FA Premiership / Wolverhampton 1 Manchester United 0: Louis Saha is expected to complete his dream move to Manchester United at the end of the week, dashing Chris Coleman's hopes of keeping him at Fulham, but, after this defeat against the struggling midlanders, his arrival can hardly come too soon for Alex Ferguson's misfiring millionaires.
Barely a fortnight after Cottagers owner Mohamed-al-Fayed told Ferguson "read my lips - Louis Saha is not for sale", the billionaire owner of Harrods has accepted the futility of trying to halt the United juggernaut.
Although United were at pains to stress last night the deal to sign the 13-goal striker was still subject to a number of conditions, they are only believed to be the medical and personal terms, which should present few problems.
At the end of Saturday's game, Paul Ince strode towards the visiting fans and cupped an ear in their direction, but he needed no assistance to hear their cries. Once Manchester United's supporters sang his name with pride, but though his performance on Saturday offered reminders of his greatest years at Old Trafford, he was met only with howls of derision.
Not far away Denis Irwin, another United alumnus, was enjoying the same fans' warm applause.
"It really does my head in the way they treat me," Ince said later. "They'd won nothing for 26 years and I played an integral part in them winning their first championship, and helped start the dynasty that's been going ever since.
"It annoys me more than it upsets me. I won't go home and cry about it. I sweated for them for six years, so they should show some appreciation. To be treated like that, all because I went to Liverpool . . . but it's water off a duck's back and I had the last laugh today, especially given some of the crap I get off them."
This United performance was disappointing rather than disastrous but it did highlight the inadequacies in the champions' squad.
Ruud van Nistelrooy missed from little more than a yard after Cristiano Ronaldo's first-half corner bounced through to the far post, but his chances were surprisingly few. His first shot on target came in the 90th minute, tellingly from outside the area, with a 20-yard strike on the turn that was comfortably saved.
Their inability to take chances was less disappointing than a frequent failure to create them. With Ryan Giggs injured, United rarely threatened down the wings.
"I think they really missed Giggs today, to be honest," said Ince, whose 25-yard shot against the post was the home side's only noteworthy effort until Kenny Miller scampered through 20 minutes later to set up the greatest shock of the season so far.
"They just haven't got that width without him in their side. They had a lot of possession, but they didn't really hurt us."
Saturday's failure, on top of the previous weekend's scoreless draw with Newcastle United, makes Saha's arrival all the more welcome.
Although creativity in midfield is clearly the quality they most lack, Saha's searing pace would make up for it to an extent. With a truly fast forward United could hope to score the kind of relatively straightforward goals, relying predominantly on speed of counterattack, that Arsenal's Thierry Henry and Liverpool's Michael Owen deliver so regularly.
It remains to be seen whether Paul Butler can control Owen as well when Liverpool visit Molineux on Wednesday, or if Ince and Alex Rae, with a combined age of 70, can sustain their scurrying tenacity - though the memory of this result will surely help.
Wolves' relegation worries persist, but at least they showed that, though the gap between Division One and Premiership might not be bridged over a season, it can be overcome for a day. No longer bottom, they can now dream of survival. But they will always savour this victory.
