Outgunned
Wolverhampton Wanderers 1 v Manchester City 5
Many years ago I chatted to a chap who reckoned he had the inside track to what was happening at the Molineux. So convinced was I by his claims that I totally believed him when he said that it would only be a matter of weeks before Wayne Hennessey signed for Arsenal. Until, that is, he went to Crystal Palace.
So I’ve always been a little wary of folk who tell me that they have the inside track. But recently one or two little titbits have come to the surface which, given the inept way in which Wolves played against Brighton, would seem to offer a sliver of credence. Word on the street (Newbridge Avenue being a hotbed of such activity) is of a training ground spat between Bruno Lage, Raul Jimenez and Jonny Otto. If true it may explain why Jimenez didn’t start against Brighton and may further explain his inept performance when he was finally introduced for the second half of that game. As for Jonny I am not so sure. Either way identifying what is going wrong is perhaps the easy part. Putting it right is more difficult as the excellent BBC Podcast “Sacked in the Morning” BBC Sounds - Sacked in the Morning - Available Episodes makes plain. Listen to the Brad Friedel episode in which he explains how he was undermined by both players and directors.
In the wake of the Brighton debacle Wolves visited Stamford Bridge where they confounded many by producing a performance of pace and incision that nobody saw coming. Did Bruno Lage’s Covid imposed self-isolation have any bearing on changing room dynamic? Whatever the reasons, the odds on causing an upset this evening - against Premier League title favourites Manchester City - certainly looked rosier than they did two weeks ago.
And after ten minutes of this enthralling encounter Wolves fans were starting to dream about a possible upset. One down after barely six minutes Wolves hit back four minutes later through Leander Dendoncker, who side footed home following a superb counter-attack. The dreaming took a knock when in the fifteenth minute a defensive mix up gifted Kevin De Bruyne his second goal. But it was his third, ten minutes later, that demonstrated the enormity of the challenge facing the home side. Picking the ball up just inside the final quarter De Bruyne advanced at pace to the D before striking the ball with sniper like precision into the bottom left-hand corner of the net. You could hear the thud as the ball left his boot and if any one moment encapsulated the difference in class between the two sides it was this.
Thereafter Wolves battled gamely, occasionally getting beyond the City back line to cause a minor scare. They certainly had a valid claim for a penalty on the hour when Fernandinho brought down Pedro Neto but referee Atkinson waved play on. It was not his best game. For much of what remained, City were comfortable, retaining possession before moving the ball at lightning pace so that De Bruyne added a fourth before Raheem Sterling made it five.
For Wolves the defeat was no disgrace. Right now Manchester City are probably good enough to win the World Cup.
Wolverhampton Wanderers: Sa 6, Castro Otto 7, Boly 6, Coady 6, Dendoncker 6, Ait-Nourri 6, Moutinho 6 Sub Cundle, Neves 6, Neto 7 Sub Trincao, Jimenez 7 Sub Hee-Chan, D’Oliveira 7
Manchester City: Ederson 6, Cancello 7, Fernandinho 8 Sub Mahrez, Loporte Zinchenko 6, Rodri 7, Gundogan 6, Sterling 6, De Bruyne 9, Foden 7 Sub Grealish, Bernado Silva 7
Attendance: Not given.
Referee: Martin Atkinson 7
©Mark Brennand