By Samuel A. October 20, 2024
John Stones scored Man City’s dramatic winner in stoppage time at Molineux as their 2-1 victory at Wolves sent them top of the Premier League table momentarily before Liverpool beat Chelsea to regain their spot. Jorgen Strand Larsen had opened the scoring from a fast Wolves counter attack, and while Josko Gvardiol leveled it up before the break, the struggling Wolves defended doggedly and looked to have held out until Stones’ headed in a corner in the 95th minute of the match. The goal, which was initially ruled out for offside, was allowed after a VAR check when it was deemed that Bernardo Silva was not interfering with Jose Sa’s view. The win extends City’s unbeaten run to 31 games, moves them top and sends Wolves bottom.
Wolverhampton Wanderers and their poor form could have had them fearing the worst against the Premier League champions, but were galvanized after an early goal, a sweeping move down the right seeing Nelson Semedo’s low cross find Strand Larsen free to slot in at the far post.
Semedo had the chance to make it two from a similar counter-attack almost immediately after, but was denied by Ederson. Gvardiol then equalized with a beautiful goal which already seems to be the trademark goal of the Croatian, hitting the ball into the top right corner and giving Jose Sa no chance. Sa still impressed however, producing fine stops from Bernardo Silva and Savinho to ensure that Wolves were able to go in level at the interval.
City pushed furthermore in the second half, introducing Phil Foden and Jack Grealish to provide a different wing threat, but Erling Haaland was kept remarkably quiet by the Wolves’ central defenders. Wolves were so close to seeing out the game,just before the late drama as Stones headed in from a sumptuous Phil Foden set piece to stun Molineux.
Gary O’Neil was livid that the goal stood, and made his feelings clear after the game at the post match interview: “I am trying to remain calm”, he said. “I have been involved in a few of those and not had many go in our favour so was expecting that outcome. There is some grey area that can go either way and once it was like that I wasn’t confident it would go our way.
I can categorically tell you that they definitely don’t mean to. They are 100% honest and they’re doing their job the best they can. I just know that from a human point of view, it’s tough. It’s tough. I feel different playing against Man City to how I do playing somebody else in, you know, the Carabao Cup in the first round.
It’s a different feeling. And I’m sure they feel the same. The bigger the game, I’m sure they feel it. You know, they’re human. And I don’t know if I might be miles off, but it just feels like there could be. If I had to upset someone in a street and there was a little guy and a big guy, I’d upset the little guy. Nothing against little guys, but you know what I mean? Like, there is something in there and they definitely don’t do it on purpose.
I know they’re 100% honest and they’re doing the best job they can and I respect them fully. But maybe, maybe there’s something that just edges in that direction when it’s really tight.” On the other hand, Pep Guardiola said: “Well, at the moment the linesman raises the flag, the first instance, the corner can’t be offside. From John, Sa is watching perfectly the action, so well given.”
Wolves will be looking to get back to winning ways next Saturday as they’ll visit Brighton at the Amex stadium. City, on the other hand, will try to extend their unbeaten run and take it to 32 against Southampton at the Etihad.
