Man Utd and Wolves face fixture headache as FA Cup third round tie goes to a replay

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Manchester United and Wolves will face an unwanted addition to their already hectic fixture lists after playing out a drab 0-0 draw in the FA Cup third round at Molineux.

Two of the Premier League’s busiest clubs – Wolves having been on the go in the Europa League since July, and Man Utd having commitments in that competition, as well as a run to the EFL Cup semi-finals to deal with – could not be separated in a game that, for an hour, was near chanceless before both sides hit the woodwork late on, and will have to do it all again in a replay at Old Trafford.

Nuno Espirito Santo handed Benny Ashley-Seal his first start for the club as part of four changes to the side that lost to Watford on New Year’s Day, with Raul Jimenez and Joao Moutinho among those left on the bench.

Despite already being without Anthony Martial because of illness, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took the opportunity to rest Marcus Rashford, with teenagers Tahith Chong, Brandon Williams and Mason Greenwood all included from the off.

There was also the usual cup start for Sergio Romero in goal, and the Argentine gave an early reminder of his quality when denying Matt Doherty from close range with a superb reflex stop.

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer Photo: Action Images via Reuters
Action Images via Reuters

United wanted a penalty when Williams pounced on Leander Dendocker’s bizarre dummy and went down, but both referee Paul Tierney and his video assistant decided there wasn’t enough in it.

Chances were at a premium, with both sides clearly feeling the absence of their main attacking threats, but with Ashley-Seal seemingly struggling with illness, Wolves turned to theirs, sending on top scorer Jimenez at the break.

With injuries on both sides interrupting the flow of the game, however, there was little for the neutral, or indeed the faithful, to be excited about, though Juan Mata almost embarrassed John Ruddy, curling a free-kick inches wide of the corner of the goal that the Wolves ‘keeper was supposed to be protecting but had abandoned, expecting an effort clipped over the wall.

With 20 minutes to be play, Solskjaer finally turned to Rashford as part of a double change that also saw Brazilian midfielder Fred thrown into the fray. The impact was immediate, Fred feeding Greenwood to tee-up Rashford, and though the Englishman’s effort was partially blocked by Conor Coady’s sliding challenge, it looked in as it looped up over Ruddy, only to come back off the crossbar.

Wolves should really have won it 15 minutes from time, when substitute Jonny crossed for what should have been a simple headed finish for Doherty, but the wing-back miscued down into his own forearm and though the ball still ended up in the net, the effort was quickly disallowed for handball, before Jimenez rattled the outside of the post from an impossible angle.

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