Manchester United laboured to an extremely fortuitous 1-0 home win over Wolves to begin the new Premier League season.
Raphael Varane was an unlikely late scoring hero for Erik ten Hag’s notably below-par side at Old Trafford on Monday night, heading in Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s lofted pass from point-blank range after great work from new captain Bruno Fernandes to net the only goal of the game after their spirited opponents had spurned countless superb opportunities to break the deadlock themselves.
Brazilian forward Matheus Cunha was inspired and hit the woodwork with the best chance for Wolves, whose bold and brave performance, despite the end result, in their first game under ex-Bournemouth boss Gary O’Neil - parachuted in to replace Julen Lopetegui just days before the start of the season - flew in the face of gloomy pre-season predictions that has seen them tipped to become engaged in a bitter relegation battle this term after a distinct lack of summer signings and late managerial drama.
Wolves should have had a last-gasp chance to level from the penalty spot when goalkeeper Andre Onana, making his top-flight debut for United alongside Mason Mount as fellow new signing Rasmus Hojlund watched on from the stands due to injury, came out to try and claim a deep cross with his area under siege in second-half stoppage time but ended up completely wiping out substitute Sasa Kalajdzic without getting close to the ball.
However, Simon Hooper was unmoved and a VAR check did not lead to the referee consulting the pitchside monitor, with a furious O’Neil booked for his angry protests on the touchline.
Brilliant Wolves kept pushing until the end with late chances for Fabio Silva, but just could not find the back of the net as their main problem from last season - when they scored a paltry league-low 31 times in 38 games - reared its ugly head once more.
Pedro Neto, Pablo Sarabia and Hwang-Hee chan also had strong opportunities along with the hugely impressive Cunha, who could somehow only strike the woodwork at the back post in the second half with the goal gaping after a fine run from Matheus Nunes and Sarabia cross that was flicked into his path by Neto.
United, by contrast, found chances very hard to come by other than their 76th-minute winner, with goalkeeper Jose Sa able to thwart a quiet Marcus Rashford, playing as the central striker as £72million arrival Hojlund recovers from a minor back issue suffered in pre-season with former club Atalanta.
They will need to up their performance levels considerably ahead of a potentially tricky trip to face Ange Postecoglou’s new-look Tottenham team next weekend, while dejected Wolves will look for their first points of the season against a Moises Caicedo-less Brighton at Molineux.
