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regular-article-logo Thursday, 25 April 2024

EPL: United sneak out of Wolves’ den; Tottenham Hotspur maintain perfect start

Greenwood’s low strike 10 minutes from time was decisive after Wolves had missed a host of chances throughout the match

Reuters Published 30.08.21, 01:17 AM
Mason Greenwood of Manchester United celebrates after scoring against Wolverhampton Wanderers  on Sunday.

Mason Greenwood of Manchester United celebrates after scoring against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday. Twitter/@masongreenwood

Mason Greenwood’s late winner earned Manchester United a 1-0 win at wasteful Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League on Sunday, breaking the record for the longest unbeaten away run in top flight English football history in the process.

Greenwood’s low strike 10 minutes from time was decisive after Wolves had missed a host of chances throughout the match as United made it 28 games unbeaten on the road in the league, beating Arsenal’s record set between April 2003 and September 2004.

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The home side threw everything at United early on, with Raul Jimenez and Trincao going close, but the visitors, who looked disjointed defensively, somehow clung on until halftime without offering much as an attacking threat.

Wolves continued to be the better side after the break, with David de Gea making a remarkable double save to keep out two close-range efforts from Romain Saiss.

United’s Jadon Sancho, who had a quiet full debut, was replaced in the second half as they went in search of the winner, with home-grown youngster Greenwood netting his third goal in as many games to snatch all three points.

Wolves were adamant there was a foul by Paul Pogba on Ruben Neves — it appeared a studs up challenge — in the build-up to the winner but nothing was given as United made it seven points from nine so far this season to sit in third place, while Wolves stay 18th without a point or goal.

“Everyone saw it, everyone saw my leg. We always do meetings and everything with referees about VAR, I don’t know why,” Neves told Sky Sports.

“They said before the season started they will look for contact — if the contact is strong enough, they will give the foul. I showed my leg to the ref, I showed (it) to the assistant ref. I cannot say anything more. It is a clear foul.”

Son Heung-min

Son Heung-min Twitter/@OfficialFPL

Spurs climb to top

Tottenham Hotspur maintained their 100 per cent start to the Premier League season with a 1-0 win over Watford on Sunday, thanks to a somewhat fortuitous first-half goal from Son Heung-min.

Son fired a swerving free-kick into the box from the left-hand side that deceived Watford ’keeper Daniel Bachmann and found the bottom-right corner three minutes before the break.

It was the South Korean’s 72nd goal on his 200th Premier League appearance for the club, helping them maintain their 100 per cent record under new manager Nuno Espirito Santo and lifting them to the top of the table with a perfect nine points after three games.

Tottenham head into the international break having won all three 1-0, while Watford are 12th with three points, and Spurs fans will be delighted at how well their team has performed despite the turbulence around striker Harry Kane.

Espirito Santo was delighted with his side but said that Son still had room for improvement, despite getting the winning goals against Manchester City and Watford.

“Sonny is fantastic but I still think he has a long way to go. He will improve his numbers alongside the team. He is a fantastic team player, the way he works. I am happy for him, but the challenge is to push further,” the 47-year-old coach said.

“The players worked hard for that win. In order to achieve consistency, it will take time. It was a difficult game, but really good movement in the second half. There were chances that we have to be more clinical with,” he added.

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