Manchester United missed the chance to move third in the Premier League as they threw away a lead, had a man sent off and lost at Wolves.
Scott McTominay’s low strike from 22 yards – his first goal for United – put them ahead after 13 minutes but the hosts equalised 12 minutes later as Diogo Jota coolly finished from a Raul Jimenez pass.
The visitors had captain Ashley Young sent off in the 57th minute for two yellow-card offences after he twice fouled Jota inside a five-minute spell.
Wolves took advantage as they scored a scrappy second goal when David de Gea failed to collect the ball and it ricocheted off United defender Chris Smalling and into the net to give the hosts the win.
The defeat was the first under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer since he was given the United manager’s job on a full-time basis and left them fifth in the Premier League.
United are level on points with fourth-placed Tottenham and two points behind Arsenal in third, but have now played a game more than both London clubs.
Wolves beat United 2-1 in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup on 16 Match, but Solskjaer will be wondering how they managed to throw away three points here.
The visitors nearly scored within 30 seconds of the start as Jesse Lingard immediately ran at the Wolves defence and was denied by Rui Patricio.
The Wolves goalkeeper also did well to deny Romelu Lukaku’s close-range header, but was powerless to keep out McTominay’s fine strike, although the goalkeeper then did make an excellent stop to deny Lingard.
United’s lead was well-deserved , but from then on they self-destructed.
Wolves’ equaliser came after Fred was caught in possession 30 yards from his own goal, before Young was sent off for a reckless sliding challenge when he was already on a booking, catching Jota halfway up his shin.
Solskjaer will also be furious with Wolves’ winning goal as there seemed to be little danger when Jimenez challenged Phil Jones for a header, but De Gea could not collect the ball cleanly, with it then bouncing off Smalling’s foot and creeping over the line.
