Wolves 0, Manchester United 1: Bill Howell's big match verdict
But with Kevin Doyle so industrious as a lone attacker, with Karl Henry so effective as a deep-lying midfielder, with Dave Jones displaying much finesse and with Matt Jarvis providing directness and pace, Wolves were stubborn without the ball and at times eye-catching with it.
Any martians or non-footballing folk, if there were any in this famous stadium on the edges of the Black Country, would have struggled to guess which team was heading for a Champions League knockout tie against AC Milan and which team would be heading to Burnley for a do-or-die survival game at the bottom of the division.
Jody Craddock and Christophe Berra could have played in their slippers against Dimitar Berbatov, such was the Bulgarian’s lack of impact. United’s midfield runners just couldn’t get in behind a well-drilled defence until Sir Alex Ferguson shook things up in the second half.
At the other end Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, back together for the first time since October, got to find out just how Lego bricks feel. Pulled and pulled apart.
But half-chances weren’t converted. Doyle sidefooted wide from a Jarvis pass and Jones couldn’t convert when his shot was deflected into Van der Sar’s arms by Michael Carrick after Doyle had surged forward but produced a poor pass with United momentarily ragged.
Then came Ward’s miss as he headed straight into Van der Sar’s arms from Jarvis’ centre.
United threatened when Nani’s free-kick fell to Darron Gibson in the box but he shot wide with Henry perhaps holding him back.
Marcus Hahnemann saved at Patrice Evra’s feet after the defender’s shot was awkwardly deflected goalwards off Craddock after a fine pass inside Kevin Foley by Gibson.
Paul Scholes got the winner when Ferdinand had time to bring the ball forwards. Scholes and Antonio Valencia linked before Nani’s poor delivery was turned into a cracker by Craddock’s error and Scholes skipped around the crest-fallen defender to finish his 100th league goal of a fine career.
Senegalese substitute Mame Diouf sent a free header over the crossbar from Gary Neville’s cross, and wasted two more good chances. But when Andy Keogh and Ronald Zubar combined, when neither Carrick nor Vidic could clear, when the ball then hit Zubar and bobbled straight to Vokes. When Scholes played him on-side... time stood still. Van der Sar stood still. But history can be cruel.
