Wolves Fans' Verdict v Manchester United: What a win!

Rob Cartwright

What's your verdict on the match?

As a kid, I used to dream of my team being this good.

It’s now a reality and sometimes I find it hard to believe it’s not all a dream.

It’s the norm in football to lose against the same team you beat in the Cup a few days previously. Nuno is rewriting the norms, folklores and history. I was very pleased to see the starting 11 he chose to start the game and you actually feel the excitement before kick off.

If anyone expected a Wolves victory before the game, they were having second thoughts after 15minutes, with United 1-0 up and showing intent to make up for their Cup exit. It was easy to conclude Wolves minds were on other things, maybe.

After weathering the initial storm, Wolves started to see more of the ball and with this confidence grew quickly. With Moutinho and Dendoncker getting more involved, we were starting to find Jota and Jimenez in more advanced positions. Jota, in particular, was finding room and running at defenders. We could sense the comeback had started with 70 minutes still to play.

It’s fair to say, Man U don’t cope well forwards running at them with the ball.

Their main tactic changed from attack-attack-attack into foul-foul-foul.

When De Gea played the ball out to Fred in no man's land, he thought he had all the time in the world to turn with it; Moutinho thought different and took it from him before he had time to control. Three quick passes into the United box, the perfect ball to Jota and we were level.

The remaining first half was fairly level. The game could go either way.

Wolves were in full flow in the second half. So were the fans. I’ve said it many times this season, but we can sense a victory well before we get the goal.

I’m not sure the red card for Young helped us that much. Deservedly receiving two bookings for his five fouls, mostly on Jota. It seemed to give them extra impetus and we had to be at our best for the following 10-15 minutes.

The winner came on 77 minutes. It was another fabulous ball from Moutinho. Jimenez headed towards goal and I thought it was his goal. After seeing replays, I still do though it was given as an own goal.

We had chances to score 2-3 more goals with Patricio being mostly a spectator from this point. Certainly, De Gea kept it only to 2-1. How I’d loved Cavaleiro to score at the end, rather than hit the bar.

Once more, an excellent second-half performance. Similar to the Cup game in that respect.

Who played well – and who didn't impress?

Many excellent performances from Wolves players, especially in the second half.

Moutinho ran the show once more. He was superb and was supported well by Neves and Dendoncker. All three looked like they could run all through the night. Let’s hope they can do the same at Wembley. Man Utd simply didn’t know what had hit them. In the first 15 minutes, they ran the show. In the second half, they never had a look in.

Jimenez and Jota have developed a telepathic understanding which can run opposition defences ragged. The equaliser shows this at its best.

Vinagre had an excellent game. We say this every time he gets a game. What a player he is going to be. I will not be surprised to see him play a part at Wembley.

Shout out to Boly too. Possibly at fault for their goal, I thought he had a tremendous game and stayed calm throughout. I love watching a centre half who will control, move with the ball and find a pass to start another attack, rather than just hoof it clear.

A great way to prepare for Wembley. It’s fair to say “I’m Buzzin”.

Clive Smith

What's your verdict on the match?

The night started with a game we could have done without but ended as another season highlight. We really were terrific.

Games that used to be damage-limitation are now seen as an opportunity to gobble up a top-six scalp. There is even a suggestion that it is because we have played well, rather than them having an off-day.

After a sluggish start, which saw us second best and a goal behind after fifteen minutes, we really played some fantastic football.

The attitude of the players was spot on, not a hint of saving something for Sunday. Every one of them ran their socks off and yet again it was a joy to watch. Going a goal behind did not faze us one bit. We played on the front foot, closing down when they had possession while also using the full width of the pitch as everyone was involved.

Neves and Moutinho put on an excellent demonstration of passing while Jimenez, Jota and the overlapping, jinking Vinagre sent us dizzy with his dribbling technique.

Our high pressing forced an error and an intelligent pass from Jimenez set up Jota for a clinical finish. We were level and from then on we were the better team by far. Both sides had attempts on goal, with the best falling to Dendoncker who should have done better with his chance.

We continued to dominate and our passing and off-the-ball running was impressive. A second yellow card for Young meant we played against ten men for half an hour and we made it count. Most of the sting had gone out of United's game and our three in midfield were running the show.

