Wolves and Manchester City played out a thrilling 1-1 draw at Molineux in Saturday’s early kick-off, despite some considerable controversy surrounding Wolves opening goal.
Nuno Santo’s side had a respectable share of possession in the opening ten, displaying the sharpness and swagger that saw them crowned Championship winners in 2017/18.
Conor Coady and Willy Boly gave Santo’s side an extremely solid yet expansive platform to play out from the back with, whilst maintaining their defensive structure, regularly thwarting the attempted incisions from City’s flanks; notably from Raheem Sterling, who had a disappointing day at the office.
Neither side could find a breakthrough despite some end-to-end attacking play, with Raul Jimenez finding the back of the net in the 19th minute after he was slid through by Diego Jota, only to be ruled offside by the officials.
Sergio Aguero cannoned a shot off the woodwork as City’s counter-attacks continued in the first-half, whilst Raheem Sterling launched a superb long-range strike only to be denied by a world-class save from Rui Patricio; a save of the season contender.
City simply could not find a way through the Wolves defence as half-time arrived with the score locked at 0-0, though Santo’s side came out after the break with a spring in their step and showed serious intent, and their persistence was rewarded in the 58th minute.
Joao Moutinho whipped in a delivery to the back-post, where, despite the officials failing to observe a clear use of the hand, Willy Boly guided the ball into the net with a firm yet deft use of the wrist. Had VAR been in play, the goal would have been disallowed, but Santo and Wolves could not have cared less; Molineux was jubilant.
Wolves’ lead did not last long, as City won a precariously placed free-kick which Ilkay Gundogan stood over with authority. The German dispatched an outstanding strike towards the back post where Aymeric Laporte found space and launched a bullet header past Patricio. City had their goal and were evidently in the ascendancy.
Guardiola used the luxurious bench at his disposal to bring on Leroy Sane and Riyad Mahrez in the dying minutes of the match, and despite Sergio Aguero hitting the woodwork for the second time in the game after a free-kick in the final minute, it was to no avail as the Wolves held on for their second Premier League point of the season. Despite the questionable nature of their goal, this was an important result for Santo and his side.
Wolves can compete with the Premier League’s elite
After a lacklustre start to Premier League life for Nuno Santo’s side, with just one point from six against ten men on both occasions, Saturday’s contest with City showed that Wolves intend to stand up and be counted in the 2018/19 campaign; their players, their manager and their fans believe they belong at this level, and it’s far from unwarranted.
Despite a contentious goal, throughout the 90 minutes Wolves were confident in possession and launched countless attacks down City’s flanks, with the introduction of Adama Traore in the final 15 giving them an added sense of attacking threat. No-one expected Wolves to get anything against City, who have been in imperious form, and this was a statement from Santo and his side. Wolves will not be walked over in their return to the top-flight of English football.
Adama, Wolves club-record signing, looked to be their most threatening player despite only being on the pitch for the dying embers of the game, and this type of attacking outlet coupled with the defensive foundations provided by Conor Coady and Willy Boly will give Santo hope that Wolves can compete and pick up points over the course of the season.
Pep’s rotation roulette
In City’s first two games of the Premier League season, Guardiola’s ‘rotation roulette’ was prominent throughout the starting XI, and the Spaniard continued this trend in his selection for the game against Wolves.
John Stones and Gabriel Jesus dropped to the bench, with Kyle Walker and Raheem Sterling starting the game for the Citizens after being dropped for their 6-1 victory over Huddersfield. The strength in depth at Guardiola’s disposal is simply frightening, and it would not be an overstatement to say this is the strongest squad we may have ever seen in Premier League history.
It is almost impossible to predict what players Guardiola will opt for on a weekly basis, though for now Bernardo Silva, David Silva and Sergio Aguero look nailed on in terms of their midfield and striking options. Guardiola will unquestionably view this as two points dropped rather than one gained, especially given City’s notorious ability to come back in the dying minutes of matches in their record-breaking 2017/18 campaign; they simply lacked that clinical, cutting edge to do the same against Wolves on Saturday.
Bernardo Silva: a coming of age?
Despite appearing in 35 of City’s 38 Premier League fixtures in 2017/18, Bernardo Silva made just 20 starts last season for City, though it would appear the Portuguese midfielder has risen up the ranks in Guardiola’s order of preference.
Silva has now started City’s first four games of the season, including the Community Shield win over Chelsea, and his agility in the final third gives City a number of options with their attacking play. He is presently displacing Leroy Sane, PFA Young Player of the Year and Riyad Mahrez, City’s club-record signing,from the starting XI, and Guardiola will be particularly pleased with the output he is presently getting from Bernardo.
At just 24, B.Silva certainly has his best years ahead of him, and in the upcoming campaign, particularly with the injury induced absence of Kevin De Bruyne , this could be an opportunity for the midfielder to cement himself as Guardiola’s starting choice in midfield.
Man of the Match: Conor Coady
The Wolves captain was exceptional throughout the 90 at Molineux, putting in a commanding performance at the heart of defence and keeping quiet an outstanding City side. Coady remaining fit will be central to Wolves’s hopes of remaining in the division; it was a stellar defensive display from the Liverpool youth product.
