Up the steps into the directors’ box, and Sir Alex Ferguson arrived to a warm round of applause like a much-loved grandfather appearing at his family birthday party, although this particular family – as he knows only too well – seems to get ever more dysfunctional with each year that passes.

This was Ferguson’s first game back at Old Trafford since his brain haemorrhage five months ago and while he looks a little frailer his presence is something that every Manchester United supporters hangs on to as they feel his era fading into history. There were so many afternoons when he would zip up the black overcoat, march down the touchline and oversee the demolition of a traumatised Premier League mediocrity with a certainty that no longer exists at United.

In the modern Premier League that Ferguson left more than five years ago, that is rarely the case any longer, and when the old Scot’s latest successor, Jose Mourinho, cast a regretful gaze back over this draw he observed that Wolverhampton Wanderers had played “like it was a World Cup final”. He was complimenting them for battling for every ball and straining every sinew, but actually Wolves are a much more accomplished side than just a bunch of triers seizing the day.

They came to play fluent attacking football and Joao Moutinho’s second half equaliser was no less than they deserved as a club who benefit from the expertise of Jorge Mendes, the super-agent whose rise to power coincided with that of his most famous managerial client, Mourinho. There is no question that the rank and file of the Premier League are of a better standard now, but Mourinho’s team should have enough superstars to make the difference.

Not, it should be said, this time. Alexis Sanchez was dreadful, and substituted after the hour. Romelu Lukaku was either offside or too uncertain of his touch to contribute a goal. Paul Pogba’s performance was one that suggested he was determined to be involved in everything, the good and the bad, and indeed he was. His pass to Fred for United’s goal was his team’s most perceptive moment and yet it was Pogba who gave up possession in midfield for Ruben Neves to start the move that ended in Wolves’ equaliser.