He did so in fine fashion just a quarter of an hour from the end where the home keeper José Sa was brilliant until then and stopped all the visitors’ chances.

Rashford got the ball out on the left and sped up the pitch. He played against the wall with Bruno Fernandez and accelerated towards goal. Surrounded by opposing players, he made room for a shot and sent the ball between Sa’s legs.

– Marcus is in very good shape at the moment, full of confidence and very positive. He is world class and can be one of the best in the world if he keeps that up,” replacement centre-back Luke Shaw told BT Sport.

Just before the end, Rashford got the ball in the net again, when he ran the keeper back into the net, but following a VAR review the goal was ruled out as the ball had gone through his hands.

Fall asleep

Despite playing well and scoring in both of United’s first games after the World Cup break, Rashford was left on the bench on Saturday. United manager Erik ten Hag told BT Sport before the match that the reason was a breach of internal club rules, without wanting to elaborate.

After the match, Rashford told the same channel he had been punished for oversleeping and being late to a players meeting.

– The way he played when he came on was the right reaction, ten Hag told BT Sport.

Alejandro Garnacho started in place of Rashford, and he came close to scoring when, after a quarter of an hour, he latched on to a poor cross from Nélson Semedo. Sa stepped out and saved his shot.

Previously, Casemiro had a great chance when he headed Christian Eriksen’s corner at the near post. The ball hit Matheus Nunes’ chest and immediately went up.

Opportunity

In extra time in the first half, United again had a good chance. Anthony Martial tried to finish off Garnacho’s cross, but the ball passed to Antony who dived at the far post. He didn’t get enough speed on the ball, and Sa saved.

United also had most of the chances after the break, but Wolverhampton also had chances. In the 58th minute, Ruben Neves curled a free-kick over the crossbar, but David de Gea came out at full power and brought the ball down.

In the end it was Rashford who made the difference. Julen Lopetegui had to endure defeat in his first home game as Wolverhampton manager. The “Wolves'” ten goals are the fewest in the Premier League, and the team cannot add to that figure.

– We created chances but couldn’t capitalize on them. We just have to keep working, said Lopetegui.

With that win, United rose to the top four.