Battered by Blackburn Rovers and Charlton in a Premiership baptism of fire, Wolves summoned up a huge dose of grit and determination which could easily have earned them a point at Old Trafford.
Sir Alex Ferguson gave an outing to all his close season signings and they played for much of the game like strangers in the night.
Cristiano Ronaldo, the 18-year-old wonder boy making his first start, looked a long way from the form he showed after coming on as a substitute in the Premiership opener against Bolton.
Brazilian Kleberson made an inauspicious debut, although Eric Djemba-Djemba worked tirelessly in midfield.
The only goal of the game came after only nine minutes.
Diego Forlan fired his corner into the centre of the Wolves box and central defender John O'Shea powered in to head home from six yards.
It was downhill for United from then on.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had been denied by Wolves goalkeeper Michael Oakes in the second and sixth minutes, the rebound from the first effort inches from being turned home by Ruud van Nistelrooy.
The Dutchman, looking for his 11th goal in consecutive games rarely got a look in after that as the Wolves defence clamped down on the champions.
Gradually, Wolves clawed their way back into the game and should have equalised in the 36th minute.
Gary Neville failed to pick out Nathan Blake's crossfield ball. It sent Henri Camara through on the left but with only Tim Howard to beat he scooped his shot beyond the United goalkeeper and wide of the far post from 12 yards.
Camara missed another good chance in first-half injury time shooting wide under pressure from Djemba-Djemba when well placed 12 yards out.
Wolves battered the United goal with shots while Camara put a spectacular overhead kick onto the roof of the United net after 52 minutes and flicked the ball straight at Howard from close range seven minutes later.