Wolves 2-1 Manchester United: 3 reasons why United lost to Wolves | FA Cup 2018-19

#2 Manchester United turn in an abject attacking display

Martial & Co. failed to inspire for the second game running

Manchester United came into the game having drawn a blank in their last assignment against Arsenal. Though they looked bright in patches during the said encounter, the Red Devils were anything but that at the Molineux.

For most of the game, the away side’s passing looked pedestrian and they failed to move the ball with any purpose. Numerous attacks were stifled due to the lack of tempo and it was only in the final few minutes that United shifted the ball swiftly.

Jesse Lingard was poor on his return from injury whereas Anthony Martial drifted in and out of the game too often. The pair was guilty of not providing the midfield enough options as their movement lacked imagination.

Additionally, the Red Devils’ offensive play was devoid of a cutting edge. On a few occasions, they got in behind the hosts’ defense. Yet, they lacked the incision and the conviction to come up with an end-product.

Moreover, their set-piece delivery was especially dire as they failed to clear the first man on countless occasions.

Manchester United’s return to its attacking roots has been one of the features of Solskjaer’s reign so far. However, with two listless offensive displays close on the heels of each other, the Norwegian has faced his first genuine stumbling block.

A crucial juncture of the season approaches and if the Red Devils keep producing such awful attacking performances, the mid-season positivity could revert to the early season gloom in a trice.