Hungry Wolves are full of fight
SERGIO AGUERO endured a night of frustration as City, for once, found goals hard to come by over 90 minutes.
Everything seemed to be set up for Aguero to finally claim the club’s all-time goalscoring record at the Etihad.
Pep Guardiola put Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling alongside him while Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo made nine changes.
City looked home bankers to continue a run that had seen them smash in 42 goals in their first 13 games of the season.
But it seemed the harder Aguero tried to get the goal to move clear of Eric Brook, the worse it got.
The Argentinian had seven attempts on goal but a combination of good keeping from Will Norris and poor finishing ensured Aguero was left an exasperated figure as Wolves mounted a determined rearguard action that took City into extra-time.
It underlined the quality and depth of City’s squad that Guardiola also made nine changes from the team that beat Burnley on Saturday and his starting XI still cost a combined £294million.
That included the threeman strikeforce of Aguero, REPORTS hurry with five attempts in the first half, three in the first 11 minutes.
His first effort forced Wolves keeper Norris to go full stretch to keep out his shot, the second was a relatively easy chance from Sterling’s pass which he sidefooted wide, while his third, a first-time shot, flew high over the bar.
Later in a first half that City dominated, Aguero aimed a shot straight at Norris before hooking Sterling’s cross from close range.
The best chance of the first period fell to Wolves, however, when Bright Enobakhare outmuscled Eliaquim Mangala to Ryan Bennett’s long ball to give himself a clear run on goal. But City keeper Claudio Bravo saved his shot outstretched leg.
The second half continued in the same vein with City dominating possession and Wolves looking dangerous on the counter-attack. One break ended with Helder Costa lifting a shot high over the bar.
City were lacking the incisive final pass that Kevin De Bruyne had supplied in recent games. And after an hour Guardiola sent the Belgian along the touchline to warmup.
Wolves grew in confidence the longer they kept City at bay and they had another chance after 65 minutes when Marshall unlocked City’s defence to put Costa clean through but Bravo came to City’s rescue again by saving.
Aguero’s frustration continued when Norris kicked a clearance to him but as the City striker tried to dribble round him, the keeper pushed the ball away.
De Bruyne came on with 10 minutes to go but City’s frustration continued as the over-worked Norris held them at bay in normal time.
MAN CITY (4-3-3): WOLVES Referee: (3-4-3): Booked:
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