Jesus hails 21 and counting:
Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus celebrates scoring his side’s fourth goal in their 4-1 win over Wolves – their 21st consecutive victory, moving them 15 points clear at the top of the Premier League
A TWENTY-FIRST successive win of what is turning out to be an increasingly extraordinary season for Manchester City and, should they make it No 22 on Sunday to move 18 points ahead of their derby rivals and closest challengers, the question will inevitably turn to when, not if, Pep Guardiola’s rampant side will wrap up their third title in four seasons.
By the end of an exhilarating night at the Etihad Stadium that really did warrant a full house, the scoreline offered a more accurate reflection of City’s dominance over a Wolverhampton Wanderers side who had equalised with their first shot of the game and first touch inside their opponents’ penalty area with 29 minutes to go.
Finale
It certainly made for a frantic finale but City eventually got the second goal they craved when Gabriel Jesus pounced after Kyle Walker’s cross had not been cleared before the game’s outstanding performer, Riyad Mahrez, got a third and Jesus his second and City’s fourth in stoppage time.
But for the brilliance of Rui Patricio in the Wolves goal, City would have been out of sight long before Conor Coady claimed his first Premier League goal. City are within three wins now of Brazilian side Coritiba’s world record of successive wins and, in this mood, few would bet against them breaking it. Manchester United will hope to slow City’s march to the title but they will have to be very good to do so.
There are many things to admire about this City side but it’s the work-rate that binds the whole thing together. Any aspiring youngster who thinks talent alone is enough to get them through should sit down and watch how hard City worked to win back the ball on those occasions they did not have possession. Bernardo would rush from midfield to chase down in front.
Jesus would chase back from the front. Mahrez may have been a joy to watch offensively but no less striking was his defensive diligence, which was greeted with frequent roars of approval from the stands.
When Raheem Sterling gave possession away cheaply to Pedro Neto in the 36th minute, the speed and determination with which the City forward raced back to atone for his error and allow Kyle Walker to come away from the ball had soon silenced his irate manager on the touchline. Time and again, Wolves were suffocated.
When players of this ability are prepared to commit like that, it makes life incredibly difficult for the opposition and Wolves must have been relieved to depart for the interval only a goal down.
In truth, they really did get the benefit of the doubt when the video assistant referee, Craig Pawson, ruled that Aymeric Laporte was offside after the defender had slotted home a cross from Mahrez that had been flicked on by Bernardo.
It looked like Laporte’s armpit was at least level with Leander Dendoncker’s heel but Pawson judged it offside and it is in these moments that you wonder what the game’s lawmakers are doing.
City exploited that space Wolves afforded them for their opening goal.
Receiving a square ball inside from Kevin De Bruyne, Rodri wasted no time spotting Mahrez in position to run in behind Jonny and swept over a stunning pass. Mahrez timed his run perfectly, took a first touch and then drilled over a cross that Dendoncker, rushing back to try to thwart Sterling, turned into his own net from close range.
To suggest it had been one-way traffic up until half-time was best reflected by the fact that Wolves’ goal was not only their first shot of the game – it also came via their first touch in City’s area.
From looking so serene, Rodri had a 10 minutes to forget. It was from his foul that Joao Moutinho curled in a free-kick that Coady dived in between Ruben Dias and Rodri to head home.
Still, City were briefly rocked by the equaliser and, with a spring back in their step, opportunity again knocked for Wolves in the 68th minute.
City must have wondered if a second goal was ever going to come when Sterling went agonisingly close twice in quick succession, backheeling a Mahrez cross wide after the Wolves left had again been torn to pieces and then bending another effort wide.
Then Jesus finally obliged, with late goals from Mahrez and Jesus twisting the knife. (© Telegraph Media Group Limited 2021)