After failing to put in enough decent crosses we finally made one count with Jimenez and Dendoncker in the scramble that saw us take the lead. It did not flatter us. While we had strived to fight back after going behind, United seemed to lack that drive and determination once they trailed.

By the final whistle, we should have increased our lead as Cavaleiro hit the bar and their keeper had to block a couple of deflected efforts. We were as impressive as we have been all season, with several players having a standout game. What was perhaps most pleasing to see was the attitude and our body language. Starting with the team selection, then the response to going behind, right through to closing the win out.

Best wishes to everyone with Wolves in their heart, whether they are going on Sunday or supporting from the sidelines.

Who played well – and who didn't impress?

Patricio made a couple of superb reflex saves at important moments in the game. It is always disappointing to concede from outside the box, perhaps he could have done better with their effort.

Vinagre is always a breath of fresh air with his swashbuckling attacking play. Great to see him improving despite limited game time. His defending remains his only weakness.

Doherty had a typical game, mixing up defending solidly with some neat passing in the final third while also popping up in the box trying an attempt on goal.

Boly stepped up a gear. Right from the start he looked like he wanted to make a mark on the game. His defending was good and he also looked to bring the ball forward more than usual.

Coady did just what Coady does. Staying tight and making blocks and tackles at the right time. Bennett perhaps surprisingly started ahead of Saiss. He too played well with just a couple poor passes/clearances where he could have done better with.

Neves played like we want him to. His first touch and passing was excellent. How he can see passes immediately he gets the ball, when they are hard to see even from the stand is quite a talent. Moutinho was again brilliant in midfield. Now if we could just stop him taking short corners we would be even happier.

Dendoncker continues to influence the game more and more. Twice he was wasteful when well placed in the first half but he was at least able to assist with the winner. His strength was passing well and circulating the ball quickly.

Jota looked sharp and on his game with his mate back in tandem. His game craft has improved, as he is winning far more free kicks than he used to.

Jimenez is starting to monopolise thoughts for the player of the season. Outstanding again, he played the perfect team player role. Man of the match, with an almost perfect performance. His strength in the air, with his back to goal, is a key element in us keeping possession to set up a counter attack.

From the bench, Cavaleiro had the chance to close the game out and should have done. Otto too was well placed to set up a goal late on, while Saiss got a few minutes to help keep Neves fresh.

Adam Virgo

What's your verdict on the match?

The perfect response after Saturday and I can only imagine the dressing room is as upbeat as the fans going into Sunday now.

In the end, it was a deserved win. They were the much better side for the first half hour but after we equalised we came into the game a lot more. Ole must have been on the phone to AA for a while getting all of their team bus wheels replaced because they have well and truly fell off after yesterday, he and United won’t want to be coming to Wolverhampton again anytime soon.

On their goal, I felt like someone could have got closer to McTominay before he took the shot but it was a good strike. They had three clear cut chances in the first half but that’s their own doing for not taking them but Lukaku is basically the Belgian Jozy Altidore so no surprise he lacked composure.

The complete opposite, however, Diogo Jota, that man is ice cold in front of goal at the moment. We capitalised on their short goal kick brilliantly, fantastic reading of the game from Joao Moutinho, which he always does, and then the best duo in the world linking up once again, pinpoint pass from Jimenez, perfectly timed run and finish from Jota.

It was written in the script for Mike Dean to give out his 100th red card but it was a second yellow all day for Young, who was awful and I have no idea how he is playing at the top level, along with a few other United players. I’m pretty sure in every game of ours that Mike Dean has refereed this season he’s either given us a penalty or the opposition a red card.

United had the better chances there’s no denying that but that’s not our problem they didn’t take them. McTominay produced a top reflex save from Patricio and that was crucial because if we had gone 2-1 down against 10 men, regardless of it being United, it would have been deflating.

After that, we put so much pressure on them and it eventually prevailed. Slight bit of fortune on the winner but we deserved it. When you have Chris Smalling and Phil Jones playing together you must be asking for a disaster to happen.

