Manchester City 4-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers: Leaders extend winning run to 21 games
Man City #ManCity
Gabriel Jesus scored two late goals as Manchester City beat Wolves
Pep Guardiola believes Manchester City have “come through hell and done something more than remarkable” by overcoming a tough winter schedule to extend their winning run to 21 games in all competitions by beating Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Their 4-1 victory at Etihad Stadium courtesy of three goals inside the final 10 minutes means City have not dropped points in the league since a 1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion on 15 December and are now 15 points clear at the top of the table.
During that time they have played 21 games in all competitions, reached the final of the League Cup, the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and taken control of their last-16 Champions League tie against Borussia Monchengladbach.
“In winter time in England it’s hell and in that time we did something incredible,” Guardiola told BBC Sport. “It’s more than remarkable.
“The players have all my compliments but Liverpool have the crown. To win the Premier League we need those points.”
An unlikely second-half equaliser from Conor Coady – cancelling out Leander Dendoncker’s first-half own goal – had threatened to thwart City’s pursuit of a 15th consecutive Premier League win.
In what was an otherwise one-side encounter, Coady’s 61st-minute header – his first Premier League goal and his team’s first touch in their opponents’ penalty area – gave the visitors hope of earning at least a point.
However Gabriel Jesus put City back in front with a shot on the turn from Kyle Walker’s deflected cross.
With Wolves’ spirit broken, in-form Riyad Mahrez fired in his seventh league goal of the season before Brazil striker Jesus got his second with virtually the final kick as VAR ruled his effort onside.
The leaders face second-placed Manchester United on Sunday with the chance to move another step closer to the title.
“We have one or two days to rest and I realise how strong they are,” Guardiola said of United “It’s an incredible opportunity to make a huge step and we are going to try.”
Man City 4-1 Wolves: We never gave up – Guardiola Slick City stroll on
There were so many pre-game statistics that pointed to a 21st consecutive victory for the league leaders and they included one that dates back more than a decade.
Not since Peter Crouch scored Tottenham’s goal in May 2010 to earn victory in what was effectively a shootout for a Champions League place had City lost a midweek Premier League game.
Marton Fulop was their goalkeeper that night, and it is fair to say City have advanced a long way since then.
Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo certainly recognised their threat and likely dominance, selecting a team with two right-backs and no striker.
It was a measure of Nuno’s caution that when Adama Traore was fouled at the start of the second-half and referee Chris Kavanagh played advantage as the ball ran on to Nelson Semedo, he complained because he knew there was more chance of joy from the set piece than open play.
The fact that after 28 minutes City midfielder Rodri had completed more passes than the entire Wolves team demonstrated the home side’s dominance.
One of those passes was pretty important too, delivered over 40 yards from the centre of the pitch over the Wolves defence to the feet of Mahrez, whose cross led to the opening goal.
Dendoncker knew he had to go for the ball otherwise Raheem Sterling would have had a tap-in.
From that point, possibly the most interesting aspect of the evening from a City perspective was that when Guardiola needed a goal to put his side back in front, Ilkay Gundogan was the man he was primed to turn to rather than Sergio Aguero, who remained unused.
As was the case West Ham United on Saturday, Wolves were unable to cling on to a point as City equalled a club-record 28 games without defeat.
City have also equalled Arsenal’s Premier League record of 19 games without trailing at any point.
Man City 4-1 Wolves: We were punished by Man City – Nuno Patricio’s defensive barrier
That Wolves got as late into the game with a chance of taking something from it was largely due to goalkeeper Rui Patricio.
In the seconds before half-time, the Portugal Euro 2016 winner produced a superb full-length save to turn away Bernardo Silva’s header.
The second period was then only minutes old when Patricio pushed a Kevin de Bruyne shot wide as it appeared certain to find the bottom corner. Then he blocked a powerful Jesus effort that was also heading in.
He earned the luck he enjoyed when Silva fired a rebound from his own effort over the bar and Sterling’s blind back-flick at the near post fizzed just wide of the far post rather than just inside it.
In the end, not even the combination of Patricio and good fortune could save Wolves and there was no repeat of their victory last season.
“We must look at the game because we made a couple of mistakes under the pressure of City and they are very dangerous and they will punish you,” said Wolves boss Nuno.
“City are very talented; amazing players, amazing manager. All the other teams that come here find it difficult because they are a good opponent.”
Rui Patricio made a couple of big saves before Manchester City’s late flurry Portuguese players make history – the stats
What next?
Manchester City’s next game is at home to Manchester United in the Premier League at Etihad Stadium on Sunday, 7 March (16:30 GMT). Wolves are in action at Aston Villa on Saturday, 6 March (17:30 GMT).
Player of the match
MahrezRiyad Mahrez
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Squad number11Player nameRui Patrício
Squad number16Player nameCoady
Squad number8Player nameRúben Neves
Squad number28Player nameJoão Moutinho
Squad number27Player nameSaïss
Squad number37Player nameTraoré
Squad number7Player namePedro Neto
Squad number19Player nameJonny
Squad number22Player nameNélson Semedo
Squad number32Player nameDendoncker
Squad number2Player nameHoever
Squad number17Player nameFábio Silva
Squad number54Player nameOtasowie
Line-ups Man City
Formation 4-3-3
31Ederson
2Walker3Rúben Dias14Laporte27Cancelo
20Bernardo Silva16Rodri17De Bruyne
26Mahrez9Gabriel Jesus7Sterling
Substitutes
Wolves
Formation 3-4-2-1
11Rui Patrício
32Dendoncker16Coady27Saïss
2Hoever8Neves28João Moutinho19Castro Otto
22Nélson Semedo7Neto
37Traoré
Substitutes
Live Text
Match ends, Manchester City 4, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1.
90’+5′
Second Half ends, Manchester City 4, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1.
90’+4′
VAR Decision: Goal Manchester City 4-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers (Gabriel Jesus).
90’+3′
Goal! Manchester City 4, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1. Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City) left footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal.Goal awarded following VAR Review.
90’+3′
Attempt saved. Ilkay Gündogan (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Gabriel Jesus.
90’+3′
Foul by Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City).
90’+3′
Romain Saïss (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90′
Goal! Manchester City 3, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1. Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner.
90′
Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Owen Otasowie replaces Rúben Neves.
89′
Kyle Walker (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
89′
Foul by Pedro Neto (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
87′
Attempt missed. Leander Dendoncker (Wolverhampton Wanderers) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Pedro Neto with a cross following a corner.
87′
Corner, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Conceded by Kyle Walker.
85′
Foul by Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City).
85′
Rúben Neves (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
82′
Substitution, Manchester City. Ilkay Gündogan replaces Bernardo Silva.
80′
Goal! Manchester City 2, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1. Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City) left footed shot from very close range to the bottom left corner.
78′
Aymeric Laporte (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
78′
Foul by Fábio Silva (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
77′
Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) hits the right post with a right footed shot from outside the box. Assisted by Kevin De Bruyne following a corner.
