Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag heaps praise on matchwinner Kobbie Mainoo
Wolves were tactically undone for the second goal, Neto failing to track the powerful off-the-ball run of Luke Shaw and when Rashford slipped him in, the full-back’s low cross was bundled into the net by Hojlund after earlier ricocheting off Craig Dawson and Sa.
Hojlund almost had another when Matt Doherty’s under-hit pass to the goalkeeper resulted in the clearance cannoning off him but just wide. The Dane was then denied when a narrow offside decision went against him after tucking the ball away late in the first half.
Casemiro, booked early on but otherwise restoring control to United’s midfield, found the net with a header before that half was through but was again offside and the onus was on O’Neil to change things at the break. The tone of the game certainly shifted.
Kilman had a header cleared from near the line by Lisandro Martinez, making his first Premier League start since September. Although Hojlund then spurned a good chance after an error by Toti Gomes. But the penalty offered Wolves a route back into it.
The decision to award the spot-kick was soft, Casemiro barely connecting with Neto – if at all. But Sarabia, on as a substitute, converted and the crowd were in the game. United struck again. McTominay did not even have to jump to nod in United’s third from a corner.
Again, Wolves fought back. They showed real spirit in the second half, defending that long unbeaten run at home. Dawson’s miscued shot was turned in by Kilman to set up a big finish. Neto delivered it when United inexplicably allowed a counter-attack.
His shot appeared to wrong-foot Onana and Molineux was wild, dreaming of an unlikely winner of their own. But, amid a raucous atmosphere, it was Mainoo who was calm while others were not, skipping away from two before curling effortlessly into the corner.
It was a goal that will be talked about for years, the biggest moment of his fledgling career to date – and a big moment for his manager and team. Had United let this slip, it would have been damning. But this was a night to remember for the right reasons, instead.
Man Utd’s dramatic win in stats
- Manchester United have won three of their first four matches in 2024 in all competitions after ending 2023 with just two wins in nine.
- Wolves suffered their first home Premier League defeat since losing 3-1 to Liverpool in September, ending a run of eight successive unbeaten games at Molineux.
- Rasmus Hojlund has now both scored and assisted in each of his last two Premier League appearances.
- Manchester United have conceded two or more goals in five consecutive league games for the first time since November 1977.
- Contribution:Skysports