Rampant
Wolves devour the Devils again.
As much as it looks straight from a book of old football clichés, it’s exactly what transpired at Molineux last night.
Wolverhampton
Wanderers are having a fairytale season as much as Leicester did in 2015/2016. That
Fulham have confirmed a quick return to the Championship and Cardiff look likely
to follow shows how far Wolves have gone.
Last season's Championship winners are
truly the best of the rest after the Top six in the Premier League. Their guts
and character were on show in another predictable 2-1 win over Manchester
United, their second in 17 days. Their record versus the Top Six now reads
three wins, four draws and three losses.
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| Diogo Jota celebrates his goal. Image: Getty Images |
Wolves’
front two of Diogo Jota and Raúl Jiménez have to be praised for their intricate
understanding of one another. They sometimes make telepathic movements when on the
ball, their combinations during transitions in a counter attack is a joy to
watch; Two or three exchanged passes later they are taking a shot at goal.
The
impressive link-up between both forwards has yielded 12 goals and seven assists
for Jiménez while Jota has seven goals and four assists.
The mental
strength and togetherness in that team is as relentless as their tactical
astuteness, all thanks to Nuno Espírito Santo. The São Toméan is the Manager of the year, his hard
work with the team is there for all to see. Wolves sit seventh on the log, with
an FA Cup semi final date with Watford this weekend.
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| (Image: Action Images via Reuters.) |
For
Manchester United, it was a performance that defied their hopes for top four
and Champions league qualification.
It was the
first time they would lose a game having scored first since 2016. The Red
devils matched Wolves’ 3-man defence and dominated the start of proceedings
till their opener.
Fred has
shown glimpses of his quality lately and his positive start yielded the assist
for United’s goal. He quickly ruined that by losing possession deep in his own
half and was punished with the equalizer. The big-money signing was not the
only culprit.
I was
shocked at United’s decision to hand new contracts to Phil Jones, Chris
Smalling and Ashley Young recently. They should be getting rid of exactly those
three and my opinion on the trio were vindicated in the Black Country.
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| One for the record books as Ashley Young becomes the 100th player to get sent off by Mike Dean. Image: Getty Images |
They needed
to win this game to climb to third and big performances were needed from their
experienced players. Ashley Young saw red for two fouls on Jota, becoming the
100th player to be sent off by referee Mike Dean; Chris Smalling
scored the own goal which cost his team, Phil Jones came on after Young’s red
card and could have done better. Even David De Gea should have reacted better
to the own goal.
United
should have capitalized on Tottenham’s stumble but remain fifth and feel let
down by those who should be leading by example. Barcelona and that man Leo Messi present the next hurdle in the Champions League
Ole Gunnar
Solskjaer wants United competing for the title next season and he must know
that the squad needs improvement. They should be getting the job done on a
rainy night in the West Midlands.
Although
not many have out-fought these relentless Wolves.
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