We could, and probably should have added a couple more goals on the break. De Gea made a top save from Smalling, who almost scored two own goals in one game, then Cavaleiro got the better of Lindelof late on and I’m sure everyone expected the net to bulge as he is usually calm in front of goal but he took the wrong option, thankfully it didn’t cost us.

Who played well – and who didn't impress?

Jimenez and Jota were absolutely fantastic again and they really do have a telepathic relationship on the pitch. We missed Jimenez on Saturday so much from the off but another assist for him and his all-round game just helps us play how we want. His rabona cross was absurd too.

As for Jota, that guy is genuinely unplayable at the moment and he absolutely tore Young and Shaw apart. They’ve both now got league suspensions due to fouling him and I fear for their lives when they go up against Messi, Suarez and Dembele in the Champions League.

Joao Moutinho, five million pounds, explain? I don’t have anymore words for this man. Reads the game better than anyone I’ve seen play for Wolves and as soon as he has the ball he knows exactly what he wants to do and just makes football look so simple. He doesn’t need to be all flashy and look good for YouTube like Pogba. That’s three times Moutinho has came up against Pogba this season and in every one, the Portuguese maestro has looked better than him.

Neves and Dendoncker both did a brilliant job dealing with Pogba too as he was always going to be their main threat in terms of creating chances. Around £140m for Fred and Pogba which is crazy considering Neves, Moutinho and Dendoncker only cost £32m.

Vinagre was brilliant and showed once again why he is going to be an incredible footballer. His fancy flick just proves he beams with confidence every time he steps on the pitch and to have him and Jonny as options at left wing back is crazily good.

Rui Patricio played a huge part in the result, just as he did at Old Trafford. Two good stops from Lukaku and Lingard in the first half that were pretty much at him but his positioning and reflexes were still there.

His second half save from McTominay’s diving header was crucial and his cat-like reactions to stick his hand out were phenomenal.

He might feel like he could have got across to their goal quicker but it was still a good strike, and I don’t want to do a Jurgen Klopp, but wet conditions can play a part when a shot is hit low and hard.

Chris Hughes

What's your verdict on the match?

Before I start on the performance I need to say what a privilege it was to be in the stadium for the moment Super Mike Dean dished out his 100th Premier League red card. What a man!

Anyway, the game. I said in Saturday’s report that Wolves wouldn’t be Wolves without following the massive high of the Quarter-Final victory with the low of a dismal defeat to Burnley. True to form, we follow that up by picking apart United for the second time in 3 weeks at a raucous Molineux.

I’ve seen us beat United before but both of these victories have felt different. There’s been no ‘backs to the wall’ stuff hoping to nick a goal in either of these two games. We’ve matched them on footballing terms and deserved both wins.

Sure, we could’ve been three down after 20 minutes but, after that, we were the better side. Moutinho again schooled Pogba in the art of running a game from midfield and the World Cup-winning Frenchman was reduced to petulant outbursts again as our well-organised defensive machine restricted space ahead of him.

There’s no doubt that this is the worst United side in years and it’s definitely their worst defence in decades. Time and again you felt that we could go at any of their back four and have the beating of them. Jota had Luke Shaw on toast again, did Ashley Young with a filthy nutmeg that should’ve seen his first booking of the game well before he did eventually get a matching pair and an early bath, and Smalling could’ve had a hat-trick of own goals but for some good stops from De Gea.

It’s incredible to believe that just 5 years and a day since we laboured through a goalless draw at Stevenage in League One we have beaten one of England’s perennial top dogs twice within a month. I’m worried that someone is going to pinch me and wake me from this dream. I just hope they don’t do it before Sunday...

Russ Evers

What's your verdict on the match?

Oh, those cold wet wintry West Midlands nights that the Wolves foreign contingent can't cope with! We started slowly but this was more thanks to the quality of the opposition rather than any further hangover from the international break.

But after they scored we settled and started to play some great football with the best signing since Bully in Moutinho, who kept Pogba quiet along with Dendincker and generally ran the midfield.

Then it was exploitation time as every football watcher must be aware that Young and Smalling are the weak links in this team and so it proved again. A raucous Molineux greeted the performance at the final whistle, so it's onto Wembley in seventh place, full throttle and full voice. Come on me babbies!