perfect start under new manager Vítor Pereira with a 2-0 win over the Red Devils.
Fernandes was sent off just two minutes into the second half after receiving a second yellow card. This follows earlier dismissals against Tottenham and Porto, adding to what has been a frustrating campaign for the United skipper. Was this a significant moment in the match?
Wolves wasted no time making their numerical advantage count. Eleven minutes later, Matheus Cunha delivered a moment of déjà vu for United fans, scoring directly from a corner—just as Tottenham’s Son Heung-min had done a week earlier. Cunha’s delivery floated over André Onana’s reach in a packed six-yard box, exposing United’s continued struggles to defend set-pieces.
The game was put to bed deep into added time. With United desperately searching for an equaliser, Wolves broke on the counter. Cunha unselfishly squared the ball to Hwang Hee-chan, who slotted home to secure all three points.
Premier League: 2024/2025 season
United’s defensive frailties have become a recurring theme, with Arsenal, Nottingham Forest, and Bournemouth also exploiting their vulnerability to balls into the box during a woeful run of five defeats in their last seven games across all competitions.
Under Rúben Amorim, United have picked up just seven points from six league games, while Wolves’ new boss Pereira has hit the ground running. Following their weekend win at Leicester, this marked Wolves' first home victory over United since 2019.
Adding to United’s misery, Fernandes will miss their crucial home clash against Newcastle on 30 December. Midfielder Manuel Ugarte will also be unavailable, having picked up his fifth yellow card of the season.
Manchester United in the EFL?
What was hoped to be a season of progress under co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe at Old Trafford is now teetering on the brink of chaos.
For now, the dark humour about a relegation battle remains joke. However, with United sitting only eight points clear of the drop zone and daunting clashes against Newcastle at home and Liverpool at Anfield on the horizon, the punchline could become painfully real very soon.
Best reaction from across the internet
One Wolves fan told us: "I believe we have talented players, but we were missing a mental breakthrough to fully engage in the game. The commitment shown today, combined with the support from the other fans in the stadium, was truly special."
On the Super Reds News blog, Liam C said: "Some die-hard reds would argue that we fought hard following Cunha's goal. Perhaps, they are correct. That just feels like desperation to me. Even with a full team, we looked devoid of any ideas. A miserable evening for everyone in that away end. There's nothing on Earth like being a red."
Super Reds contributor Liam C also said on his Facebook: "I thought I was calming down but that was so bad. We can't sack another manager so what comes next for us?"
Super Reds News: Post match review: Wolves 2 - 0 United https://t.co/Uotru01zXG
— Super Reds News (@GMCRFootball158) December 26, 2024
