Moutinho stunner sees United falter again at home
Manchester United dropped points for a second successive Premier League home match as it was held to a 1-1 draw by promoted Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Former manager Sir Alex Ferguson was back at Old Trafford for the first time since his May health scare, but United failed to put on much of a show for him, instead producing a performance which surely would have resulted in the Scot's infamous "hairdryer" treatment.
Although United looked particularly off the pace early on and rode their luck, it broke the deadlock in the 18th minute, with Fred getting his first goal for the club.
Joao Moutinho scored Wolves' deserved equaliser with a fine finish early in the second half and, although United upped the pressure late on, it could not find a winner in 'Fergie time' as it slumped to another disappointing result.
Wolves looked vastly superior to the hosts in the early exchanges and forced David de Gea into two smart saves, as Raul Jimenez and Willy Boly threatened.
But United made the most of those let-offs and took the lead against the run of play 18 minutes in, Fred finding the bottom-left corner from 20 yards after Paul Pogba's clever disguised pass.
The Brazilian nearly got a second on the stroke of half-time, but his fine free-kick was tipped on to the post by Rui Patricio.
Wolves deservedly restored parity just after the interval, however, as Jimenez teed up Moutinho on the edge of the box and the midfielder found the top-left corner.
United huffed and puffed towards the end, with substitute Juan Mata offering a little more creativity than Alexis Sanchez, but Wolves held on, Nuno Espirito Santo successfully frustrating his "inspiration" Jose Mourinho.
After an EFL Cup date with Frank Lampard's Derby County, United's next Premier League outing sees it travel to West Ham United.
Wolves host Leicester City in the EFL Cup, before then welcoming Southampton to Molineux in the league.
