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SIR ALEX FERGUSON must have had a little smile to himself behind that mask.
The legendary former Man United boss was in the stands on a frosty night and watched Marcus Rashford grab a winner in Fergie’s time.
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It seemed certain it would be another goalless draw between two rivals who know each other too well after playing four times last season.
But when the clock struck 94 minutes, Rashford found a pass from Bruno Fernandes and pushed through.
His effort may not have caused Rui Patricio much trouble, but he hit Romain Saiss on the back and flew past the visiting goalkeeper into the corner.
United had won a match they had no right to win and moved within two points of leader Liverpool.
And Saiss, who scored a late goal to contest a draw against Tottenham 48 hours earlier, was a late heartbreak.
This was the eighth meeting of these two clubs in just over two years, but United have found Nuno Espirito Santo’s men tough rivals.
The Red Devils had won just one of those recent games: a replay of the FA Cup third round in January.
And this looked like for everyone it would be a third goalless draw in less than a year, but Rashford had other ideas.
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And it was the visitors who had the first chances here with Pedro Neto shooting David de Gea directly from the start.
Vitinha produced another effort for the local goalkeeper to contend with, and also had to reject a long-distance shot from Ruben Neves after a good job from Adama Traore.
Despite scoring six in their last game here before Christmas, United have struggled in their home games this season, winning just two of seven.
And the way they performed in the early stages was more in keeping with the stuttering performances from earlier in the season.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer made six team changes that tied at Leicester on Boxing Day and his team was struggling to worry Rui Patricio.
Paul Pogba had been on the bench for the last two games, but he was among those who returned to the starting lineup here.
However, Scott McTominay, who was so outstanding against Leeds, was among the substitutes again and United did not pose the same threat without him.
Most of the best chances came at the other end, with Romain Saiss finishing off a header off the top of the crossbar after a free kick from Joao Moutinho.
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The Moroccan defender got a late draw against Tottenham on Sunday and came close to repeating the trick here.
United had hardly created anything in the first half hour, but should have gotten ahead shortly after.
Mason Greenwood threw a beautiful cross from the right and found Bruno Fernandes at the back post.
The Portuguese looked like a certain scorer but his volley lacked conviction and went straight to the visiting goalkeeper’s legs.
But his opponent was much busier and produced a brilliant reaction to deny Saiss that he got his toe and a free kick from Neto.
It had been a flat sight in the first half from Solskjaer’s men, who knew a win would take them two points behind leaders Liverpool.
However, the Norwegian’s only change at half-time was a left-back with Luke Shaw replacing Alex Telles.
Their squad has been far more effective when teams attack them, allowing United to counterattack, but the Wolves were content to go deep and wait.
After so many recent meetings, Nuno seems to have found the best way to thwart the Red Devils.
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There was also little action on goal scoops early in the second half.
Fernandes lifted a cross to the back post that Marcus Rashford reached first, but headed his header over the bar.
That was the signal for the home manager to make a change with Anthony Martial coming in for Mason Greenwood just after the hour.
United were playing with a little more momentum as a low center from Pogba headed towards Edinson Cavani until Saiss got in the way.
From the resulting corner, the Uruguayan swept home after the ball hit Conor Coady’s hand from Eric Bailly’s kick but the flag went up.
A VAR check determined that any contact from the England man was accidental and his arm was at his side, while the linesman flag had been correct.
Pogba was starting to make more of an impact, but his 20-yard low shot was safely picked up by a stretching Patricio.
He then opened an opportunity for his compatriot Martial, but the submarine went over the bar from the edge of the box.
With most of the action on the other Rayan Ait Nouri ran down the left on a clever pass from Moutinho, but De Gea cleverly ducked to save.
How crucial he looked when Rashford took center stage in injury time to convert a point into three.
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