Rub of green favours Wolves

Wolverhampton Wanderers 1 v Manchester City 1

12.30pm, Saturday 25th August 2018. A date with destiny as Wolves took to the field for game three of their fourth season attempting to establish a toe hold in the Premier League. Their opponents, none other than Premier League Champions Manchester City. Managed by Pep Guardiolo - one of the greatest managers of his generation – with a squad brim full of battle hardened international talent. The portents suggested a one sided affair. Only the home side hadn’t read the script in what was to prove an incident packed and thoroughly entertaining game.

After a relatively quiet start things came alive in minute nineteen when Vincent Kompany was harried into making a clumsy pass. The errant ball was collected on the half way line by Ruben Neves who fed Diogo Jota. Advancing towards goal his deflected shot fell to Raul Jimenez who poked home only to be adjudged offside. From the ensuing free-kick the ball was soon in the home side’s penalty box from where Sergio Aguero fired his shot against a post. A few moments later Raheem Sterling’s long distance drive stretched Rui Patricio to the limit as he parried the ball against the bar. And as the half progressed the Wolves keeper was not the only one being stretched as City’s technical dominance came to the fore. That said on the few occasions when the home side did win possession, they gave it away too cheaply either through dwelling on the ball too long or passing poorly. Welcome to a higher standard.

All square at half time in minute 55 Wolves gave the second hint that the current Premier League champions were not going to have matters all their own way. Breaking free of a Kyle Walker and Vincent Company sandwich, Helda Costa advanced on goal. His feint appeared to have done the trick until Ederson pulled off a remarkable save. With their tails in the ascendancy from the ensuing short corner Joao Mouthino’s in-swinging cross was turned in by Willy Boly’s head, which under closer scrutiny turned out to be his arm. However the speed with which it occurred favoured the scorer and to the centre spot did referee Martin Atkinson point. Could the Old Gold hang on for the remaining half hour?

Five minutes later they should in fact have extended their lead had not Ruben Neves scuffed his shot from the edge of the 18 yard box. Then some four minutes later the same player committed an innocuous tackle on Sterling just outside the Wolves penalty area. Up stepped Ilkay Gundogan whose curling free kick was headed home powerfully by Aymeric Laporte.

From the City bench appeared Jesus, Sane and Mahrez. The coup de grace was surely only a matter of time as mazy runs ensued. But Wolves held on resolutely none more so than through Rui Patricio, whose brilliant save in the 76th minute denied a Jesus header. And it was not all one way traffic as new signing Adama Traore caused a modicum of fright in the City defence.

Somewhat fittingly the game ended with Sergio Aguero’s time added on free kick which grazed a bar. Goliath had been partially tamed.

Wolves: Patricio 8, Bennett 6, Coady 6, Boly 7, Doherty 6, Jonny 6 Sub Vinagre, Neves 6, Moutinho 7, Costa 7 Sub Traore, Jota 7 Jimenez 6

Manchester City: Ederson 7, Walker 6, Kompany 6, Laporte 7, Mendy 7, Fernandinho 6, D Silva 7, Gundogan 6 Sub Sane, B Silva 6 Sub Jesus, Aguero 7, Sterling 6 Sub Mahrez

Attendance: 31,322

Referee: Martin Atkinson 8

©Mark Brennand