Man Utd player ratings: Phil Jones shines two years after last Premier League game as Sancho is woeful in Wolves loss

MANCHESTER UNITED lost 1-0 to Wolves after Joao Moutinho’s dramatic late winner at Old Trafford.

Phil Jones barely put a foot wrong in his first Premier League game for two years while Jadon Sancho was abysmal.

Phil Jones did himself proud on his long-awaited return to Man Utd’s first teamCredit: AP

Jadon Sancho struggled throughout and was lucky to last as long as he didCredit: PA

United’s players were victims of Ralf Rangnick’s system in the first-half as Wolves had most of the play and created the best chances.

David De Gea was forced into a couple of smart saves – the best from Ruben Neves’ dipping volley.

But Sancho was atrocious as his and Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s final balls killed United’s only promising attacks as the teams went in goalless.

It was much of the same in the early stages of the second-half before Bruno Fernandes was introduced and walloped a sitter onto the crossbar just moments later. But Wolves’ pressure finally bore fruit on 82 minutes.

Adama Traore’s cross was headed out by Jones, fell to Moutinho on the edge of the box and his shot squeezed through the onrushing United defenders and into the bottom left corner.

Here’s what SunSport’s Will Pugh thought of the Red Devils’ individual performances.

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Ralf Rangnick look unimpressed with United’s showingCredit: AP

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DAVID DE GEA – 8/10

Solid near post stop from Daniel Podence was his first action.

And he produced a superb finger tip save to nudge Ruben Neves’ spectacular effort over the bar from the resulting corner.

Nelson Semedo smashed one straight at him soon after but he batted it away.

Watched Romain Saiss’ free-kick onto the bar in the late stages. Seemed to be the only one in the stadium who was sure it wasn’t going in.

Did everything he had to.

David De Gea stood up to everything Wolves threw at him at Old TraffordCredit: EPA

AARON WAN-BISSAKA (replaced by Elanga, 84mins) – 7

Looked far more dangerous in attack than he usually does.

Linked up with Mason Greenwood well down the right and was played into dangerous areas on a couple of occasions.

Two first-half crosses missed Ronaldo’s bonce by mere inches. But he tripped over his own feet after beating Marcal when trying to cross later in the game.

Rangnick will want much more of this from him – just with a better final ball.

RAPHAEL VARANE – 6

Solid enough.

Wolves created plenty of chances in the but the Frenchman was equal to everything he had to contend with.

Same again after the break.

Raphael Varane was solid but outshone by his defensive partner Phil JonesCredit: Getty

PHIL JONES – 8

Commanding header inside the first minute drew a huge cheer from the home crowd as he returned to the team after two years.

Another timely intervention 10 minutes later to cut out a Wolves cross.

Allowed Podence to get a shot away but had closed the angle meaning De Gea had an easy save to make soon after.

Fabulous reactions to stop Raul Jimenez from scoring at close range in the dying stages of the first-half.

And Jones raced out to shut down Neves on the edge of the box moments later.

Even won a free-kick deep inside Wolves’ half that Ronaldo headed in from an offside position.

His defensive header from Traore’s cross fell to Moutinho who stroked home the winner, but it would be very harsh to lay blame at his feet.

Absolutely brilliant comeback and the United fans bellowed his name throughout to show their appreciation.

This early Jones header was met with a huge cheer from the home fansCredit: Reuters

LUKE SHAW – 4

Wolves had quite a bit of success down Shaw’s flank as they probed in the first-half.

The England man tried to chip in going forward too, but a combination of Rangnick’s system and having Sancho in front of him made it hard for him to contribute.

Booked for blocking Trincao on the half-way line as Wolves broke 10 minutes after half-time. Will miss United’s next game.

Skinned by Traore in the build up to Moutinho’s winner.

Wolves’ Nelson Semedo had a lot of joy down Luke Shaw’s flank at Old TraffordCredit: EPA

SCOTT McTOMINAY – 4

Uninspiring and and had very little impact on the game from the base of midfield.

Booked for a sloppy and unnecessary foul on Podence just three minutes after the break.

Will miss United’s next game.

NEMANJA MATIC – 5

Fairly flat performance – particularly as Wolves had United pegged back in the first-half.

Tried to join in on attacks on occasion but everything was a little too slow.

Thought he’d set up Bruno Fernandes to make it 1-0 but the Portuguese smashed it against the bar.

Booked for a cynical foul on Traore on 73 minutes as the winger raced towards the edge of United’s box.

Nemanja Matic was uninspiring at the base of midfield but was slightly better than his partner Scott McTominayCredit: Reuters

MASON GREENWOOD (replaced by Fernandes, 59mins) – 7

Superb pass to set Sancho away in the early stages after turning defence into attack.

High energy first-half as he tried to make something happen and looked United’s most lively attacker.

Blazed one over at the start of the second-half as he grew frustrated.

Bafflingly subbed before Sancho on the hour mark.

JADON SANCHO (replaced by Rashford 75mins) – 3

Played through by Greenwood just five minutes in but fluffed his shot after neglecting to play Ronaldo through on goal, which was clearly the better option.

Continually sloppy in possession for the rest of the first-half as United looked to the £73MILLION man to provide an out ball and relieve pressure.

Lost the ball almost every time he tried a ‘dribble’ or to do anything even remotely attacking.

Also lost the ball deep inside his own half which nearly played Wolves in before half-time.

Kicked off the second-half by losing the ball again when unnecessarily trying to lay it off to Ronaldo who was surrounded by three Wolves defenders.

Woefully ineffective. Only positive was he worked hard to track back and help defend on occasion.

Jadon Sancho chose to shoot here instead of playing Ronaldo in and it summed up his dreadful contributionCredit: AP

EDINSON CAVANI – 4

First time fans knew he was on the pitch was when he blazed a wild effort from distance over the bar in the 42nd minute.

Greenwood was in a far better position which made the decision to shoot even worse.

Nowhere near as effective as he can be.

CRISTIANO RONALDO – 7

A rare night as captain for the Portuguese saw him quite isolated in the first-half.

But the armband seemed to give him an extra boost as he was much more mobile than usual.

He hassled and harried Wolves when out of possession and was sprinting around trying to get into space and create openings when his side had the ball.

Had his heart in his mouth when he tried to nod back to De Gea but only found Jimenez in United’s box.

Fortunately the first chance came to nothing before an offside flag saved his blushes as Wolves pushed again.

Had a headed goal rightfully disallowed for offside with 23 minutes to go and dragged a left-foot shot wide just seconds later when through.

Cristiano Ronaldo was much more mobile and looked full of desire as he captained the sideCredit: EPA

⚽ Read our Manchester United live blog for the latest news and transfer gossip from Old Trafford

Subs

BRUNO FERNANDES – 5

Crashed a sitter off the bar when played in by Matic just moments after coming on.

But clearly had an impact on the game as United looked more dangerous and the crowd became much louder after his introduction.

MARCUS RASHFORD – 5

Far more energetic and effective than the man he replaced but it was not enough to get anything out of the game.

ANTHONY ELANGA – 5

Not enough time to make an impact.

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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk