MANCHESTER — “We’ve got a point; we’ve got a point,” chanted the Wolverhampton Wanderers supporters in a corner of Old Trafford following Tuesday’s 1-1 stalemate against Manchester United.
Their excitement was understandable, given their 11 consecutive league defeats, but it was less of a surprise for home fans, who have witnessed similar uninspiring performances in 2025.
For head coach Ruben Amorim, the final match of the calendar year served as another reminder of the extensive work ahead to reshape the team.
Following a Boxing Day victory over Newcastle United, momentum has once again faltered, this time at the hands of the league’s bottom side.
Yet Wolves hardly played like the worst team in the Premier League, thanks in large part to United’s lackluster display that has frequently marred Amorim’s 13-month tenure.
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The match lacked genuine threat to goal, showcasing a distinct absence of pace and creativity, ultimately resulting in a disappointing draw that was met with boos at the final whistle.
“I understand the reasons behind today’s performance; we lacked fluidity and one-on-one play,” Amorim acknowledged.
“We anticipated a very different match compared to Newcastle, where we had more space. Today, we struggled to orchestrate our movements, and that was evident.”
It spoke volumes about the performance that United’s standout player was their goalkeeper, Senne Lammens.
If not for his exceptional saves—one before and another after halftime—the Wolves fans might have been celebrating their first league win of the season, breaking the longest winless start to a top-flight campaign since 1902.
While they were understandably happy with their first point since October 5, it could have been even better.
Wolves recorded a superior expected goals (xG) metric (1.02 to 0.81) and had slightly more touches in the opponent’s penalty area (22 to 21).
United believed they had snatched a stoppage-time winner, only for Patrick Dorgu‘s goal to be disallowed for offside—a decision that would have been harsh on Wolves had it stood.
“It’s rewarding to take something from the match,” said manager Rob Edwards, celebrating his first draw as Wolves boss since taking the helm on November 12.
“We played well enough to deserve at least this point. It’s progress. We’re better than our current total, but that’s the reality.”
Edwards had reason to feel aggrieved over the nature of United’s goal.
It was Joshua Zirkzee who scored, but only after his shot from outside the box deflected off Ladislav Krejcí.
Aside from that moment, Wolves keeper José Sá had little to do, apart from a near-miss where a header from his own defender, Yerson Mosquera, required urgent action.
This illustrates one of Amorim’s major issues.
United consistently struggle to penetrate teams that are content to absorb pressure.
With key players such as Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo, Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo, and Mason Mount sidelined against Wolves, there was a severe lack of creative output.
This has become a concerning trend at Old Trafford, as they now stand with just three points from a possible 12 at home against teams such as Everton, West Ham United, Bournemouth, and Wolves.
Compounding the frustrations was Matheus Cunha, formerly of Molineux, having a poor outing in a United shirt, while Zirkzee appears to be a player anticipating a departure in January.
Zirkzee’s lackluster performance as a substitute against Newcastle has only added to Amorim’s challenges. Although not delivering results over the past 18 months, he remains a key figure for United at this time. Interest from AS Roma has surfaced, and a transfer is likely before the window opens on Thursday. However, any moves may hinge on the returns of Mbeumo and Amad from the Africa Cup of Nations.
After the match, Amorim explained that Zirkzee’s substitution at halftime was made “for tactical reasons.”
Yet with limited options, he may find himself starting against Leeds United at Elland Road on Sunday. United’s primary goal scorer, Benjamin Sesko, has been underwhelming this season with just two goals to his name.
Sesko had three opportunities against Wolves, but his frustration was palpable when a weak header fell easily to Sá, prompting him to kick the post in disappointment.
“We find ourselves in a situation where multiple players are unavailable at the same time,” Amorim noted.
“Playing with Casemiro and [Manuel] Ugarte alters the aspect of our game significantly than if we had Bruno or Kobbie available.
“We need our players back from AFCON urgently. Our game is lacking fluidity and quality, and we suffered a goal from a set piece.”
Many United supporters acknowledge that Amorim is confronting a depleted squad plagued by injuries.
Nonetheless, questions remain regarding his decision to switch to a back three against the league’s last-placed team, especially when a four-man defense had succeeded against Newcastle.
The crowd’s discontent was evident as he replaced Ayden Heaven with Leny Yoro when the team desperately needed a goal, compounded by chants of “attack, attack, attack” throughout the second half.
In the aftermath, Amorim expressed his “absolute confidence” that performance will improve once Mbeumo, Amad, and Fernandes return. However, as 2026 approaches, many fans remain unconvinced that he is the right leader to oversee that change.
In facing Wolves, Manchester United’s inconsistent season has taken another disheartening turn.