Fans losing faith with safety-first mentality

THE Stretford End had seen enough with just under 20 minutes of United's final game of 2025 to go.

- By TYRONE MARSHALL

"Attack, attack, attack," was the cry, urging more from a team treating the visit of a side with a shot at being the worst in Premier League history with all the trepidation of a Champions League knockout tie.Ruben Amorim's response was to turn to his bench - and bring Leny Yoro on for Ayden Heaven. That teenager Bendito Mantato came on at the same time but that didn't stop the home fans showing their frustration at another of those changes they have come to associate Amorim with.

One centre-back for another when you're chasing the game, while attacking teenagers Shea Lacey and Chido Obi remained rooted to the bench, is the kind of safety-first move that is gradually eroding the faith many of these supporters have in Amorim.

Having moved to a back-four on Boxing Day, the decision to revert to a back three against a team with two points from 18 games left many scratching their heads.

It allowed Wolves to settle into the game. The Reds started quickly on Boxing Day, but approached the start of this game as if they had a belly full of mince pies and chocolates. It's so often the way in a defensive system and it felt as if Amorim hadn't learnt his lesson.