IIn-form Marcus Rashford stepped off the bench to earn Manchester United a 1-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday, a win that moved Erik ten Hag’s aspect into the Premier League prime 4.
Ten Hag left the membership’s prime goalscorer on the bench from the beginning as a consequence of an “internal disciplinary issue”, and noticed his crew battle to interrupt down Wolves within the opening interval, teen Alejandro Garnacho losing the guests’ greatest likelihood.
Rashford got here on for the second half to present United extra leading edge in assault, displaying nice power and composure to carry off his marker and hearth the winner 14 minutes from time.
The England ahead had one other dominated out for handball late on, but it surely mattered little as United noticed out its third league win in a row to maneuver above Tottenham Hotspur, which performs Aston Villa on New Year’s Day, and into fourth. Wolves keep 18th.
“He (Rashford) was bright, he was lively, and he scored a goal to give a good reaction,” Ten Hag informed BT Sport. “Everyone has to adhere to the rules, and if you react like this, it is the right answer.
“We were not that good in the first half. In my opinion, the second half was better. I was not happy at halftime, and I told them with this attitude they will not win this game and everyone had to give 10% more.”
Fresh from its greatest league win of the season final outing – a 3-0 success over Nottingham Forest – United didn’t profit from its first-half alternatives at Molineux.
Casemiro’s header was deflected over early on earlier than Garnacho was denied by an excellent save from dwelling goalkeeper Jose Sa after Nelson Semedo’s defensive error.
French ahead Anthony Martial ought to have accomplished higher from a close-range header late within the half however didn’t make a clear connection.
Ruben Neves lastly examined David de Gea within the United objective early within the second half, along with his free-kick brilliantly saved out by the Spaniard, earlier than the guests resumed their management of the competition.
More probabilities got here and went earlier than Rashford fired his tenth objective of the season in all competitions after holding off Wolves’ substitute Jonny and lashing the ball dwelling from shut vary.
De Gea was referred to as into motion to disclaim Wolves some extent in coach Julen Lopetegui’s first dwelling league sport in cost, however United continued its enchancment underneath Ten Hag with one other victory.
“The goals are coming after good work and we are working as a team in and out of possession,” Lopetegui mentioned.
“Maybe we didn’t have the best decision-making in the box. We had five or six good situations to damage them, but we had good chances.”
