Manchester United dropped two points at home against Wolves in a 1-1 draw characterized by a debut for Bendito Mantato and several underwhelming individual performances.
Manchester United’s inconsistent form under Ruben Amorim continued on Tuesday evening as they were held to a 1-1 stalemate by struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Despite taking the lead through a fortunate deflection, United’s lack of clinical finishing and defensive lapses allowed the visitors to secure only their third point of the season.
The match was further noted for the tactical shift to a 3-4-2-1 system and the senior debut of 17-year-old prospect Bendito Mantato.
Man United Player Ratings
Senne Lammens – 7/10
The goalkeeper delivered a strong performance, particularly during a frantic period before the interval where he made two vital stops. His highlight was a double save in the 60th minute, showing great reflexes to deny an initial strike and the subsequent rebound. He was ultimately left unprotected for the equalizing header.
Diogo Dalot – 4/10
Dalot struggled with his defensive discipline throughout the match, often wandering too far out of position. He frequently occupied spaces intended for the strikers, leaving the right flank exposed and demonstrating a lack of positional awareness that hindered the team’s defensive structure.
Ayden Heaven – 7/10
In a standout performance for the youngster, Heaven showed great composure to regain possession and drive forward to assist the opening goal. His energy was a primary source of momentum for United, making the decision to substitute him late in the second half quite unexpected for the home fans.
Lisandro Martinez – 6/10
Completing his first full 90 minutes of the campaign, Martinez looked physically sharp. He demonstrated his trademark ball-playing ability by launching several dangerous diagonal passes, though the players on the receiving end failed to make the most of his distribution.
Luke Shaw – 6/10
Playing in an advanced role, Shaw was a persistent threat on the overlap. He delivered several high-quality crosses into the penalty area that deserved better finishes. His fitness looked improved as he consistently tracked back to fulfill his defensive duties when required.
Patrick Dorgu – 4/10
Deployed as a wing-back, the Danish international had a difficult evening. He was at fault for the Wolves equalizer after losing his marker at a crucial moment. While he did manage to put the ball in the net late in the game, the goal was chalked off for a clear offside.
Casemiro – 6/10
The veteran midfielder was the primary orchestrator in the center, frequently switching the play to stretch the Wolves defense. He provided a world-class opportunity for Sesko that went unconverted, and he often looked isolated due to a lack of movement from the attackers in front of him.
Manuel Ugarte – 5/10
Ugarte was unable to match the high-intensity display he produced in his previous outing. He appeared sluggish in the middle of the park and was often second to the ball, failing to provide the defensive screen that Amorim’s system requires to function effectively.
Joshua Zirkzee – 4/10
Despite scoring the opening goal via a heavy deflection, Zirkzee turned in a lackluster performance. He lacked the necessary urgency for a starting forward in Amorim’s system, leading the manager to “brutally take him off at the break” in search of more energy.
Matheus Cunha – 4/10
After winning a few early fouls, the Brazilian playmaker became a peripheral figure. He struggled to find pockets of space between the Wolves lines and failed to register any significant impact on the game before the final whistle, looking well below his best.
Benjamin Sesko – 6/10
The striker was inches away from scoring when his header struck the woodwork. While he was the most likely to score and worked hard to create his own chances, he will be disappointed not to have converted a golden opportunity provided by Casemiro’s vision.