Manchester United 1-0 Wolves: Second half Raphael Varane header helps Red Devils to three opening day points

Manchester United have kicked off their 2023/24 Premier League campaign with a narrow 1-0 win over Wolves at Old Trafford.

A terrific performance from Wolves, playing their first game under Gary O’Neil, came to nothing when Rapahel Varane's header pilfered all three points for United.

Wolves started the game well, playing with intensity and aggression, while United were slow with no apparent plan.

It was they, though, who created the best opportunities, Marcus Rashford shooting against Jose Sa from close range and Raphael Varane heading wide from a corner in added time while for the visitors, Matheus Cunha and Pablo Sarabia both went close.

The second half was a faster, more exciting affair, with Wolves the better side and hitting the United post through Cunha. But they switched off for a moment, United took advantage, and though they were refused what looked a lot like a penalty in injury-time, when Andre Onana leapt into Sasa Kaladzic, otherwise they were not quite able to find a finish worthy of their approach work.

Erik ten Hag will be relieved his team found a winning goal, and no doubt praise their character and perseverance, but he will be concerned by what he saw from his team. It may be the first game, but they've had an entire pre-season to look more organised than that - which reflects poorly on all concerned.

The front three didn't press hard enough, the midfield was often empty, and the combinations were off, while Wolves were far more powerful, direct and assured with their running and passing.

As such, well-sourced reports that say United are interested in Amadou Onana and Sofyan Amrabat make sense - both have attributes a squad - an expensively-compiled squad now - still lacks. The question then, though, is whether either are good enough.

Matheus Nunes (Wolves): Bossed the midfield with driving runs and clever passing.

Manchester United: Onana 7, Wan-Bissaka 8, Varane 8, Martinez 5, Shaw 6, Casemiro 5, Fernandes 7, Mount 5, Garnacho 5, Antony 5, Rashford 5. Subs: Lindelof 6, Eriksen 6, Sancho 6, Pellistri 6, McTominay 6.

Wolves: Sa 7, Semedo 8, Dawson 7, Kilman 7, Ait-Nouri 7, Lemina 7, Gomes 7, Nunes 8, Sarabia 7, Neto 7, Cunha 8. Subs: Hwang 7, Kalajdzic 6, Silva 7.

11’ - A SWIFT PASS FROM CASEMIRO THEN ANTONY AGAIN CARRIES THE BALL FORWARD! And slides a reverse-ball in behind ... while Sa races miles out of his goal! All Rashford has to do is get a shot past him and it's a goal ... but he hits the keeper. That was a decent chance and a poor effort.

45+2’ - ANTONY PICKS UP A LOOSE PASS! And feeds Rashford, who dips inside Kilman ... who gets back at him well, blocking the eventuating shot behind. The resultant corner, though, is a goodun but Varane, who sees it late, can't make proper contact and the ball skids off his forehead, into the ground and wide.

49’ - BETTER FROM UNITED! Casemiro sets them away and they sweep across the pitch, Mount doing well to keep ball and balance before finding Antony ... whose pass is poor. So Wolves counter, Nunes carrying through centrefield before moving out to Sarabia on the right. He crosses to the back post, Neto steps over ... and from a few yards, Cunha hits the post! He should not have missed that!

72’ - HERE COME WOLVES AGAIN! Cunha, who's been superb, surges through midfield, spreads the ball left and when Hwang crosses, desperate lunges from Lindelof and Shaw divert the ball to Neto ... who shoots straight at Onana. That was great play but a poor finish.

76’ - GOAL! Manchester United 1-0 Wolves (Varane): Wolves sit back and allow United to platy forward, giving Bruno Fernandes time on the ball. Silly behaviour. He flips a fantastic pass over the top for Wan-Bissaka, whose go-go-Gadget leg stretches a cross to the back post, where Varane, who missed one earlier, powers home.

90+3’ - GOODNESS ME! HERE COME WOLVES AGAIN! Semedo, into Fabio Silva, over the Hwang inside the box, left-hand side! He shoots low ... and another go-go-Gdget leg from Wan-Bissaka deflects the ball behind ... the McTominay hurl his entire essence into a block on the edge of the box! This is breathless stuff!

90+5' - POSSIBLE PENALTY TO WOLVES! Onana comes for Neto's cross, leaps, misses, and clatters Kaladzic! This looks like a penalty to me and I think the ref will have another look.

90+7’ - HE WILL NOT HAVE ANOTHER LOOK! My only rationale is that it was a challenge, a collision, and maybe overturning isn't possible because the error is of interpretation, so not clear and obvious. But I'm reaching.