Manchester United's unlikely attackers ensure poor preparation isn't costly vs Wolves

New season, same problem. Manchester United continue to find goals hard to come by with a new £72million striker sitting in the stands. They had a solution, though.

Two defenders combined for the solitary goal on a night United's attackers were incapable of doing so. Raphael Varane broke the deadlock with only his second for United via a cute cushioned cross by Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

Wan-Bissaka was one of the few respectable performers in red all evening. He procured United's standout chance of the first half and should Wan-Bissaka continue his reinvention as a foraging full-back then a contract renewal is inevitable.

Varane and Wan-Bissaka spared Erik ten Hag. This was a largely pitiful performance from United that contradicted Ten Hag's assertion they were "ready". They were ill-prepared against a side that changed managers less than a week ago and the absence of a new goalscorer was glaring. That is on Ten Hag for plumping for a currently injured and unproven addition.

Read more: United player ratings vs Wolves

Ten Hag did not turn to the No.9 on the bench, either. Anthony Martial cannot be played and cannot be sold as he continues to linger at United, strikerless until Martial or Rasmus Hojlund recover to a level deemed match fit.

Marcus Rashford started at the apex of the attack and again demonstrated why he is ill-equipped to function there. Some United supporters were audibly irked by Rashford's looseness with the ball and his strop towards the end of an anodyne first half encapsulated the team's frustrations.

It was the Wolves analyst who was thumping his desk in frustration in the 72nd minute at a spurned chance. Wolves were the better side and had the better chances. They had 23 shots - eight more than United -