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Manchester United have needed a 76th-minute goal from defender Raphael Varane to eke out a 1-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers after being outplayed for long periods of their Premier League season-opener.
Former France centre-back Varane headed home from point-blank range after Aaron Wan-Bissaka ran onto a lofted pass from Bruno Fernandes and lobbed a cross into the six-yard box.
It was a rare slick move from United, which gave competitive debuts to goalkeeper Andre Onana and attacking midfielder Mason Mount but failed to look cohesive against a Wolves side that was a constant danger on the break.
“We can play better, but we’re very pleased with the win,” United coach Erik Ten Hag told BBC Sport.
“The opposition were dynamic. We have to match that. We had to fight for our points.
“There is no easy game in the Premier League and definitely not Wolves. They are a tough team and we did really well.
The visitors struck the post through Matheus Cunha early in the second half, while substitute Fabio Silva drew two saves from the feet of Onana in the closing stages as United hung on at Old Trafford.
England international Mount, who joined from Chelsea for Stg 55 million ($108 million) over the northern summer, lasted 68 minutes before being substituted after an ineffective display in a midfield three alongside Fernandes and Casemiro.
Cameroon’s Onana had a much more impressive debut, making six saves to keep his side in the match following his $88 million move from Inter Milan.
He had a worrying moment deep into stoppage time when he appeared to clatter into Wolves substitute Sasa Kalajdzic in an aerial collision.
The incident was reviewed by VAR but no penalty was given, much to the annoyance of Wolves manager Gary O’Neil, who was shown a yellow card to mark his first match in charge after being appointed last week.
“It looked like their goalkeeper almost took his head off,” O’Neil said of the incident.
“I’m not overly surprised we didn’t get it, to be honest. He booked me rather than Onana for smashing into my forward.”
© AAP
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