Player Ratings: Gvardiol Stunner and Stones’ Late Header Give City Narrow Victory Over Wolves

In partnership with

EPL Index

·20 October 2024

Player Ratings: Gvardiol Stunner and Stones’ Late Header Give City Narrow Victory Over Wolves

Gvardiol’s Late Strike Saves Man City Against Wolves

Manchester City needed a controversial 95th-minute winner to edge past Wolverhampton Wanderers in a tense Premier League clash at Molineux. The champions found themselves behind early but responded with a long-range effort from Josko Gvardiol before John Stones headed in the decisive goal in injury time, which sparked fierce protests from Wolves.

Early Wolves Surprise

Wolves came into the match with little expectation of causing an upset, but the game turned on its head just seven minutes in when Jorgen Strand Larsen tapped in a well-crafted cross from Nelson Semedo. Manchester City’s defence was caught flat-footed, giving the home side an early advantage and lifting the mood around Molineux.

OneFootball Videos

Despite the setback, City’s territorial dominance quickly reasserted itself. Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa was called into action soon after, denying Bernardo Silva with a brilliant save and frustrating the visitors as they piled on the pressure. Wolves, meanwhile, threatened sporadically on the counter, with Matheus Cunha and Semedo linking well to keep Ederson on his toes.

Photo: IMAGO

Gvardiol’s Moment of Magic

It was always going to take something special to break Wolves’ resistance, and that moment came in the 36th minute. Josko Gvardiol, City’s marauding left-back, took matters into his own hands, cutting inside from the left flank and curling a sublime right-footed effort into the top corner. The goal restored parity and gave City the momentum as they headed into the break.

Wolves, though, weren’t content to sit back and defend. They continued to create chances, notably when Strand Larsen came close again following a dangerous cross from Carlos Forbs. City had the lion’s share of possession but struggled to find a cutting edge, with Ruben Dias and Savinho coming close from distance but failing to break down Wolves’ resilient defence.

Controversial Conclusion

As the clock ticked towards full time, Wolves appeared to have earned a hard-fought point. But in stoppage time, City won a corner, and John Stones rose highest to nod in the winner. The assistant referee initially ruled the goal out for offside, with Bernardo Silva appearing to interfere with play in an offside position.

Referee Stuart Attwell was sent to the VAR monitor, and after review, controversially overturned the decision, much to Wolves’ dismay. City claimed all three points, with Wolves left questioning the legitimacy of the late winner.

Photo: IMAGO

Guardiola’s Dilemmas Without Key Players

This result may paper over the cracks for Manchester City, but Pep Guardiola will be acutely aware that performances like these won’t sustain a title challenge. The absence of key players like Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne was evident as City struggled to impose their usual control in midfield. While Gvardiol’s brilliance saved the day, Guardiola will need to address the inconsistencies in his side, particularly with Erling Haaland anonymous throughout.

For Wolves, this was a performance to build on. Gary O’Neil can take heart from how his team frustrated the champions and threatened on the break. Despite the loss, Wolves showed enough resilience to suggest they can climb the table if they maintain this level of performance.

Player Ratings:

Wolves

Jose Sa – 8/10 Two crucial saves kept Wolves in the game, unlucky to be on the losing side.
Nelson Semedo – 7/10 An excellent cross for the opener and solid defensively against City’s wingers.
Santiago Bueno – 7/10 Composed under pressure and contributed well to Wolves’ defensive structure.
Craig Dawson – 7/10 Crucial interventions throughout, particularly in stopping Haaland.
Toti Gomes – 7/10 Physical and effective, kept City’s attackers at bay for most of the match.
Rayan Ait-Nouri – 7/10 Recovered well after early pressure and contributed to Wolves’ counter-attacks.
Mario Lemina – 6/10 Energetic in midfield but struggled to keep possession against City’s pressing.
Andre – 6/10 Solid out of possession but lacked the creativity Wolves needed going forward.
Joao Gomes – 6/10 Started brightly but faded as the game went on, giving away too many free kicks.
Jorgen Strand Larsen – 7/10 Took his goal well and worked hard with limited service upfront.
Matheus Cunha – 6/10 Showed glimpses of his ability but couldn’t influence the game consistently.

Substitutes:

Tommy Doyle – 7/10 Brought composure in midfield when introduced, helping Wolves maintain their shape.
Carlos Forbs – 6/10 Showed flashes of creativity but couldn’t make a decisive impact.
Goncalo Guedes – 6/10 Lively but didn’t have enough time to affect the game.
Jean-Ricner Bellegarde – N/A

Manager:

Gary O’Neil – 7/10 Tactical discipline kept Wolves in the game, despite the late heartbreak.

Manchester City

Ederson – 6/10 Made an important save in the first half, largely untroubled for the rest.
Rico Lewis – 7/10 Clever movement into midfield helped City’s attacking phases.
John Stones – 7/10 Redeemed himself with the winner after struggling against Wolves’ forwards.
Ruben Dias – 6/10 Generally solid but will be frustrated with the defensive lapses.
Josko Gvardiol – 8/10 A stunning goal and consistently dangerous going forward.
Mateo Kovacic – 7/10 A driving force in midfield, combining well with the attackers.
Ilkay Gundogan – 7/10 Influential in the final third, pulling the strings in key moments.
Savinho – 6/10 Started brightly but couldn’t maintain his influence as the game progressed.
Bernardo Silva – 6/10 Played a key role in the winning goal but wasn’t at his usual best.
Jeremy Doku – 6/10 Pace and energy, but lacked the final product to make a real difference.
Erling Haaland – 4/10 Struggled to get involved and was well marshalled by the Wolves defence.

Substitutes:

Phil Foden – 7/10 Injected creativity when brought on, helping City push for the winner.
Jack Grealish – 6/10 Didn’t have much impact in his brief cameo.
Matheus Nunes – N/A