Ruben Amorim’s stunning resolution as Man Utd booed after failing to beat Wolves

An injury hit Manchester United failed to beat Wolves as the bottom of the table club deservedly left Old Trafford with a point in the 1-1 draw.

Joshua Zirkzee opened the scoring through a huge deflection that turned the ball past Jose Sa but the visitors deservedly equalised on the stroke of half-time after United failed to convince in the opening 45 minutes. An incredibly painful second half played out as a depleted Red Devils side failed to find a winner, and were almost embarrassingly beaten.

Ruben Amorim abandoned the back four system he deployed against Newcastle, reverting to a back five with two defensive midfielders in Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte… against the worst team in the Premier League in the last 20 years.

Wolves arrived at Old Trafford without a win and just two points in 18 games, just weeks after the Red Devils won 4-1 at Molineux, to way too much respect from the hosts.

While injuries and AFCON have limited Amorim’s selection with six academy players on the bench. What an introduction it could have been for Shea Lacey or Jack Fletcher to make their first senior starts having been called off the bench in recent weeks.

The excitement around the ground and the energy of academy lads would have been ideal as United at times had 11 players stuck behind the ball in the early stages. An early strike from Benjamin Sesko that was deflected wide was the only sight of goal the hosts saw until Joshua Zirkzee’s strike on the 26th minute deflected past Jose Sa.

It was the type of goal that this uninspiring team looked like they were going to need to break the deadlock. And it proved a lead they were hanging on to rather than extending before half-time.

Sesko headed against the post when he really should have found the back of the net, leaping highest from a corner. But Senne Lammens had to produce a smart stop with his legs down the other end.

However, the Belgian’s save was ultimately rendered redundant when United failed to take heed of warnings on their goal as Ladislav Krejci deservedly headed the rock bottom side level on the stroke of half-time from a corner.

The half-time whistle brought boos from the Old Trafford crowd, and rightly so. The reception clearly resonated with Amorim as he brought on Jack Fletcher at half-time, although at the expense of the goalscorer – which unless Zirkzee was injured, is a baffling decision.

United emerged from the break how they should have in the first half as Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Ayden Heaven all had chances before a bizarre header towards his own goal by Yerson Mosquera forced Sa to scramble back to his goal line to keep the ball out of the net.

But the Reds still relied on Lammens down the other end to spare their blushes as the keeper came to United’s rescue with a brilliant double save. That chance stunted United’s flurry of attacks as Wolves showed they were capable of producing a smash and grab victory.

Amorim turned to his bench again, but in a clear sign of the injury problems he’s facing, brought on debutant midfielder Bendito Mantato and bizarrely centre-back Leny Yoro in the hope of finding a winning goal.

Patrick Dorgu put the ball in the back of the net in added time but he was offside in the build-up to Sesko’s effort that was saved and parried his way. It proved to be United’s last chance as the hosts were woeful in possession around the final third.

The final whistle brought boos from the furious home fans as the pressure is now turned back up on Amorim again.