Wolves endured a tough evening at the home of the Premier League champions, but left far from disgraced, despite a comfortable win for Manchester City. Wolves were already a man down by the time they lost a man, and following Willy Boly’s dismissal, a result always looked unlikely.
City, in their hunt to retain the Premier League, were slick from the get-go and carved Wolves open for the first goal, which was duly converted by the onrushing Gabriel Jesus. The uphill task then grew in intensity just 19 minutes in when Boly lunged in late on Bernardo Silva and received his marching orders.
In truth, the host were able to coax through the contest once Ryan Bennett tripped Raheem Sterling and Jesus grabbed his second spot. The result was put beyond doubt after the break with a slice of misfortune Wolves didn’t deserve, as Conor Coady deflected in Kevin De Bruyne’s cross.
Previous results against the Premier League’s elite gave Wolves heart when taking on the champions and Boly’s early header from Bennett’s long throw dropping harmlessly wide was the first action of note, but not the French defender’s last of the game.
In fact, Wolves were dealing with a hungry Man City animal and fell behind from the home side’s first attack. Aymeric’s Laporte’s inch-perfect pass through the channel sent Leroy Sane racing down the left and he rolled a perfect cross for an onrushing Jesus to slide home.
The hosts were enjoying the majority of the ball and David Silva let fly soon after, but was denied by a combination of Bennett and Rui Patricio. However, the task ahead was made much bigger when Boly needlessly lunged in on Silva. Despite the defender’s protests, he was shown a straight red card – Wolves’ first of the season.
Naturally, City’s dominance only intensified, but while they were leaving Patricio’s unthreatened, Wolves countered through Raul Jimenez, who found Jonny, but his cross-shot was out of Diogo Jota’s reach. At the other, Sterling created an opening which Jesus passed up.
The striker wasn’t about to miss a second, however. Once Sterling got the wrong side of Bennett, the defender clipped the City man, who hit the deck and earned the hosts a penalty. Jesus stepped up and sent Patricio the wrong way for 2-0.
By this point it was damage limitation for Wolves, who were grateful to see Patricio well-paced to catch Sterling’s header as Wolves went in for the break with a mammoth task on their hands.
Half-time: Man City 2-0 Wolves
Looking for more pace on the break, Nuno brought Adama Traore on at the interval in place of Jimenez. Despite the Spaniard looking lively, City continued to boss the game and Fernandinho rolled an effort into the hands of Patricio.
Next onto the field was Romain Saiss, taking the place of Jota, nevertheless City continued to press forward and substitute De Bruyne hit a rock wide of Patricio’s goal. Just minutes later Wolves’ final substitution was complete and Morgan Gibbs-White was on for Joao Moutinho.
However, City continued to probe and once Patricio saved from De Bruyne, the Belgian was given a second opportunity from the short corner. His terrific cross took a nick off both Saiss and Coady, before nestling in the far corner. That was the last of the action and Wolves left beaten, but not disgraced.
Full-time: Man City 3 Wolves 0
Man City: Ederson, Walker, Stones, Laporte, Danilo, Fernandinho, D.Silva (De Bruyne 62), B.Silva, Sane (Gundogan 74), Sterling, Jesus (Aguero 76).
Unused subs: Muric, Otamendi, Delph, Mahrez.
Wolves: Patricio, Doherty, Bennett, Coady, Boly, Jonny, Dendoncker, Neves, Moutinho (Gibbs-White 72), Jota (Saiss 59), Jimenez (Traore 46)
Unused subs: Ruddy, Vinagre, Cavaleiro, Costa.
