The Joe Edwards debrief – Manchester United 0 Wolves 0

They remain level on points with the Red Devils in the Premier League and will be happy to have registered a clean sheet.

Top-notch Neves

So, this was not an end-to-end affair filled with chances for both teams.

Wolves did have some openings – most notably an Adama Traore rasper sailing narrowly wide and a Raul Jimenez effort from an acute angle being tipped over by David De Gea – while Diogo Dalot missed a close-range header for the hosts at the death.

But, mainly, this game was about the action between the boxes.

It was pretty entertaining, too, despite there being no goals.

Wolves and United – this being the fourth meeting between them this season after FA Cup matches as well – often cancelled each other out.

Clever play was needed to forge an attack and nobody displayed a greater presence of mind than Ruben Neves.

With the TV cameras rolling, all the attention was on United’s marquee January signing Bruno Fernandes, playing in an advanced midfield role.

And he was all right, to be fair. Fellow Portuguese Neves, though, was on another level.

Mostly operating in tight spaces in the middle of the park, he continuously displayed the composure to wriggle free of red shirts before making attractive, accurate passes.

It was all so smooth and silky from Neves and he was not overplaying or admiring his work – as he has done in the past – either.

Having had a rare weekend off going into the game, a lot of Wolves’ players – this being the 41st game of the term in all competitions – looked fresh.

Neves had a real zip about him, too, for the whole 90 minutes.

Although an immensely-gifted footballer, it would be fair to say he has looked slightly lethargic at times this campaign and been outshone by midfield partner Joao Moutinho – despite him being considerably older – in terms of work-rate.

But Neves covered so much ground against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side.

Everything on the ball was done with pinpoint precision, and he pressed relentlessly when out of possession.

Traore and Jimenez have been the star performers for Wolves so far this season with their devastating speed and ruthless finishing respectively.

Neves has not been quite as consistent, but here he reminded everyone of his prowess.

He was exceptional against United – after scoring a stunner against them in the reverse fixture at Molineux, smacking one in off the bar, which always looks so good.

For me, this was his best display of the campaign thus far.

What a delight he is to watch when he moves the ball so quickly and sharply. Top drawer.

Boly’s back

It was ever so pleasing to see Willy Boly back in the team as well.

After a few months on the injury table because of a broken ankle, the Frenchman returned to defence – and Wolves kept their first clean sheet in the league since beating West Ham on December 4.

Boly is so assured and even though there were one or two hairy moments – understandable given this was his first game since late October – he made everyone around him calmer.

He nullified a big threat United had in the Cup clash between the two teams a few weeks ago, too.

United winger Daniel James kept getting in behind Leander Dendoncker – the man who dropped out of the backline on Saturday – in that encounter at Old Trafford.

But against Boly, the Welshman did not get into the game at all.

Him being taken off in the 88th minute was the first time you noticed him.

Having done a lot of recovery work in the gym, Boly looked even more imposing than before he fractured his fibula in training.

Diogo Jota also returned to the starting XI – after a calf problem – and came flying out of the traps with his infectious desire to run at United’s defenders at every turn.

An amazing jinking run bamboozled Harry Maguire & Co, but he could not quite get the shot off to beat De Gea.

Jota went off for Pedro Neto, who may feel a little hard done by to have lost his place on the left flank, in the second period as his influence petered out.

Wolves, though, are certainly better off with those two involved again.

The starting line-up for this outing, you have to say, was them truly at full strength.

Promising Podence

Hoping to force his way into the team sooner rather than later, though, is £17million new-boy Daniel Podence.

The 5ft 5in attacker came on for the last quarter of an hour, and what we saw from him was encouraging.

Having played plenty of games for previous club Olympiakos – including six in the Champions League group stage – he looked completely match-sharp.

Podence also showed a nice understanding with compatriots Neto and Neves, combining with the latter to almost set up a chance for Matt Doherty.

Wolves, of course, are not short of Portuguese players, and having played with Neves and Jota for their under-21s, the fresh face should settle in quickly.

He came on for Traore, who took a whack to his calf after dislocating his shoulder – for the second time this term – in the first half.

What a warrior the Spaniard is, by the way. Although he had his shoulder popped back in, he must have been playing through a fair old amount of pain.

Nuno insists he will be fine for the Leicester game, too.

Up next

And the game against the Foxes is taking place a week on Friday, with Wolves, unsurprisingly, heading out to Marbella for a warm-weather training camp in the meantime.

After picking up a nice point against United, the winter break should stand Wolves in good stead for what will be a very tough test.

Nuno’s pack have created some magic under the Molineux lights in the past, though – and the match against Leicester last campaign, a topsy-turvy 4-3 victory, was breathtaking. Let’s hope for a big win.