Manchester City 4-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers: Leaders extend winning streak to 21 games

Premier League leaders Manchester City scored three times in the final 10 minutes to break the resistance of Wolverhampton Wanderers and claim 21 consecutive victories in all competitions.

With the spirit of the Wolves broken, Riyad Mahrez in form fired on his seventh league goal of the season before Jesus scored his second with virtually the final shot following a VAR intervention after an initially offside decision. out against the Brazilian forward.

Coady’s draw shortly after the hour mark, which disallowed Leander Dendoncker’s first-half own goal, was the first time the visitors had touched the ball inside the City area.

It was the Wolves captain’s first goal in the Premier League, when he fought his way to Joao Moutinho’s free kick to head in.

City have extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to 15 points, although second-placed Manchester United, next in line to face Pep Guardiola’s side on Sunday, are one game short.

Stroll through Slick City

Aside from all the other statistics in favor of City pointing to their 21st consecutive win before the game started, there was another notable record dating back more than a decade.

Since Peter Crouch scored the Tottenham goal in May 2010 that clinched what was effectively a penalty shoot-out for a place in the Champions League, City have not lost a Premier League game on weekdays.

Marton Fulop was their goalkeeper that night, and it’s fair to say that City have come a long way since then.

Wolves coach Nuno Espirito Santo certainly acknowledged their danger, choosing a team with two right-backs and no strikers.

It was a measure of Nuno’s warning that when Adama Traore was fouled early in the second half and referee Chris Kavanagh had an advantage when the ball passed Nelson Semedo, he complained because he knew there were more chances for joy in the set . piece than the open game.

After 28 minutes, City midfielder Rodri had completed more passes than the entire Wolves team.

One of them was also quite important, delivering more than 40 meters from midfield over the Wolves defense to the feet of Mahrez, whose cross forced the first 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 the City’s perspective was that when they needed a goal, Ilkay Gundogan was the man Guardiola was prepared to address before Jesus put them back in front, instead by Sergio Agüero, who stayed. not used.

As with West Ham on Saturday, the Wolves were unable to hold on to a point as City equaled a club record of 28 games without a loss.

City have also equaled Arsenal’s Premier League record of 19 matches without ever being left behind.

Patrick’s defensive barrier

The fact that the Wolves were so late to the game with a chance to get something out was largely due to goalkeeper Rui Patricio.

In the seconds before the break, the winner of the 2016 European Championship in Portugal made a magnificent full-body save to deflect Bernardo Silva’s header.

The second period had just a few minutes when Patricio pushed a deflected shot from Kevin de Bruyne as it looked certain he would find the bottom corner. Then he blocked a powerful effort from Jesus that was also entering.

He earned the luck he enjoyed when Bernardo fired a bounce of his own effort over the bar and Sterling’s backward blind shot at the nearest post bubbled just outside the far post instead of into it.

In the end, not even the combination of Patrick and good fortune could save the Wolves and there was no repeat of their victory last season.

Whats Next?

Manchester City’s next game is at home to Manchester United in the Premier League at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday March 7 (16:30 GMT). Wolves are in action at Aston Villa on Saturday March 6 (17:30 GMT).

Man of the match

MahrezRiyad mahrez

Wolverhampton Wanderers

1. Squad numberelevenPlayer’s nameRui Patrício

2. Squad numbersixteenPlayer’s nameCoady

3. Squad number8Player’s nameRúben Neves

4. Squad number28Player’s nameJoão Moutinho

5. Squad number27Player’s nameSaïss

6. Squad number37Player’s nameTraore

7. Squad number7Player’s namePedro Neto

8. Squad number19Player’s nameJonny

9. Squad number22Player’s nameNélson Semedo

10. Squad number32Player’s nameDendoncker

11. Squad numbertwoPlayer’s nameHow far

12. Squad number17Player’s nameFábio Silva

13. Squad number54Player’s nameOtas