Updated Feb 5, 2011 6:51 PM ET The 41st goal of a record day for scoring in the Premier League ended Manchester United's long unbeaten run as Wolves won 2-1 at Molineux. United's name can now go alongside Manchester City and Chelsea as title contenders who have lost at the Black Country venue after Wolves bounced back from an early goal, then repelled a fierce second-half pummelling.
By the final whistle, the Red Devils had lost their cool, reduced to the desperation of Paul Scholes trying to push the ball into the net to salvage a point. It did not work and Wolves were able to celebrate thanks to a George Elokobi header which levelled Nani's third-minute opener and a winner whose scorer was disputed - Elokobi and Kevin Doyle both claimed to get the final tough to Nenad Milijas' 40th-minute free-kick - but whose value was unquestioned. Indeed, as the frenzied roar greeted the final whistle, it seemed somehow in keeping with an extraordinary day, that the top club should lose to the bottom, their lead at the top trimmed to four points over a team that themselves tossed away a four-goal lead. Judging by the way they began, it seemed as though both Wolves and United had spent the afternoon watching the drama unfold elsewhere and wanted a piece of the action themselves. Certainly there was precious little attention paid to the defensive side of the game as large holes appeared in midfield and both outfits flew forward at every opportunity. Milijas had already narrowly failed with one effort before United went in front. There appeared little danger when Nani collected possession on the right flank. But Elokobi relaxed for a moment, the Portugal winger stepped inside and then beat Wayne Hennessey at his near post with a shot the Wolves goalkeeper should have kept out. Had Rooney not continued the improvement in goalscoring in evidence in midweek, the visitors might not have been caught. Instead, he failed to get enough power behind his shot after Dimitar Berbatov had threaded through an excellent pass, allowing Hennessey to make the save. Wolves made the most of their reprieve too. Having lost Rio Ferdinand to an injury sustained in the warm-up, United's defence was a touch short of the cohesion required. And when the loose ball from a corner was shovelled back out to Matt Jarvis, Elokobi beat Nemanja Vidic to the cross and headed into the bottom corner. What followed had the fans of both teams on their feet and the managers tearing their hair out. Clear chances came and went at both ends with unstoppable regularity. For Nani, Ryan Giggs and Berbatov at one end, read Kevin Doyle, Milijas and O'Hara at the other. O'Hara was denied by a superb feet-first save from Edwin van der Sar after he had tried his luck from an acute angle.
Wolves did not give up. And with United's defence looking vulnerable, it was no surprise the hosts got their noses in front before the interval. Milijas was the provider, floating an excellent free-kick deep into the United area. There was some confusion among the players over the identity of the scorer, although it went down as Elokobi's goal. As the debate between Elokobi and Doyle raged after both claimed it, the unavoidable truth was that with the ball once again nestling in the bottom left-hand corner of Van der Sar's goal, Wolves were ahead. Ferguson made one change at half-time and two more midway through the second period after Scholes' arrival had failed to trigger a comeback. The exit of Berbatov was slightly surprising on two counts - first his goals, but also because Rooney was showing signs of blowing a fuse, his mood not helped by the booking he picked up for a late challenge on Ronald Zubar. Rooney was one of many United players to turn away in disgust as Nani screwed a woeful shot wide. It was an effort born out of pure frustration as Wolves defended tenaciously. Christophe Berra threw himself in front of a Rooney blockbuster, emphasising the hosts' fighting spirit. United were increasingly desperate. Scholes' act the ultimate admission of defeat.
Updated Feb 5, 2011 2:41 PM ET Gary Neville says the number of trophies he won at Manchester United is more important to him than the amount of games he played.
The 35-year-old called time on his playing career earlier this week after making over 600 appearances for the club and winning countless medals, including eight Premier League titles. Speaking to Sky Sports News in an in-depth interview, the former England full-back revealed that his priority was always to try and help his boyhood club to be successful. "Winning trophies, that is the most important bit," Neville told Sky Sports News. "A lot of people might not play 600 games at United, but a lot of people have amassed caps and amassed a lot of games, and there might be people who've played 850 games, they might be on 720 in different clubs over their careers. "The difference, I feel, in my career is that I've played in teams that have mattered and won things, and that's all I've ever wanted to do which is to contribute in some way, however big or small, to teams that have won major trophies. "That is the only thing that is really important. "I could have played 450 games, but as long as the tally of trophies and medals at the end is the same, that is what matters. "To play 500 or 600 games, obviously that would bring you potentially more money and a longer football career, but what really matters is winning trophies and playing for a club that I love and wanted to win trophies for." Neville also acknowledged there was a sense of relief upon his decision to retire after making just four appearances for United this season.
