Manchester United 2 Wolves 1

Two goals from Park were enough to give United a victory and extend the unbeaten run to twenty-four games!

After 777 days without making a first team star thanks to injury, Owen Hargreaves finally made the starting eleven. However, despite us predicting that Dimitar Berbatov would make his 100th United appearance he wasn`t even in the squad. Elsewhere, Wes Brown started at full back whilst Obertan, who`d played in Turkey, kept his place in the starting eleven.

United - Van der Sar, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Obertan, Fletcher, Hargreaves, O`Shea, Park, Hernandez

Subs - Kuszczak, Smalling, Scholes, Fbio, Evans, Macheda, Bebe

The first meaningful event of the half saw the unfortunate Hargreaves limp off; the much-heralded comeback had lasted less than five minutes. Now whether the injury affected United is hard to conclude but the team gave a poor performance for the majority of the first half, lacking cohesion, fluency and fluency.

True there were half chances. Hernandez saw an effort blocked by Berra and Park, when well placed, ballooned a shot well over the bar but Wolves were, for long periods, looking the more accomplished side creating two chances that could have seen them take the lead.

The first came when Milijas saw his goal bound shot deflected wide by the out-stretched leg of Vidic and then a delightful cross in by Jarvis saw a Hunt effort go inches wide. But, just as you reckoned Sir Alex Ferguson would be giving his legendary hairdryer treatment an outing, United scored.

The goal; came on the stroke of half time when an O`Shea pass found Park, his first touch saw him through and his second touch put the ball into the net.

Manchester United 1 Wolves 0 (Park - 45 minutes)

Half Time - Manchester United 1 Wolves 0

If the United faithful were hoping for a better second half performance they`d be waiting until the last few minutes of the half.

The fare served up was much the same as the first with much of the play lacking fluency when it came to the final third. United were pushing hard but had little to show for their endeavour and it came as no real surprise when Wolves equalised.

The goal came when Ebanks-Blake showed some neat skill to control the ball, turn and spin and place it past Van der Sar.

Manchester United 1 Wolves 1 (Ebanks-Blake - 66 minutes)

In fact as the half progressed Wolves could have taken the lead when Fletcher saw his shot go just over the bar.

As the game approached its conclusion it looked as if the points would be shared, especially when Park was foiled by a great, last-ditch challenge from Henry.

But Park wasn`t to be denied and as has happened so many times in the past, United got a late winner, with four minutes of stoppage time played Park cut into the area and saw his shot take a couple of deflections before beating the keeper.

Manchester United 2 Wolves 1 (Park - 94 minutes)

Three points won but it was so close to being honours even.




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