Wolves ended their 11-match Premier League losing streak and manager Rob Edwards grabbed his first point as manager as his side held a disappointing Manchester United, who were booed off at Old Trafford.
Without eight senior players due to a combination of injuries and international calls, United were far from their best but still managed to go in front thanks to Joshua Zirkzee’s deflected 27th-minute effort.
However, Wolves began to force the pace towards the end of the opening period and after United goalkeeper Senne Lammens had kept a Hugo Bueno effort out, Ladislav Krejci levelled with a header from eight yards after he was given far too much room at the far post.
Lammens denied Krejci a second after half-time, when he dived to his left to parry a low shot and then got the ball away from danger as Yerson Mosquera closed in.
Ironically, Mosquera came close for the home side when he headed the ball past Jose Sa and towards his own goal. Fortunately for the Colombian, Sa got back to retrieve the situation just before the ball bounced in.
Sa had already been at the centre of one unusual incident when he was penalised by referee Thomas Bramall for holding onto the ball longer than eight seconds. It was only the third time the new rule has been applied in the Premier League this season but the home side could make nothing of the corner that followed.
Jhon Arias came close to a winner for the visitors with a shot that deflected narrowly wide and Patrick Dorgu then thought he had scored for the hosts in the final minute but a lengthy video assistant referee check confirmed the offside decision against him was correct.
It was Wolves’ third draw – and point – of the season, and their first since 5 October, although does not do much for their survival chances as they are still 15 points from safety.
For United, it was another example of their many shortcomings and a result that prevented Ruben Amorim’s side ending 2025 in an unlikely fourth spot – they remain sixth.
Given Amorim’s only sequence of league wins beyond one was the three-match streak that earned him October’s manager of the month award – and they had never kept successive clean sheets – following up the 1-0 Boxing Day success against Newcastle was always going to be a tall order for the hosts, no matter how bad Wolves have been this season.
With Mason Mount joining Bruno Fernandes, Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo among the absentees, United lacked creativity and spark.
Their movement of the ball was too slow from back to front, with Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko frequently calling for passes that never came as the man in possession checked back.
Zirkzee’s goal owed much to the drive of young defender Ayden Heaven, who won the ball close to halfway and took possession to the edge of the Wolves box before feeding it on.
In confined space, Zirkzee managed to find enough room to get a shot off, which deflected off Krejci and wrong-footed Sa.
It was Zirkzee’s last meaningful involvement before he was replaced at half-time by 18-year-old rookie Jack Fletcher, which tells its own story.
United have vowed not to let players leave until their Africa Cup of Nations contingent are back towards the end of next month.
But with Roma keen to strike a deal, it would be better for all parties if this was done sooner rather than later, to allow Amorim to bring someone in who can make a more positive contribution.
More to follow
There is not much to be taken out of this wretched season so far but Wolves fans did not let that spoil their latest trip to the North West.
Four days previously, they had seen their team lose at Liverpool by the odd goal in three, which is what happened at Arsenal on 13 December, when the Gunners got their winner in stoppage time.
As Wolves’ away game before that ended with a single-goal defeat at Aston Villa, there was reason for optimism before Tuesday night and, as the home side labored, the visitors’ confidence that defeat could be avoided began to grow.
By the end it was almost party time, even if they did not get the win they craved.
Krejci was a particular threat and Mosquera looked solid at the back, with Sa rescuing them when he messed up.
At a time of so much upheaval at Molineux, including the exit of chairman Jeff Shi, the big question for owners Fosun is whether they sanction spending next month even though it is impossible to imagine it can prevent a return to the Championship after eight seasons as a Premier League club.
Or will the owners keep their powder dry for the summer, when a reset will be required.
Either way, they need to show faith in Edwards, who has brought organisation to Wolves. Now, he has a point as well.
Manchester United are next in action against Leeds United at Elland Road on Sunday, 4 January (1230 GMT). Wolves entertain fellow strugglers West Ham at Molineux on 3 January (1500 GMT).
