Wolverhampton Wanderers were comfortably beaten by Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. City showed their class throughout, dominating possession and keeping Wolves pinned in their own half for long spells. Rob Edwards’ men battled hard, especially in the second half, but were ultimately second best against elite competition. Here’s our Wolves player ratings.
José Sá – 6.5/10
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Conceding twice is never ideal, but Sá prevented this from being a cricket score. He was kept busy throughout and produced a couple of smart saves to spare Wolves from further punishment. Both goals were beyond his control, and the lack of protection in front made his job harder. A busy shift but no cigar.
Santiago Bueno – 5.5/10
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An uncomfortable afternoon as City’s forwards dragged him all over the pitch. While he managed a couple of important clearances, he struggled to deal with the movement and pace coming at him. Looked unsettled for most of the game.
Yerson Mosquera – 6/10
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A performance best described as all action. Mosquera bravely put his body on the line, blocking three shots in a desperate rearguard effort. However, his eagerness sometimes tipped into recklessness, with fouls and a yellow card to show for it. Plenty of heart, but not always enough composure, that is sure to end in a red card at some point.
Ladislav Krejčí – 5.5/10
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Found life difficult against relentless pressure. His distribution was tidy when given time, but City rarely allowed that luxury. Spent much of the game reacting rather than controlling, and often looked a step behind the play.
Hugo Bueno – 6/10
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One of the few Wolves players willing to push forward and ask questions. He worked tirelessly down the left flank in an attempt to supply crosses, though possession was often turned over. Solid effort.
André – 7/10
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Head and shoulders above most of the team today. André fought tooth and nail, winning nine duels and drawing five fouls as he looked to get Wolves back in the game. His work rate and resiliency stood out as usual.
João Gomes – 5.5/10
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Brought his usual intensity, but occasionally this worked against him. Winning ten duels showed his commitment, but his four fouls and yellow card showed a lack of restraint. Energetic, but sometimes too hot-headed for his own good.
Mateus Mané – 6.5/10
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Tried to make something happen. He showed confidence on the ball, took defenders on and delivered a few threatening crosses. The end product was missing at times, and possession was lost too easily, but the intent was there, and he certainly doesn’t look out of his depth at this level. A star in the making for sure.
Jackson Tchatchoua – 4/10
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A quiet afternoon that ended early. He struggled to get involved at all and still looks scared to take on a player. Failed to influence the game and, as a result, was hooked at half-time.
Jhon Arias – 5/10
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Largely anonymous before being subbed off. He struggled to find space or get into the flow of the game and offered very little threat going forward. A frustrating performance.
Hwang Hee-chan – 4/10
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A thankless task up front today, Edwards’ decision not to start a striker left fans scratching their heads before kick-off. He ended up feeding on scraps, with just 12 touches. Caught offside twice and never came close to threatening the keeper. Worked hard but had very little to work with.
Substitutes
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Jørgen Strand Larsen – 5.5/10
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Came on with the brief to cause problems, but City’s defence was in total control at this point. He battled away but saw very little of the ball and struggled to get into dangerous areas.
Rodrigo Gomes – 5.5/10
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Showed some energy and willingness to run at defenders, which was welcome, but his impact was limited. The game’s tempo and City’s possession meant he didn’t have the platform to make a difference.
Tolu Arokodare – 5/10
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Thrown on as something of a last roll of the dice, when maybe he should have started the game. He tried to use his physical presence, but service was almost non-existent. A tough environment to make any kind of impression.
Wolves knew this was always going to be a tough away trip, and for long spells, Manchester City showed exactly why. The hosts controlled proceedings, but to Wolves’ credit, they refused to fold and continued to compete right until the end. André’s midfield battle and José Sá’s resilience kept them in the contest longer than expected, and while the result never truly swung their way, the late fight at least showed some character to take into the next game.