United 0 Wolverhampton Wanderers 0

Although United won at Old Trafford in an Emirates FA Cup replay, this was the third draw between the clubs, who started the game level on points in the table.

The shining light for manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was the encouraging impact of new boy Bruno Fernandes, who looked at ease in his new surroundings, but Diogo Dalot could have earned victory deep into injury time when guiding an Aaron Wan-Bissaka cross the wrong side of the post.

There was certainly a feelgood factor and air of expectancy surrounding the sight of Fernandes lining up for action in a red shirt.

A massive noisy Old Trafford welcome greeted the Portuguese midfielder’s name being read out pre-match as he awaited the start of his United career. The 25-year-old’s every subtle and precise touch was given a warm and encouraging round of applause. But it was Wolves’ Diogo Jota who ran the early show of the evening giving United a lot to think about defensively.

United were restricted to long-range efforts with Andreas Pereira and Harry Maguire unable to test visiting goalkeeper Rui Patricio. After 33 minutes, Fernandes decided to give the home support a glimpse of the shooting ability in his locker but his drive swerved late and wide..Five minutes later, he smashed one into the body of Patricio from a decent central position.

It was an encouraging, confident start from the new boy.

Fernandes was a central figure early in the second half as well, as he picked up his first yellow card in English football and then followed it up with a crashing free-kick that Patricio shuffled quickly across his line to gather.

The Wolves keeper was scrambling again soon after, and, arguably, wouldn’t have made the save had Juan Mata’s sweeping shot, on the turn, just slid wide.

Fernandes was looking again for a debut goal to break the deadlock, after 67 minutes, and, once more, Patricio had it covered but, such was the ferocity of the thunderbolt, that he could only desperately shovel it around his post.

David De Gea hadn’t had much to keep him occupied but was alert and solid as Raul Jimenez blasted a shot at his near post that the Spaniard guided over his bar.

Mason Greenwood, who had come on as a sub for Andreas, almost grabbed a potential winner, six minutes into the action, as his left footed drive took a double deflection off Willy Boly and Conor Coady, that came close to deceiving Patricio. The keeper, however, adjusted quickly to snatch the ball on his line.

Wolves had their moments, with Romain Saiss heading over an opportunity, Wan-Bissaka making one vital challenge to thwart a breakaway. However, with seconds left of the four minutes added on, sub Dalot very nearly steered a stooping header home but watched as it agonisingly crept wide.

So the match, the fourth of the season between the clubs, ended all-square and goalless.

MATCH DETAILS

United: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire (c), Shaw; Fred, Andreas (Greenwood 72); Mata (Lingard 88), Fernandes, James (Dalot 88); Martial.

Subs not used: Romero, Jones, Williams, Chong.

Bookings: Fernandes, Lindelof, Shaw.

Wolves: Patricio, Boly, Coady, Saiss, Doherty, Otto, Neves, Moutinho, Traore (Podence 76), Jota (Neto 69), Jimenez (Dendoncker 90).

Subs not used: Ruddy, Jordao, Gibbs-White, Kilman

Bookings: Neves, Moutinho. 

Attendance: 73,363