"I do feel relief," said Neville, who has struggled with injuries in recent years. "I feel it's the right thing. "As much as you might think when you see a picture of yourself in a kit or see footage of you from five, six seasons ago, and think 'should I go again?', reality then kicks in and says 'no, it's right'. "Your body doesn't do what you want it to do. The injuries had an effect on me mentally and my performance level. "There comes a point where you no longer feel you are contributing and are good enough to play in this team, and that's how I felt."
Updated Feb 5, 2011 7:24 PM ET Sir Alex Ferguson admitted Manchester United blew a major opportunity after losing their 29-match unbeaten record at Wolves. Victory against the Barclays Premier League's bottom side would have allowed United to open up a seven point advantage over second-placed Arsenal.
But on a sensational day in the top flight, the visitors failed to capitalise on Nani's third-minute opener and eventually succumbed rather more meekly than anyone could have imagined. "It was an opportunity," said Ferguson. "I said before the game, I do think Wolves are in a false position. "But we had a great start. We made a lot of chances, particularly in the first half. "Then in the second we were not at the races. Their keeper did not have many saves to make. "The pitch was not very good but we didn't make anything." United were not helped by the disruption caused due to the calf injury Rio Ferdinand suffered in the warm-up. Ferdinand will be out for a fortnight with the problem - a period that includes an England friendly in Denmark on Wednesday and next Saturday's Manchester derby - and the subsequent reshuffle left United exposed, with Wolves getting both of their goals through crosses into the box. "It was a blow because the experience Rio has got is always vital in games like that," said Ferguson. "Normally I would have put Chris Smalling there. He has been playing recently. "But we had to pull Chris in as a substitute because Jonny (Evans) had already done the warm-up." Ferguson is not happy that he will now lose a great percentage of his squad to international duty. However, at least he has Dimitar Berbatov, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Edwin van der Sar, Park Ji-sung and Patrice Evra around to form a team for next week's Old Trafford derby. "It is a terrific game to recover from," he said. "It is a massive game for us and something to look forward to.
"Unfortunately, we have internationals in midweek. To my mind that is crazy but we have to get on with it. "We have plenty of players who are not involved in international games and they will all play next week." For Mick McCarthy, it was another day when he must have wondered how his team find themselves bottom of the table. Wolves have now accounted for both Manchester clubs, Chelsea and Liverpool in this bizarre year. George Elokobi levelled, then claimed the winner just before the break when both he and Kevin Doyle felt they got a touch to Nenad Milijas' free-kick. "I couldn't care less who gets it," he smiled. "They could give it to Wayne Rooney for all I care. "Kevin probably deserves it but I sincerely hope it will be a turning point for us because we need to get some points - and I am not bothered where they come from. "We are in this position because whilst we have beaten some of the top teams, we have been bobbins against those around us. West Ham, Wigan, Blackpool. They have all taken points from us. "It is all right lounging around and basking in the sunny day of beating Manchester United, we have to do it against other teams and do damage to them to make sure we preserve our Premier League status."
Updated Feb 5, 2011 1:45 PM ET Wojciech Szczesny claims Arsenal have the right mentality this year, and insists the Gunners fancy their chances of catching Manchester United. The Gunners' title-winning credentials have been questioned in the recent past after winning no silverware in the last five seasons.
But Arsene Wenger's side are the only English team still in the running for four trophies this term after reaching the Carling Cup final, where they will face Birmingham next month. In the league, Arsenal are five points behind leaders Manchester United, while in the Champions League, the Gunners face the mighty Barcelona, whom they crashed out of the competition to last season. But Szczesny believes the Gunners have matured this season and fear no one in their pursuit of silverware. He told The Guardian: "The league is the priority and we fancy our chances of catching Manchester United. "Then, there is the Barcelona game, which is a bit surreal for me. "They are probably the best side in Europe but we believe that we can get something out of it. "We are a much better team then we were last year. Every single player is a year older and a year better. "We are a bunch of confident guys and this year, there is no psychological barrier."