Wolves' boss Glenn Hoddle had demanded back to win home wins this week against United and Southampton on Saturday to fire some more impetus into his side's promotion challenge.
But they found United a tough nut to crack as Neil Warnock's side comfortably dealt with the best that Wolves could throw at them to retain their healthy 17 point advantage over Hoddle's team.
The only plus point for Hoddle was that Wolves managed to keep a third successive clean sheet for the first time in more than two years.
For Warnock it was a satisfactory end to a day that had started badly after he was fined £750 by the FA and warned about his future conduct following comments he made to referee Grant Hagley at Reading on October 1.
Clear-cut chances were few and far between in a low key opening period with both sides desperate not to make the one mistake that could prove to be decisive.
Neil Shipperley and Keith Gillespie both had snap shots saved by Wolves' goalkeeper Stefan Postma as United sought to bounce back to form after just about salvaging a draw against bottom of the table Millwall last weekend.
Wolves greatest threat was carried by their impressive midfielder Tom Huddlestone who extended his loan spell from Tottenham for a second month on the eve of the game.
He twice went close from long range after being forced to pick himself up following a hefty 24th minute challenge by Michael Tonge that earned the United midfielder a yellow card.
But if openings were rare in the first-half they were even more difficult to come by in the second period.
Derek Geary's 63rd minute snap-shot from the edge of the box never troubled Postma before Vio Ganea wasted a golden chance to break the deadlock for Wolves at the end of one of the games real moments of class.
Huddlestone led a 68th minute charge up field and picked out Colin Cameron who in turn fed the ball into the path of Ganea.
The angle for the shot was acute for the Romanian international but Ganea will be disappointed that he was unable to even force Paddy Kenny into a save as he sliced his drive into the side netting.