Ten Hag left the club’s top scorer on the bench early on due to an ‘internal disciplinary problem’, and watched his side struggle to break Wolves in the first half as a youngster Alejandro Garnacho lose the best chance of visitors.
As it happened: Wolves v Man United
Rashford came on in the second half to give United more of an attacking edge, showing great strength and composure to hold off his marker and fire away the winner with 14 minutes remaining.
The England striker had another ruled out for handball late, but that didn’t matter as United claimed their third straight league win to overtake Tottenham Hotspur, who face Aston Villa on New Year’s Day, and into fourth. Wolves remain 18th.
Marcus Rashford sends @ManUtd into the top four ⏫#WOLMUN https://t.co/wViexWL2Yg
— Premier League (@premierleague) 1672496605000
Fresh off their biggest league win of the season last time out – a 3-0 success against Nottingham Forest – United failed to make the most of their first-half opportunities at Molineux.
Casemiro’s header was deflected early on, before Garnacho was denied by a superb save from home goalkeeper Jose Sa after Nelson Semedo’s defensive error.
France striker Anthony Martial should have done better with a close-range header late in the half but failed to make a clean connection.
Ruben Neves finally tested David de Gea in United’s goal early in the second half, with his free kick brilliantly saved by the Spaniard, before the visitors regained control of the game.
More chances came and went before Rashford netted his 10th goal of the season in all competitions after holding off Wolves substitute Jonny and returning the ball from close range.
De Gea was called into action to deprive Wolves of a point in manager Julen Lopetegui’s first home league game, but United continued their improvement under Ten Hag with another win.
