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Marcus Rashford’s deflected goal in injury time secured Manchester United a close win against Wolves and ensured Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men started 2021 seconds in the Premier League.
The match was the teams’ fourth meeting in 2020 and it looked poised to end with a third goalless draw as the hectic holiday schedule took its toll.
But United dug deep and pulled off a late winner at an empty Old Trafford, with Rashford culminating a year to remember, on and off the field, by sealing a 1-0 win to the death.
It was a welcome blow to the arm at the end of a tumultuous 2020 for United, who are now two points behind leaders Liverpool ahead of their game against Newcastle on Wednesday.
United were heavy on periods and it looked like they would come up short as Bruno Fernandes saw a close-range shot denied in the first half and Edinson Cavani had a goal disallowed for offside after the break.
Man of the match Romain Saiss was the Wolves’ biggest threat and had an unwanted impact on injury time when Rashford’s effort hit him and found the back of the net.
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Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford celebrates his team’s winning goal against Wolves. PA Photo.
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Solskjaer said later: “Last season we did not gain many points towards the end of the matches and we have a tradition at this club.
“Now we have won quite a few points towards the end of the matches and that is both a mental aspect and a physical aspect.
“Now we have a group that is more robust both mentally and physically, we have been through some difficult training periods and we have played a lot of games and they are improving.
“But mentally it gives you a mental boost knowing that you can win games towards the end of games.
“We just focus on the next game. We can’t get too far ahead. We’re not even halfway there and there’s a long way to go.”
The head of the wolves, Nuno Espirito Santo, said: “We were organized until the last moment.
“This is football, it is a learning process. We have to know that sometimes it is cruel at the moment, but we cannot remain in regretting what happened, let’s try to move on.”
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