Wolves ready to claim ‘big scalps’, says Kompany

After 96 breathless minutes here on Saturday, Vincent Kompany had seen enough to make a bold admission about Nuno Espirito Santo’s fearless Wolves.

Kompany, the Manchester City captain, was so impressed with the approach of last season’s Championship winners that he insisted they could play a major role in Pep Guardiola’s title defence.

Wolves issued a huge statement by going toe to toe with City and could even have condemned Guardiola to his first away league defeat since January.

Though Nuno’s side led through Willy Boly, who handled the ball, and City hit the woodwork three times, optimism will only build that a top-10 finish is achievable for the Black Country club.

And Kompany has warned that Wolves will claim a number of “big scalps” this season, in a boost to City’s hopes of reclaiming the title.

“I’m convinced Wolves will surprise people this season. They don’t behave or play like a Championship team that has just been promoted. I’m confident that they will take points off our competitors,” he said.

“They are the typical type of team who are geared up to get big scalps. They have enough quality to play themselves out of situations when they are under pressure.

“The other thing is their key players work hard and that’s always a good mix.

“That is what I enjoy about the Premier League, I don’t think any one team plays the same as the other. Wolves have their own style and beliefs and this was a tough and competitive game.

“Of course, the result was frustrating, but I’m taking no credit away from the Wolves performance, because, ultimately, if they get points off our competition this will be a good point.”

This performance felt like a shot in the arm for the Premier League, as a team outside the established order displayed the bravery to take on Guardiola at his own game.

With rising stars such as Ruben Neves, Diogo Jota and Helder Costa aligned to the experience of Joao Moutinho and their outstanding goalkeeper Rui Patricio, this was an absorbing contest between the aristocrats and the upstarts.

City were clearly frustrated with the performance of referee Martin Atkinson, however, after Boly’s handball and several contentious penalty decisions.

They deserved their point after