Manchester United fails to have a shot on target in a domestic game for the first time since January 2015. They played out a goalless FA Cup draw at Molineux.
United will have a two-legged EFL Cup semi-final against Manchester City this month. However, the Old Trafford replay will take up their only spare January midweek without a game.
As for Wolves, it adds to a marathon season that has already reached 36 games.
In a total disappointing last year’s quarter-final rematch, Rashford and Jimenez struck the woodwork in the second half.
Rashford was introduced as a second-half substitute. A minute later, he came close when his shot looped off Wolves skipper Conor Coady.
Jimenez was on his world when he raced down the bye line completely lacking support. He thereafter surprised United’s keeper, Sergio Romero, by shooting from a virtually impossible angle to send the ball skidding off the woodwork.
United toils poorly in the attack.
Definitely, no one can accuse United of having an easy time in the FA Cup recently. All their past four games have been away.
Molineux proved to be the end of United’s journey last season. Watching former manager Sir Alex Ferguson, he must have felt that United came to the venue and won 3-0 in a fourth-round tie in 2006.
Ferguson’s team included two of the greatest forwards in the club’s history; Wayne Rooney and Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Current manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer does not have the same class in his squad. The day Rashford started on the bench and Martial was missing through illness, United toiled in the attack.
Typical of a first half in which the Red Devils failed to have a single shot on target was the moment when Harry Maguire won the ball with a thunderous tackle on Traore. Only for Pereira to pick up possession on the halfway line. Instead of driving into space, Pereira plods a few strides forward, turn square with a slow pass and lost momentum.