Wolves clinch fifth consecutive win with a narrow success over Manchester United

Wolverhampton Wanderers have guaranteed their Premier League survival after Pablo Sarabia struck a magnificent free-kick to secure a narrow 1-0 victory against Manchester United at Old Trafford. This victory marks Wolves’ fifth consecutive win in the top flight, a feat they haven’t achieved since 1970.

In light of their dramatic extra-time win over Lyon in the UEFA Europa League quarter-finals on Thursday, Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim made five changes to his starting eleven, with Tyler Fredricson making his debut.

The players on the pitch contributed to a lacklustre first half at Old Trafford, which perhaps mirrored the fact that United had little incentive in the league, already resigned to finishing the season with their lowest points tally in Premier League history.

Christian Eriksen, who is poised for departure this summer, did momentarily ignite some excitement by registering the first shot on target just after the 30-minute mark, forcing Wolves’ goalkeeper José Sá into action as he parried away a dipping free-kick.

Kobbie Mainoo then attempted a curling shot, but his effort was never a threat to the Wolves net as it veered harmlessly wide of the far post.

After witnessing little improvement in the initial stages of the second half, Amorim opted to make a triple substitution around the hour mark, bringing on Bruno Fernandes, Mason Mount, and Diogo Dalot in a bid to inject some much-needed energy into United’s performance.

However, it was ultimately a substitution from Wolves who broke the deadlock in the 77th minute, with Sarabia curling an unstoppable free-kick over the wall and beyond Andre Onana’s reach, eliciting scenes of joy from the travelling fans tucked away in the corner of Old Trafford.

Mount then squandered a couple of decent opportunities to level the score late on, allowing Wolves to celebrate a league double over the Red Devils for the first time since the 1979/80 season.

This victory lifts Vitor Pereira’s side to 15th position, now level on points with 14th-placed Manchester United, who have now suffered 15 losses in a Premier League season for the very first time in their history.