Wolves 2 Manchester United 1 – player ratings

Rui Patricio

A big improvement on recent weeks. Should have moved quicker for the opening goal but thereafter he made vital saves from Lingard and McTominay and was a dominant presence between the sticks. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who won't fancy returning to Molineux in a hurry, said United would have won the game were it not for Patricio. Solid kicking and positional work too. Very good. 8/10

Ryan Bennett

His first appearance for a month and he settled back in just fine. One dodgy moment when he was all over Lukaku like a rash but otherwise he did his job with minimal fuss. 7/10

Conor Coady

As Wolves' chief leader and organiser he'll have been disappointed with the amount of free headers Man United were afforded in the penalty area. On the flip side he produced a goal-saving block to deny Luke Shaw from point blank range and mucked in with a series of interceptions and clearances. 7/10

Willy Boly

Like Bennett and Coady he was culpable for United getting so many clear sights at goal from crosses but he still won six headers (only McTominay won more on the pitch). Brought the ball out really well (apart from one dodgy second half moment) and was calmness personified. 7/10

Matt Doherty

Quite an inhibited display from Doherty who was restrained with his attacking jaunts. Defensively he made a couple of mistakes but also produced five tackles, the highest figure on either team. Involved in one absolutely gorgeous second half passing move with Dendoncker and Jota on the right. 7/10

Joao Moutinho

Silk, Champagne and a Rolls Royce rolled into one. Pure class. Wolves' artisan recovered from a dodgy start when he cooked up just about the worst corner Molineux has ever witnessed, passing it straight behind for a goal kick, to produce yet another majestic display. Almost everything went through him, with only Lindelof playing more passes than Moutinho's 64. And he swung over a very decent cross for Jimenez to attack for the winner. Jimenez looked to have player of the season all sewn up but Moutinho's performances since Christmas have been of such a consistently high standard it's now a split vote in this correspondent's opinion. 9/10

Ruben Neves

Did the dirty work seriously well, screening and protecting the defence with an unselfish, intelligent performance. United rarely played their way through the heart of the Wolves middle third and that was mostly down to Neves. 8/10

Leander Dendoncker

Paul Pogba, an £89million midfielder, has produced some of his best form of recent years since Solskjaer took charge at United. Except against Wolves and, chiefly, Leander Dendoncker. Another masterclass from the Belgian whose physicality, power and ability to break from midfield in his own rather unique manner has brought so much to this Wolves midfield. Very rarely gives the ball away – he registered a 90 per cent pass accuracy here – and makes a nuisance of himself in the opposition box, as evidenced by the winning goal. Superb. 9/10

Ruben Vinagre

Has come on leaps and bounds in terms of his defensive responsibilities. A big show of faith from Nuno to bring him in for the rested Jonny and he rewarded that faith with a solid performance. Threatened to run riot on a couple of occasions down that left flank but this was mostly a workmanlike display from a youngster who has so much potential. 7/10

Raul Jimenez

Set up both goals to take his assists tally for the league season to seven. Add that to his 12 goals and it's a combined tally higher than Mane, Firmino, Rashford, Lukaku and Vardy. Not bad. An incessant irritant to the United defence and his slipped pass for Jota's strike was sumptuous. Their telepathy is getting a bit scary now. 8/10

Diogo Jota

No one inside Molineux doubted the end result when he received the ball 12 yards from goal. Rewind four months, when Jota hadn't provided a single goal or assist for the first 13 matches of the season, and the expectancy would have been different. His turnaround has been nothing short of remarkable – Jota is now arguably in the form of his career. Six goals in his last six Molineux matches and in his last 14 league games he's scored seven and set up four. Also played a key role in United's downfall, drawing two fouls in quick succession from Ashley Young who was duly sent off. You need to kick him a lot harder than that for Diogo not to get up, Ashley. Also earned a booking off Luke Shaw, who must be doing cartwheels that he doesn't have to face Jota again this season. 9/10

Substitutes

Ivan Cavaleiro for Jota, 73)

Did all the hard to shrug off Lindelof and race in on goal, only to smash his effort against the bar. That's a shame, as his confidence could have done with a lift after that Burnley miss. 6/10

Jonny Castro Otto (for Vinagre, 75)

A decent little cameo which included a menacing cross that Smalling almost slid into his own net for a second own goal, and then he nearly raced in on goal. 7/10

Romain Saiss (for Neves, 84)

Helped Wolves see the game out. N/A

Subs not used: Ruddy, Gibbs-White, Traore, Costa.