HARRY MAGUIRE fears club are “targeting” Manchester United at set-pieces after a dreadful 2-0 defeat to Wolves.
United left Molineux with ten men and three points dropped after goals from Matheus Cunha and Hwang Hee-chan.
Cunha’s 58 minute opener came direct from a corner – the second time United have conceded such a goal in eight days – and defender Maguire reckons it is becoming a weakness for his side.
He said: “To concede again, especially the first goal of the game, set-plays are so important in football matches.
“They decide games, a lot of the games when they’re tight and they’re 50/50.
“The first goal has been a set-play far too many times against us and it’s disappointing.”
United conceded two goals from set-pieces against Arsenal and Tottenham’s Son Heung-min even scored direct from a corner.
United have conceded ten goals from set-pieces this season – excluding penalties.
Asked how they fix their set-piece problems, Maguire said: “Work, work, work more on the training pitch.
“I think teams now are maybe targeting our areas of set-plays. The strange thing is, I don’t feel like we’re conceding many chances from them.
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS
“They’ve had a few set-plays tonight and we’ve dealt with them really well and they’ve gone and scored from one.
“I think it’s hard work, keep the belief, things will change. I know that. We have players who can defend the box well.
“They will change, we’ve just got to stick together.”
United now host Newcastle next but do so without Bruno Fernandes following his sending off at Wolves as well as Manuel Ugarte, who is suspended after another yellow card.
And manager Ruben Amorim said: “Of course, when you lose, when we don’t win, it’s a step back.
“It was really hard with the sending off. The goal was similar against Tottenham. Then, we tried.
“Even with one less guy we tried to and I think we were near something but then Wolves scored the second one.
“Then, in the end, we tried everything and the transition was 2-0. For us, let’s continue. “
By Ken Lawrence
WOLVES landed a shock Boxing Day knockout as Manchester United’s struggles continued.
The 2-0 defeat means Ruben Amorim has won just two of the seven Premier League games he has taken charge of.
United find themselves 14th in the table and today were not helped by Bruno Fernandes’ red card and Andre Onana letting one in direct from a corner.
Here is how SunSport rated the performances…
ANDRE ONANA: 4
He needed to make an agile save from Jorgen Strand Larsen in the first half, but badly misjudged the flight of Cunha’s corner for the opening goal – his claim that he was obstructed by Matt Doherty was rejected.
LENY YORO: 5
Recalled but booked after only four minutes for a foul on Cunha, so he was walking on eggshells and was tested by Wolves throughout. Subbed just after the hour mark.
HARRY MAGUIRE: 6
The England defender did his best to keep United in the game when they were under pressure for long periods – at least he helped to stem the tide until the dying seconds and had a header on target in stoppage time.
LISANDRO MARTINEZ: 6
Teamed up well with Maguire to stop Wolves from winning this more easily, he stood his ground and produced some important challenges in the latter stages before Wolves caught him on the break with the last action of the game.
NOUSSAIR MAZRAOUI: 5
Tenacious and determined, but was one of several players given a torrid time by the best player on the pitch – Cunha.
MANUEL UGARTE: 5
Dispossesed too easily at times, struggled against a lively Wolves attack and was eventually taken off as one of Amorim’s subs following Fernandes’ red card.
KOBBIE MAINOO: 5
Looked a threat early on, created some good openings, but he was booked after the break as United looked short on ideas. Faded and was subbed.
DIOGO DALOT: 6
Brought a tremendous save from Jose Sa in the first half in what was a rare bright spot for United – but he had no major influence on a poor team display.
AMAD DIALLO: 5
Lacked awareness of his team-mates sometimes and looked a shadow of the player who turned the Manchester derby around less than two weeks ago.
BRUNO FERNANDES: 3
Sent off early in the second half for a second yellow after a challenge on Nelson Semedo, but the captain had cut a frustrated figure before that.
RASMUS HOJLUND: 5
Became visibly annoyed at times at a lack of service from his team-mates, he had no joy up front and was subbed with 10 minutes left.
SUBS
Casemiro (for Mainoo, 63 mins): 6
Christian Eriksen (for Ugate, 63 mins): 6
Antony (for Yoro, 63 mins): 6
Alejandro Garnacho (for Amad, 79 mins): 5
Joshua Zirkzee (for Hojlund, 79 mins): 5
