City ride their luck as Sterling’s spot-kick finally seals the points
Man City 1 Wolves 0
AT times, Manchester City are brilliant. This time, the champions were lucky with two huge decisions both going their way.
Twice, Wolves players surrounded referee Jon Moss with a mixture of disbelief and disgust.
On the first occasion, in first-half injury time, their striker and talisman Raul Jimenez was sent off after receiving two yellow cards in 31 seconds.
But even playing against 10 men for the entire second half, Pep Guardiola’s men needed another slice of good fortune to record their sixth consecutive league victory.
Bernardo Silva’s cross after 66 minutes was blocked by countryman Joao Moutinho, who had his arm raised to protect his face. Moss pointed to the spot and despite howls of protests from Wolves, the decision was retained following a VAR check.
Silva was ready to take the kick but graciously passed the ball to Raheem
Sterling, who needed one goal to reach the milestone of 100 in the Premier League. He coolly rolled the ball in as Jose Sa dived to the left.
City had chances to extend the lead but were left grateful for Ederson’s fingertip save from Max Kilman at the end — confirming the keeper’s 100th clean sheet for City and leaving Wolves without a goal in six games.
Wolves skipper Conor Coady summed up the injustice his side felt. ‘For the game to be called on a penalty, we are desperately disappointed because we have given everything,’ he said. ‘It wasn’t a penalty. For a game of this magnitude to be decided on a contentious decision is disappointing.’
City struggled to break Wolves down. Joao
Cancelo and Silva both shot over after good build-up play while Jack Grealish was unable to control a good centre by Sterling.
Two lengthy hold-ups didn’t help City’s rhythm. A worrying collision between Wolves team-mates Kilman and Ruben Neves saw both receive treatment. Neves was allowed to continue after a bad facial cut was cleared up while Kilman played on with a bandage.
Then Sterling appeared to catch Roman Saiss in the eye with a flailing arm. The Wolves defender fell in agony sparking a melee with City feeling he was exaggerating the incident. Saiss continued with a watery eye but no action was taken against Sterling.
Seven minutes of injury-time were added and produced a highly-contentious moment. Jimenez caught Rodri in the centre circle and, having taken a lenient approach to cards until then, Moss surprisingly decided to produce a yellow to the Mexican.
Jimenez was disgruntled and continued to backchat to Moss as Rodri looked to take the free-kick.
When the Spaniard played the ball, Jimenez was still only a couple of yards away and blocked it, prompting the official to issue a second yellow.
The home side started the second half determined to make the extra man count. Ilkay Gundogan’s header was cleared off the line by Coady after 55 minutes and the German immediately paid the price, being replaced Phil Foden.
Wolves hadn’t threatened an equaliser until injury time when Kilman was pushed up front and got his head to a cross from the left. Ederson had been inactive all afternoon but showed good concentration to tip the ball over.
‘We were much better with 11 than 10,’ said Guardiola. ‘Against Wolves it is so difficult because they don’t want to play. The spaces are so minor. We knew how tough it would be but we were patient.’