Man City were left frustrated at the hands of Wolves, more specifically the hands of Willy Boly. The defender put Wolves ahead in controversial fashion, the ball appearing to hit his hand instead of his head. City salvaged a point through Laporte’s equaliser but couldn’t find a winner.
Wolves Hold Man City to Single Point
Slow Start Bursts Into Action
The game started slowly with not much action. Vincent Kompany picked up a yellow card in the 11th minute for a foul on Ruben Neves on his 250th Premier League appearance. But then the game burst into life on the 19th-minute mark.
Jota ran down the left-hand side to get into the box. His deflected shot fell to Jimenez who taps the ball in Man City’s goal only to have it correctly ruled offside.
Straight away from the resulting free kick, Man City take it up the other end. After Boly dispossessed David Silva the ball fell nicely to Sergio Aguero who struck the ball with a lovely first-time strike that hit the base of the post.
It was then Raheem Sterling’s turn to be unlucky, with a good save needed from Patricio. The Wolves keeper was forced to tip his shot onto the bar. The hosts had Willy Boly to thank for not being behind in the first half with Aguero baring down on goal. Willy Boly made a last-ditch attempt and won the ball cleanly to deny Aguero a shot at goal.
Wolves could have got in front on the 37th minute when Kompany cleared a Wolves corner for it to fall to Neves who put a nice cross back into the box for Jimenez to control the ball well only to slice his shot at the City goal.
On the 40th minute the ball broke to Mendy on the left-hand side who fizzed in a low cross, Patricio could only parry it into the path of Aguero who couldn’t strike it cleanly.
First Half Stats
Man City will feel they should have got more from the first half, dominating the possession with 69% to Wolves’ 31%. Whilst having more possession they only managed seven shots at Wolves goal with a pass success rate of 91%. Compared to Wolves’ five shots at City’s goal with a pass success rate of 71%.
Controversial Second Half
Wolves started the second half slowly but without really being the races. Luckily Man City couldn’t capitalise, on the 48th minute Vincent Kompany had a good chance to put City in front from a corner only to head it over.
It took Wolves ten minutes to get up to speed. When they did, Helder Costa broke down the left-hand side choosing to go alone and forcing a good save from Ederson. From the resulting corner, Wolves took the lead through controversial circumstances.
When Moutinho played a short corner to Neves only to get the ball back and swing in a ball. Where Willy Boly tried getting down low to head it only for it to come off his hand and go in the goal.
More controversy immediately followed with City pushing to get back into the game straight from kick off. The ball breaking to David Silva who goes down under the challenge of Neves in the box who appeared to take away Silva’s leg as he was about to shoot.
David Silva received a booking just after for protesting. Just after that City were unlucky again when a good free-kick over from Bernardo was headed wide from Fernandinho.
Wolves were pressing City in midfield and when Neves won the ball and switched it over to Jota to run down the left holding the ball up well for the on running Neves who tried placing it into the corner only to place it wide.
The equaliser came after the 68th minute. When under the challenge of Neves, Sterling went down giving City a free kick. From the resulting free-kick, Gundogan whipped in a lovely ball on to the edge of the six yard box for Laporte to head in an unstoppable header past Patricio.
Could Have Gone Either Way
On the 72nd minute, Adama Traore replaced Helder Costa and had the same effect that he did last week against Leicester. Putting the City defence under pressure, taking on Mendy and Laporte down the right-hand side getting his cross in for Jota to control and blaze it over.
But it was Man City who could have won it on the 93rd minute. When Aguero went down from a challenge of Moutinho. From the resulting free-kick, Aguero smashed the crossbar from 30 yards out.
Full-Time Stats
Man City will feel disappointed by the result. Having dominated possession with 70% to Wolves 30%. City didn’t ease up with their efforts on goal, having a total of 17 shots at goal with six on target.
Last season’s Championship winners Wolves will be happy to get a draw in the champions vs champions game. Having to deal with constant pressure and coming up against a side with 90% pass success rate.
Whilst Wolves had 11 shots at goal managing just two on target. Wolves struggled to put passes together and it showed with a pass success rate of 69%.
Main Image Credit:
Embed from Getty Images
