Paul Pogba (left) has missed four penalties for Manchester United in the Premier League since the start of last season
Paul Pogba had a second-half penalty saved as Manchester United were held to a Premier League draw at Wolves.
With the score 1-1 in the second half, the Frenchman was fouled by Conor Coady and got up to take the spot-kick, despite failing with three penalties last season and Marcus Rashford scoring from one against Chelsea on the opening weekend.
Pogba's powerful shot was pushed away by Rui Patricio, who saved low to his right.
In a first half containing just three shots, Anthony Martial had put United in front with his 50th goal for the club - a fine left-footed finish - only for Ruben Neves to level with a sensational strike from the edge of the area, which bounced down off the crossbar 10 minutes after the break.
Wolves' Raul Jimenez had flicked a header against the inside of a post just before Neves' effort but neither keeper was troubled after Pogba's miss.
Martial's half century
Anthony Martial (left) scored his 36th league goal for the Old Trafford club
In his news conference on Friday, United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said he wanted Martial and Rashford to be more clinical in front of goal.
He might well have been talking about the cross Rashford floated over to the far post midway through the opening period.
It is easy to imagine someone like Alan Shearer taking every defender with him in his desire to make sure the ball ended up in the net. Martial barely extended his right leg, let alone made contact as the opportunity drifted away.
What followed underlined just how many goals the Frenchman is capable of getting if he did adopt that ruthless streak. After a fantastic move, which started with Jesse Lingard, included Luke Shaw and ended with Rashford prodding a short pass beyond the Wolves defence, Martial struck a first-time shot, with barely any backlift, that gave Patricio no chance.
It was part of an excellent opening period for the visitors, only spoiled by the booking winger Daniel James received for diving.
The second half was a different story but United probably would have won had Pogba not missed his penalty.
The key question is why was Pogba taking it?
In addition to scoring against Chelsea, Rashford also converted in stoppage-time to seal that magnificent Champions League win at Paris St-Germain last season, in addition to scoring in England's World Cup shootout against Colombia at the 2018 World Cup.
At the final whistle, Pogba covered his head with his shirt, then chuntered to himself as he headed for the tunnel.
Traore the game changer
Ten of Ruben Neves' 13 goals in all competitions for Wolves have come from outside the box
Martial's effort turned out to be the only shot on target in that first half of three efforts on goal. There hasn't been a top-flight game with fewer since 2003-04, when such statistics started to be collated.
It also meant Wolves had managed only two shots on target in the first match and a half of their Premier League season, something that will need to change if they are to match last season's excellent seventh-placed finish.
Having beaten them twice at Molineux last season, Wolves were aiming for a third successive win against United for the first time in almost 40 years. After a disappointing opening period, Adama Traore's half-time introduction changed the game in their favour.
Traore's pace unsettled the visitors' defence and from a free-kick Harry Maguire conceded for a foul on the Spaniard, Jimenez hit the inside of a post with a deft flick from Joao Moutinho's cross.
It turned out to be a temporary reprieve for United as Moutinho picked Neves out with his corner.
On the bench, manager Nuno Espirito Santo leapt in delight. There was barely any room between David de Gea's outstretched hand and the top of the visitors' net.
The goal provided another video assistant referee (VAR) talking point.
Before this season, Molineux would have erupted in joy at Neves' wonderful equaliser, those watching on TV would have said 'wow' and the Manchester United fans would have shrugged and accepted they had seen a phenomenal goal.
Instead, home celebrations were cut short as referee Jon Moss took instruction from the video referee Paul Tierney on a potential offside. The decision eventually went their way but the Wolves fans were loud in their collective view that the ends do not justify the means.
More to follow.
