Man City vs Wolves LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction today
Follow all the action live from the Etihad
It was the type of game against mid-table opposition at the Etihad that Manchester City typically make light work of and this victory, earned by the 100th Premier League goal of Raheem Sterling’s career, will keep the defending champions at the top of the table this weekend, no matter what happens elsewhere. City were good value for their win, too, improving considerably in the second half.
Yet that improvement and the three points only came once Wolverhampton Wanderers had been reduced to 10 men by one of the most ridiculous, self-inflicted sendings-off you are likely to see this season for Raul Jimenez, while the winning goal only came from a debatable penalty that summed up an inconsistent, at times unauthoritative display by referee Jonathan Moss.
Overall, this was a forgettable affair, and only Jimenez’s bizarre red card warrants committing to memory. At the end of the first half, after already being cautioned for a questionable foul on Rodri, Jimenez refused to move out of the way for the subsequent free-kick then immediately intercepted it, inviting Moss to show him a second yellow and a red.
Wolves’ game plan up to that point had produced a dour, lifeless first half that was nevertheless frustrating City’s attempts to break them down and ultimately working in their favour. Jimenez’s sending off ripped that blueprint up and City proceeded to rip Wolves apart, eventually taking the lead through Sterling and dominating against 10-man opponents in a manner not reflected by the 1-0 scoreline.
Man City 0 - 0 Wolves
56 mins: Manchester City have another penalty shout turned down after a weaving run from Sterling carries the ball into the box. He’s held back by Rayan Ait-Nouri and goes to ground but Ait-Nouri releases him just in time for Jon Moss to award Wolves a goal kick.
Off the line!
City come so, so close to the opener with another cross from Cancelo on the right side. He picks out Gundogan perfectly on the opposite side of the box and Gundogan loops a header over Jose Sa. Coady runs back and somehow manages to clear the ball off the goallines with a brilliant defensive header!
Man City 0 - 0 Wolves
53 mins: City have penned Wolves into their own penalty area since the second half commenced. Even Adama Traore is doing his part defensively. Grealish dinks a cross into the box but Coady heads it back out. City come again with Cancelo making a run to the byline. He keeps the ball alive and flicks it into the six-yard box. Jesus gets in front of Coady but volleys his effort over the crossbar!
Man City 0 - 0 Wolves
51 mins: Gundogan sends the corner short to Cancelo who plays it inside to Rodri. He swings a cross deep into the box and picks out Jesus. Jesus brings the ball under control but can’t find a way past Kilman and City are forced to pass the ball backwards... for now.
Man City 0 - 0 Wolves
48 mins: Cancelo sends another great ball into the box as he lifts it over the Wolves backline to play Sterling in behind. Sterling attempts a cutback to Gundogan but Coady turns the ball behind for another corner.
Second half: Man City 0 - 0 Wolves
Kick off: Manchester City get the match back underway. Joao Cancelo curls a cross into the box from the right wing and Conor Coady fails to deal with it. Instead he knocks it down to Gabriel Jesus who takes a shot and wins City a corner early in the second half.
Coming up in the Premier League
We’ve got a fair bit of Premier League action still to come today. At 3pm we’re covering Steven Gerrard’s return to Anfield as Liverpool host Aston Villa and will be bringing goal updates from Chelsea’s match versus Leeds and Arsenal’s game against Southampton.
Then at 5:30pm Manchester United travel to Norwich as Ralf Rangnick attempts to maintain his unbeaten start as United boss.
Man City 0 - 0 Wolves
Ruben Dias, Rodri, and Ruben Neves have all picked up yellow cards over the first half with Raul Jimenez earning two - as well as a red - within 45 seconds of each other.
It’s been an interesting first 45 minutes to say the least.
Man City 0 - 0 Wolves
How crucial will this moment be?
Half-time: Man City 0 - 0 Wolves
45+8 mins: Well then. Where to start here. The game remains goalless but Wolves have been through the ringer. Ruben Neves and Romain Saiss clashed heads which led to a long stoppage and Raul Jimenez got himself sent off for no good reason.
The visitors are down to 10-men and will have an even more difficult 45 minutes coming up.
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