Tepid fare ends goalless
Wolverhampton Wanderers 0 v Manchester United 0
It is almost a year since I predicted that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would be the next Roberto di Matteo https://youneverplayedthegame.svbtle.com/ole-gunnar-solskjaer-the-next-roberto-di-mateo . When, during March and April Wolves outplayed United in first the league and then the FA Cup, I puffed up my chest confident in the knowledge that my prophecy would come to pass.
A poor end to last season followed by a similarly poor start to this indicated that it would only be a matter of time before the proverbial axe was wielded. But it would appear that Ed Woodward, Manchester United’s CEO, lacks the ruthless tendencies of the Russian Oligarch Roman Abramovic. Time spent as an accountant and investment banker will not have honed the survival instincts required in the court of autocrat and one time KGB operative Vladimir Putin.
In fairness to United they have stuck with Ole whilst he has stuck with youth a path which requires a long term outlook. That has also possibly helped his survival. And in the wake of their poor start United have picked up of late though they arrived at the Molineux for this 3rd Round FA Cup tie on the back of an unexpected defeat to the permanently mercurial Arsenal.
Not that that had much influence on the subsequent proceedings. I should have known. For years now the FA Cup has been a side dish rather than the main course and though you might have thought that a Third Round Cup tie between two historic clubs would have instilled a modicum of pride it proved not to be so. As the first half drew to a close all I had written was one sentence describing Romero’s brilliant 10th minute save to deny Matt Doherty followed by the word “Uninspiring”.
Matters rarely ignited in the second and as the game progressed into its final third the nightmare of a replay started to loom large. In response both sides injected a modicum of intent by bringing on established first team players. Of those Raul Jimenez rattled a post from an acute angle and almost with his first touch of the game Marcus Rashford struck the bar albeit off a Conor Coady shin. But the huffing and puffing continued rarely getting beyond a zephyr and few were surprised when the game ended goalless. Not one that will last long in the memory.
At least during his three and a half year tenure Pep Guardiola has shown a healthy respect for the domestic cup competitions and he did so again yesterday by fielding a strong side against League Two opponents Port Vale for whom Scott Brown played in goal. Described by Sunday Times journalist Ian Whittell as “Impressive” Brown was given an 8 for his performance on a day when City gained further plaudits by looking after their visitors so well. A story to tell the grand children, Scott.
Wolverhampton Wanderers: Patricio 6, Dendoncker 6, Coady 7, Kilman 6, Doherty 7, Neves 7, Saiss 6 Sub Moutinho, Vinagre 5 Sub Jonny, Traore 7, Neto 6, Ashley Seal 5 Sub Jimenez 8
Manchester United: Romero 8, Young 6, Lindelof 6, Maguire 6, Williams 6, Matic 6, Pereira 6, Mata 6 Sub Fred, Chong 6 Sub Dalot, James 6 Sub Rashford, Greenwood 6
Attendance: 31,387
Referee: P Tierney 8
©Mark Brennand