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Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text
Line-ups
Wolves
11Rui PatrÃcio
5BennettBooked at 67mins
16Coady
15Boly
2DohertySubstituted forTraoréat 45'minutes
32Dendoncker
8NevesBooked at 51mins
28João Moutinho
19Castro Otto
9JiménezSubstituted forCutroneat 90+1'minutes
18JotaSubstituted forLomba Netoat 86'minutes
Substitutes
7Lomba Neto
10Cutrone
17Gibbs-White
21Ruddy
27Saïss
29Vinagre
37Traoré
Man Utd
1de Gea
29Wan-BissakaBooked at 84mins
2Lindelöf
5Maguire
23Shaw
6Pogba
39McTominay
21JamesBooked at 24minsSubstituted forGreenwoodat 89'minutes
14LingardSubstituted forMataat 81'minutes
10RashfordSubstituted forPereiraat 89'minutes
9Martial
Substitutes
8Mata
15Pereira
18Young
22Romero
26Greenwood
31Matic
38Tuanzebe
Referee:
Jonathan Moss
Attendance:
31,314
Match Stats
Home TeamWolvesAway TeamMan Utd
Possession
Home35%
Away65%
Shots
Home6
Away9
Shots on Target
Home2
Away2
Corners
Home4
Away6
Fouls
Home17
Away8
Live Text
Posted at
Match ends, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1, Manchester United 1.
Full TimePosted at 90'+5'
Second Half ends, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1, Manchester United 1.
Posted at 90'+4'
Foul by Andreas Pereira (Manchester United).
Posted at 90'+4'
Adama Traoré (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 90'+3'
Scott McTominay (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 90'+3'
Foul by Patrick Cutrone (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
Posted at 90'+2'
Paul Pogba (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 90'+2'
Foul by João Moutinho (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
SubstitutionPosted at 90'+1'
Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Patrick Cutrone replaces Raúl Jiménez.
Posted at 90'
Offside, Manchester United. Harry Maguire tries a through ball, but Anthony Martial is caught offside.
SubstitutionPosted at 89'
Substitution, Manchester United. Andreas Pereira replaces Marcus Rashford.
SubstitutionPosted at 89'
Substitution, Manchester United. Mason Greenwood replaces Daniel James.
Posted at 88'
Daniel James (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 88'
Foul by Rúben Neves (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
SubstitutionPosted at 86'
Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Pedro Neto replaces Diogo Jota.
Posted at 86'
Attempt missed. Leander Dendoncker (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from the right side of the box is too high. Assisted by Diogo Jota following a fast break.
Posted at 85'
Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Rúben Neves.
BookingPosted at 84'
Aaron Wan-Bissaka (Manchester United) is shown the yellow card for hand ball.
Posted at 83'
Hand ball by Aaron Wan-Bissaka (Manchester United).
Posted at 82'
Attempt saved. Jonny (Wolverhampton Wanderers) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Adama Traoré with a cross.
SubstitutionPosted at 81'
Substitution, Manchester United. Juan Mata replaces Jesse Lingard.
Posted at 79'
Foul by Anthony Martial (Manchester United).
Posted at 79'
Diogo Jota (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 78'
Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Jonny.
Posted at 77'
Attempt blocked. Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Posted at 77'
Daniel James (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 77'
Foul by Willy Boly (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
Posted at 73'
Attempt missed. Aaron Wan-Bissaka (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Paul Pogba following a corner.
Posted at 72'
Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Adama Traoré.
Posted at 71'
Luke Shaw (Manchester United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Posted at 71'
Foul by João Moutinho (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
Posted at 71'
Attempt missed. Paul Pogba (Manchester United) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Luke Shaw with a cross following a corner.
Posted at 70'
Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Conor Coady.
Posted at 70'
Attempt blocked. Daniel James (Manchester United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Posted at 68'
Penalty saved! Paul Pogba (Manchester United) fails to capitalise on this great opportunity, right footed shot saved in the bottom left corner.
Posted at 67'
Penalty Manchester United. Paul Pogba draws a foul in the penalty area.
Posted at 67'
Penalty conceded by Conor Coady (Wolverhampton Wanderers) after a foul in the penalty area.
BookingPosted at 67'
Ryan Bennett (Wolverhampton Wanderers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 67'
Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Posted at 67'
Foul by Ryan Bennett (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
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Source: bbc.com