The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)

No panic from Guardiola as City held to draw by battling Wolves

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Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola insists results mean nothing yet as they lost their Premier League lead.

The champions were held to a frustratin­g 1-1 draw by battling Wolves to drop their first points of the campaign.

Wolves’ Willy Boly scored with his hand, which was missed by referee Martin Atkinson, before Aymeric Laporte headed in from an Ilkay Gundogan free-kick to level.

Liverpool’s 1-0 win over Brighton saw Jurgen Klopp’s side go above City in the league table as the Reds maintained their 100% start to the season.

But, after City’s draw early on Saturday, Guardiola remained calm. He said: “We came to win the game like we did in the last month but we dropped two points or won one point and nothing will change after three Premier League games.

“It’s a long road and we have to continue in that way.

“I said in the previous press conference that, in my experience, they are tough games at the start against newlypromo­ted clubs.

“I prefer to play them in November or December when the season is more advanced because most days they don’t feel pressure against one of the contenders to win the Premier League.”

Sergio Aguero hit the woodwork twice, while Rui Patricio turned Raheem Sterling’s drive on to the bar as City dominated, but it was Laporte who popped up to rescue a point.

Boly’s goal will also increase calls for the introducti­on of VAR in the Premier League, while Sergio Aguero and David Silva had penalty claims rejected.

“I didn’t see it. I’m not the referee, never will be,” said Guardiola on Boly’s goal and City’s penalty shouts.

The draw set a club record for Wolves of 17 winless top flight games going back to 2012.

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