Wolves 3 Manchester City 2 : Two Goal Lead Squandered by 10 Man City

This was a game where the carefully ordered Manchester City descended into the realms of chaos.

Manchester City opened brightly, letting Wolves know early doors that the ball belonged to us and we were not keen on letting them have it. There were moments where it appeared that Pep Guardiola’s masterplan to keep Wolves from scoring was simply to not them have the ball.

Guardiola made a couple of changes to his team, with Sergio Aguero back after a 5 week absence, largely because Gabriel Jesus was unwell, and Rodrigo stepping in for Ilkay Gundogan, who dropped to the bench. Otherwise this was the team which had done well in recent matches against Arsenal and Leicester.

Even the best laid plans can come undone and so it came to pass. A clash of heads between Dendoncker and Benjamin Mendy saw City sleeping from the restart and a sharp ball over the top saw Ederson come out of his area and Diogo Jota go to ground.

The contact may have been accidental and minimal, but any challenge there is always likely to end in a red card – especially with Martin Atkinson officiating.

More from Man City Square

• Rodri believes City can have even more success this season
• Grealish, Stones, and Kovacic will NOT play tomorrow
• My Manchester City UCL Group Stage predictions
• After Injury Guardiola is back in Etihad
• Phil Foden Scores Opener for England Against Scotland

Aguero was sacrificed for the substitute keeper, Claudio Bravo, but suddenly, the whole game got much harder. Any chance to keep the ball had gone, instead the players who already faced another match in less than 48 hours, were being required to chase.

City were awarded a penalty following Riyad Mahrez being trodden on in the box. Raheem Sterling stepped up to take the penalty and missed. The kick had to be taken again after VAR ruled that Wolves had encroached. Sterling stepped up again, missed again and slotted in the rebound. The whole debacle lasted about 5 minutes thanks to VAR.

City are always at their best when they can control this type of game, but this was just chaos. It felt like absolutely anything could happen. Frantic defending ensued and Wolves players feigned injury at every opportunity, but City held on through 7 minutes of added time to take their slender lead into the break.

Guardiola made a bold substitution at half time, replacing Mahrez with 18 year old Eric Garcia. This only added to the slightly unhinged nature of the game, as City players occupied the same space and there were limited outlets to ease the defensive pressure.

Within 5 minutes of the restart, Raheem Sterling had added his second. This was a delightful goal scored on the break. Rodrigo released De Bruyne on the counter and a trademark slide rule pass fed Sterling who chipped the rushing keeper.

Five minutes later and Wolves had the goal they needed to get back into the game. Again it was Traore who did the damage, breaking through and hitting the ball into the corner. The stage was set for exactly the kind of game City did not need.

Wolves game plan of counter attacks and feigning injury was causing City problems. Earning free kicks and yellow cards for our defenders.

On 65 minutes Guardiola withdrew De Bruyne, much to his chagrin. He had looked increasingly leggy though so the introduction of Gundogan made some sense, but meant that all of the remaining players would have to put in a shift, without the prospect of respite.

City were hanging on and then Mendy made a defensive mistake, allowing Traore to cross unopposed when he should have the played the ball out. Raul Jiminez slotted home the cross and City’s heads dropped.

In the grand scheme of things, a few more dropped points matters little to the title race. That ship has all but sailed already. But whilst we once looked imperious, now we look brittle and fragile. Ten men for 80 minutes was always going to be too big an ask without a calamitous defensive mistake.

City obliged Wolves with the winner. Graciously side stepping every challenge and allowing Doherty to score from the edge of the area. With virtually the last kick of the game, Sterling clipped the bar and that was that.

City need to regroup and address some of the issues which are apparent. Players gave their best in the circumstances but the mountain to climb was too much. The reality is that City squandered a two goal lead even if they had 10 men, and champions do not do that.