Just when it looked like Manchester City would drop two points in the title race, John Stones came to the rescue.
With stoppage time almost over, the England defender climbed above Craig Dawson and headed home. For a few minutes City thought it had slipped through their fingers when the goal was initially disallowed for offside against Bernardo Silva, who was in an offside position in front of goalkeeper Jose Sa.
After Chris Kavanagh went to the monitor, he reversed the original decision and gave the goal. Pep Guardiola danced with joy and Gary O’Neil couldn’t believe it. In the summer, Wolves failed in an attempt to have VAR scrapped. It is hardly likely that this will change their opinion. According to the tweet from the Premier League account, Silva had not interfered in the game.
Last season, Wolves had a goal disallowed due to a similar situation involving captain Max Kilman, who has since moved to West Ham. Wolves players surrounded Kavanagh here at full-time, while the home fans took out their anger in the Premier League.
This leaves City two points ahead of Arsenal and leaves Wolves bottom with one point from eight games. It was extremely harsh on O’Neil’s men, who executed the plan to perfection.
John Stones celebrates scoring Man City’s winner deep into stoppage time to save a 2-1 win
Stones jumped highest in a crowded Wolves penalty area and fired a powerful header towards goal
Referee Chris Kavanagh (pictured) checked the goal for possible offside before sticking with his original decision
Although Wolves are in deep trouble, this was much better than the 5-3 defeat to Brentford two weeks ago, which raised questions about O’Neil and his side.
The home side even took a surprising lead early on through Jorgen Strand Larsen, but they were pushed back by Josko Gvardiol’s stunning goal, with Stones deciding the decision at the end.
Sooner or later, every modern Wolves manager reaches for the consolation blanket of a three-man defense, and that was the case here for O’Neil. Given the threat of City wingers Savinho and Jeremy Doku, the back three was often a back five or even a back seven.
Wing-backs Nelson Semedo and Rayan Ait-Nouri dropped in alongside their centre-backs and were supported by midfield pair Mario Lemina and Andre.
For six minutes it felt ominous. Molineux were subdued and the South Bank almost seemed to be waiting for City to score so they could unleash their frustration on the O’Neil and Wolves board.
But suddenly the Wolves were in front. Santiago Bueno sent Semedo into space behind City’s high line and the cross was what centre-forwards dreamed of. Strand Larsen did the rest and did so from close range.
City responded almost immediately. Savinho passed to Ilkay Gündogan, whose first touch was driven into the corner by Bernardo Silva. Somehow Jose Sa – in place of the injured Sam Johnstone – dropped to the right and clawed the ball away.
Gündogan then headed over Rico Lewis’ cross and Toti Gomes was shown a yellow card for dragging Savinho back. City were dominant yet vulnerable – and they should have conceded a second just before twenty minutes.
Pep Guardiola (left) celebrated as City scored the winner, while Wolves boss Gary O’Neil (right) was furious
Josko Gvardiol put City back on level terms in the first half with a stunning goal from the edge of the penalty area
Gvardiol (left) and his City teammates celebrated his equalizer after Wolves opened the scoring
Matheus Cunha played a one-two with Strand Larsen in Wolves’ half and released Semedo, who was clear from Gvardiol. Delaying his finish by a split second, Semedo’s effort was smothered by Ederson and City were relieved when the ball slid wide of Gvardiol.
It would prove costly. Toti had already produced a bizarre ball from Silva’s cross as Gvardiol leveled City. Instead of taking on Semedo, Jeremy Doku passed the ball back to Gvardiol and moments later the ball was in the top corner. Although Sa reached the ball, he could not keep it out.
Sa needed a lucky rebound from Andre to stop Gvardiol for a moment, before the Portuguese keeper made another brilliant stop in stoppage time. It was similar to the one Silva denied, but was arguably even better as Savinho’s fierce effort flew through a crowd and Sa could only have spotted it late on.
With former City man Tommy Doyle replacing Andre in midfield for the second half, Wolves prepared for another 45 minutes of toil. Fortunately, Erling Haaland was not yet in the rhythm. City’s goal machine miscued Savinho’s cross at the far post and then played a simple pass to the ball.
Trying to follow Gvardiol’s lead, Ruben Dias struck home from 25 yards, becoming the latest City player to be frustrated by Sa’s reflexes. Strand Larsen struggled to keep the ball up, but Cunha had much more success dropping into space and running towards his opponents. One low shot from 25 yards saw Ederson scramble over his goal and seconds later Toti did brilliantly to prevent Haaland from reaching Savinho’s cross.
Wolves striker Jorgen Strand Larsen (left) initially gave the hosts a shock lead in the opening ten minutes
City players celebrate loudly when their goal is awarded, putting them at the top of the Premier League
Joao Gomes was given a disputed booking for struggling with Mateo Kovacic as City took an age over a free-kick from the edge of the penalty area. By now Phil Foden had been standing in the technical room for more than five minutes, ready to come on, but waiting for the instruction to do so.
Foden eventually replaced Doku and seconds after he did so, Wolves replacement Carlos Forbs – another former City player – burst into City territory to misdirect his cross as Strand Larsen waited. At the other end, Savinho shot over from an inviting spot fifteen meters away.
Now Guardiola introduced Jack Grealish for Savinho and he was quickly involved. He reached the far post where Silva was punched in the face in an attempt to make decisive contact. Silva was cleared to continue and had an animated chat with Guardiola on the touchline before returning to the action.
After Grealish and Foden combined, Sa almost fell into his six-yard box. Wolves still managed to find promising positions, but too often they wasted the final pass. City made the one that mattered count when Foden’s delivery was converted by Stones, much to the disappointment and anger of Wolves.
