Players are taught top lesson – Pep

PEP Guardiola felt Manchester City learned a valuable lesson as they overcame an unexpected Wolves fightback to extend their run of successive wins to 21.

The Premier League leaders struck three times in the final 10 minutes at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday to run out convincing 4-1 victors.

Despite being outplayed for much of the game, Wolves had given themselves hope of an unlikely point when Conor Coady - with his side’s first effort on goal - equalised on the hour.

That forced City to rouse themselves for a late charge and manager Guardiola feels that will serve them well as they chase silverware on four Pep Guardiola fronts.

The City boss said: “We controlled it quite well, except for five minutes. We created chances.

“At 1-1 the players felt how unfair it was, after everything we had done, the first shot on target, but it is a good lesson for the knockout stages because opponents in a high level have good players up front, and they don’t need much to punish you.”

City took a deserved lead after 15 minutes when Leander Dendoncker turned into his own net attempting to prevent what seemed a certain goal for Raheem Sterling.

They thought they had doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time but Aymeric Laporte’s strike was disallowed in a very tight offside call.

They spurned further chances after the break and City were stunned when Wolves captain Coady stooped to guide in his first Premier League goal.

Gabriel Jesus got City back on track in the 80th minute and the Brazilian wrapped up the scoring with the final touch of the game after Riyad Mahrez had also netted.

Guardiola was pleased to see Jesus back on the scoresheet in what has been a difficult campaign for the 23-year-old due to form and fitness issues.

“You cannot imagine how happy we are, all of us, when he scores,” said Guardiola.