What Manchester United did as soon as the second half started highlighted their biggest problem vs Wolves

After the comeback, the comedown. Nothing quite set the tone for a humdrum home match as Ruben Amorim making Victor Lindelof the Manchester United captain.

The good news is United cannot be relegated. They are mathematically safe, even in defeat. Ipswich Town's loss to Arsenal at Portman Road ensured that. United are still yet to hit the 40-point target.

That is of little consolation after a 15th league defeat of the season for 14th-placed United. The last time that happened was in 1989-90. United ended that campaign 13th and salvaged it with a cup final win in May. Their fans will cling to those omens as they hopefully plan for two trips to Bilbao in May.

Apart from Ipswich and Brentford, every top-flight team has won at Old Trafford since United's era of dominance ended in 2013. Wolves, like Newcastle, completed the domestic double against United. That last happened in 1979-80. It is now eight league defeats at Old Trafford for the first time since 1962-63.

Amorim's body language and intensity in the technical area were no different against Wolves. The play on the pitch was. The meaninglessness of the fixture could be gauged by Amorim's choice of temporary skipper, with Bruno Fernandes a rare substitute.

Fernandes was serenaded by the Stretford End as he warmed up in the first half. So were Harry Maguire and Casemiro, the other lions against Lyon. Maguire has never had his name chanted so loudly at Old Trafford.

United supporters were still revelling in the improbable comeback on Thursday evening. That made this mundane and meandering inevitable. Andre Onana could have watched it unfold whilst sitting in a deckchair in the Stretford sun until Pablo Sarabia lined up his free kick in the 77th minute. It was unsaveable.

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