Wolves 1-2 Man Utd: Unbeaten away season for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as Nuno Espirito Santo's reign ends in defeat

Nuno Espirito Santo's final Wolves game ended in defeat as goals from Anthony Elanga and Juan Mata gave a weakened Manchester United team victory at Molineux

Adam Bate

Comment and Analysis @ghostgoal

Sunday 23 May 2021 20:19, UK

Manchester United were 2-1 winners at Molineux as Nuno Espirito Santo’s Wolves reign ended in defeat.

Anthony Elanga's opener and Juan Mata's penalty meant that United go into their Europa League final having gone the whole Premier League season unbeaten away from home.

It was a missed opportunity for Wolves to mark Nuno's last game in charge with a positive result against a much-changed United line-up but Nelson Semedo's goal was not enough.

Nuno still received a warm reception from the returning fans before, during and after the game in recognition of the job that he has done at Wolves during his four seasons in charge.

The result saw Wolves drop below Newcastle into 13th spot, while United, of course, finish second.

How Man Utd ended with a win

With 4,500 supporters returning to Molineux, Wolves started with intent but it was United who had the early chances with all of them falling to Elanga.

The 19-year-old forward twice went close but a poor touch followed by an errant strike with his left foot saw those chances wasted before he made no mistake on 13 minutes.

Daniel James did well to send in the cross from the left and Elanga had the freedom to head home from close range as Wolves' poor marking proved costly, silencing the crowd.

Team news

Nuno Espirito Santo went with many of the familiar names for his final Wolves team selection, so there were returns for Romain Saiss, Leander Dendoncker and Rui Patricio.

John Ruddy, Max Kilman and Morgan Gibbs-White made way.

Axel Tuanzebe was the only player retained from the Manchester United team as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer made major changes with the Europa League final against Villarreal in mind.

It wass an opportunity for youngster Amad Diallo and Anthony Elanga, while Donny van Beek had another run out alongside the experienced duo of Nemanja Matic and Juan Mata.

But the best move of the first half brought the equaliser when Joao Moutinho and Leander Dendoncker combined well for Fabio Silva to set up Semedo for the low finish into the net.

That had Molineux rocking until drama late in the half when Donny van de Beek's run across the face of goal drew a foul by Romain Saiss that Mike Dean spotted after a VAR review.

Mata converted past Rui Patricio and this young United side went into the break with the advantage - and they had a huge chance to extend the lead before the hour mark.

The lively James raced in behind Conor Coady and was one-on-one with Patricio but the Welshman's attempt at a dink over the goalkeeper was a poor one that trickled wide.

At the other end, Wolves created little beyond a couple of long-range shots from Morgan Gibbs-White and Willy Boly, while Axel Tuanzebe did brilliantly to twice block from Silva.

United saw the game out comfortably enough to ensure Nuno's final game as Wolves ended in defeat but with fans chanting his name ahead of an emotional lap of honour on the Molineux pitch.

For Manchester United, the season continues on Wednesday.

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What the managers said...

Nuno Espirito Santo, the Wolves boss, on his final game: "It has been emotional for all of us since we arrived at the stadium. The presence of the fans. It is a special day for all of us but a day of joy. A special day that will stay in our memories forever. I am very thankful to the fans.

"It was a very tough season but the way that the players have worked, the way that the players have reacted to all the circumstances that unfortunately we have had, I only feel proud of our mission.

"Today was the first day at Molineux of the football we love. There is much more football ahead of us so we have to look with a smile to the future."

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the Manchester United manager: "I was very proud of the players today. They were excellent. Seeing people expressing themselves, enjoying themselves. It was a game in the spirit of Manchester United, Sir Alex [Ferguson] and Sir Matt [Busby], that you give these players a chance.

"I think it is a terrific achievement to go a whole season with no defeats away from home. We knew that by making these changes, we took a risk of losing that record, but we made everyone proud with a fantastic performance."

What's next? Euros, transfer window, 2021/22 key dates

Euro 2020 kicks off on Friday June 11 - just 19 days after the conclusion of the 2020/21 Premier League season - and runs until Sunday July 11.

The 2021/22 Premier League campaign will start on the weekend of Saturday August 14 - 34 days after that Euro 2020 final at Wembley.

Clubs will be able to start planning for the new term when the top-flight fixtures are released at 9am on Wednesday, June 16 but transfer business can start in earnest before then, with the summer transfer window opening on Wednesday June 9.

The 2021/22 Championship season begins a week before the top-flight one on the weekend of Saturday August 7. All Sky Bet EFL fixtures will be announced at 9am on Thursday June 24.