Manchester United 1-1 Wolves: Late Drama and Disallowed Goal Leave Fans Fuming

Manchester United’s final match of 2025 ended in a chorus of boos at Old Trafford as they were held to a dismal 1-1 draw by bottom of the table Wolverhampton Wanderers. Despite taking an early lead, the Red Devils failed to capitalize on their momentum, allowing a winless Wolves side to snap their 11 match losing streak and claim only their third point of the entire season. Manager Ruben Amorim was visibly frustrated after the match, stating there are "no excuses" for the lack of quality and offensive fluidity that has plagued the team’s recent performances.

A Fast Start Fades Into Frustration

The match began with a glimmer of hope for the home side as Joshua Zirkzee opened the scoring in the 27th minute. Capitalizing on a rare start, Zirkzee's effort took a fortunate deflection off Wolves defender Ladislav Krejci, leaving goalkeeper Jose Sa with no chance. United nearly doubled their lead shortly after when Benjamin Sesko’s powerful header rattled the upright, but as has often been the case for United this season, their inability to finish clinical chances allowed the opposition back into the game.

Wolves, under the guidance of new manager Rob Edwards, showed remarkable resilience. Just before the halftime whistle, Krejci made amends for his earlier deflection by rising highest to nod home an equalizer after United failed to clear a corner. The goal sucked the life out of Old Trafford, and the players were greeted with a smattering of boos as they headed down the tunnel at the interval.

Late VAR Drama and the Final Whistle

The second half was a story of missed opportunities and desperate defending. Amorim attempted to inject energy into the side by handing a debut to 17 year old Bendito Mantato and bringing on Jack Fletcher, but the "Attack, Attack, Attack" chants from the Stretford End were met with a lack of "imagination," according to the manager. United thought they had snatched a dramatic victory in the 90th minute when wing back Patrick Dorgu slammed home a rebound, but an agonizing VAR check ruled the goal out for offside.

When the final whistle blew, the frustration of the United faithful boiled over. The team was booed off the field for the second time in a month, having also drawn 1-1 with West Ham under similar circumstances earlier in December. The result leaves Manchester United in sixth place, missing a golden opportunity to move level on points with Liverpool in fourth as the calendar turns to 2026.

Amorim and Martinez Demand Better

Speaking to the media after the game, Ruben Amorim was blunt in his assessment. "We had a lack of creation. The fluidity offensively wasn't there," Amorim admitted. He noted that the team lacked the "imagination" required to break down a side sitting deep, and he dismissed any talk of the eight senior injuries including Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount as a reason for the failure. "Looking at the 90 minutes, we had our chances... there are no excuses. We need to recover and go to the next one."

Defender Lisandro Martinez echoed these sentiments, expressing deep disappointment. "We can't come here and draw this game. The opponent has to suffer, and we didn't get the three points," Martinez told club media. He emphasized that the responsibility lies solely with the players to ensure that Old Trafford remains a fortress, rather than a place where relegation threatened teams can find hope.

The Challenges of 2026

As Manchester United prepares for their first match of the New Year against Leeds on January 4, the pressure on Amorim is mounting. While the Boxing Day win against Newcastle provided a brief respite, the repeated pattern of losing leads and struggling at home is a major concern. The club is expected to be active in the January transfer window to address the lack of offensive connections, but for now, the players must find a way to silence the boos and rediscover the "energy" their manager feels has gone missing.