The Sir Jack Hayward Training Ground played host to an enthralling six-goal thriller between a Wolves side unbeaten since the turn of the year and third placed Manchester United.
After a stuttering opening period in which Wolves were stung twice by a clinical United attack, James McPike’s half-time tactical switch saw an instant response and a late strike from Josh Esen rescued a point
It was a ferocious and fast start to the contest with both sides pressing high and forcing the opposition into mistakes in possession. Half chances were the consequence of this chaos although neither keeper was particularly challenged.
However, 23 minutes into the affair, and under increasing, mounting Manchester United pressure, Wolves captain Fil Mabete went to ground in an attempt to retrieve possession. The referee pointed to the spot and with little fuss Manni Norkett converted calmly into the bottom left corner, sending James Storer in the opposite direction.
Just as the hosts looked to be growing closer to finding an all-important equaliser, Wolves were hit on the counter and felt the full blow of the visitors’ ruthlessness in front of goal.
United’s Victor Musa timed his run to perfection, peeling off the high Wolves backline to find himself in on goal without a chasing pack. With time on his side the forward fired a left-footed shot beyond the helpless Storer to double the visitors’ advantage just after the half hour mark.
Half-time | Wolves 0-2 Manchester United
A blistering start to the second period saw the hosts half the deficit less than a minute after the restart. Wolves came forward with purpose and Fraser Harper had options either side of him as he switched the play to his right towards the onrushing Leo Shahar from right back. Shahar, with the angle against him, blasted a first-time effort beyond Elyh Harrison in the away goal.
However, Man Utd restored their two-goal cushion shortly after. Shea Lacey, who had a quiet opening period, picked up the ball just outside the area and unleashed a glorious curling effort into the top left corner, even out of reach of the tall frame of Storer.
The hosts didn’t let United’s third deter them, nor did it knock them off their stride with Wolves responding well and enjoying a period of sustained possession on the edge of the visitors’ area. An opening came and was clinically capitalised on when Conor McLeod connected with a floated cross from the left flank to flick a sublime effort into the far corner of the United net, again reducing the goal deficit to one.
With just over 15 minutes left to play, Wolves will have felt that they could have levelled the score following a well manufactured flowing team move. Good exchanges and patient play saw McPike’s side move up the pitch before Esen was released and able to run into the space left by United’s high line. Bearing down on goal, Esen perhaps had too much time to pick his spot and in the end his central shot was under hit and easy for the goalkeeper.
With the clock against them and just a few minutes to spare, the hosts remained determined to have the final say in what was an eventful second period.
Esen, having already found himself as the recipient of some of the best chances of the half was once again in the right place at the right time. Lingering on the edge, he evaded the white shirts around him to buy himself enough space and time to unleash a drilled shot which darted past Harrison to nestle in the bottom left corner, earning the hosts a valuable point against quality opposition.
Full-time | Wolves 3-3 Manchester United
REACTION
After the match, McPike gave an assessment of his team’s battling performance, revealing what positive changes were made at the break to ensure a second half comeback.
McPike explained: “First half I thought we had some bits of play but we were a bit loose in the important moments, but I still thought we had some good bits of play.
“I thought [Manchester United] did too, they had some real class and quality, and the second goal showed that.
“First half it was a tough battle, second half we changed the shape slightly, which really gave us a foothold in the game, we scored straight away.
“It was a real contest, we played forward a lot more than we have done [recently], so really positive, really happy to see.”
On playing more incisive, forward passes
“We’ve got to play forward more, we’ve got to make more penetrative passes. I think we’re guilty sometimes of doing back and square passes which encourages pressure, encourages a press, but once you make that pass through the press then you’re out.
“And we can do it, that’s the frustrating thing. When we do it we look really good, so we just want to do it more and work towards that.”
On the character shown to come from behind
“I think the shape change caught them out, I don’t think they knew what to do with it, and it took them a good 20 minutes to figure out how to do with the shape. Then it just became a battle of character and personality, and the boys showed that tenfold today.
“They really dug in to go into the latter stages of the game and get the equaliser and then nearly nick the game and win it - we’re going in the right direction.”
COMING UP
Wolves will make the short trip to face Stoke City away in the U18 Premier League North on the 11th of February.
NEXT FIVE
- 11/02 Stoke City (A)
- 18/02 Newcastle United (H)
- 25/02 Sunderland (A)
- 04/03 Blackburn Rovers (H)
- 18/03 Manchester City (H)
TEAMS
Wolves | Storer, Shahar, Ojinnaka, Bradbury (Francis-Burrell 43), Mabete, Igbinoghene, Esen, Rees, McLeod, Harper (Edozie 71), Reynolds (Carson 46).
Unused subs | Diomande, Scicluna.
Manchester United | Harrison, Kingdon, Nolan, Jackson, Munro, Fitzgerald, Lacey, Ibragimov (Berry 46), Norkett, Scanlon (Kamason 83), Musa (Williams 71).
Unused subs | Wooster.
Report by Ollie Spencer
