Manchester City 1, Wolves 0
Kevin De Bruyne’s goal sealed victory for Manchester City who needed their fans to protect the points after Wolves twice hit the post and missed a sitter.
De Bruyne celebrated his penultimate game at the Etihad with the winning goal but he’ll admit that the fans were needed to make sure of the points by lifting the team in a difficult second half.
Victory meant City moved up to third temporarily – four points ahead of Chelsea and Nottingham Forest in 5th and 6th – who have a game in hand.
It could all have been different for City who used their 4-2-2-2 formation again against in-form Wolves but nearly came unstuck as the visitors employed some very effective counter attacks through in-demand forward Matheus Cunha.
Marshall Munetsi was just inches away from putting Wolves into the lead after Jean-Ricner Bellegarde was played through by Cunha and provided a cross which was just in front of his team mate.
Rayan Ait-Nouti hit the post and then had a follow up shot cleared off the line by Josko Gvardiol as City were caught on the break a couple of times by Wolves.
But despite living dangerously it was City that broke the deadlock with Kevin De Bruyne starting and finishing the move, Jeremy Doku produced a classic pullback from the touchline to set up his fellow Belgian after 35 minutes to the delight of the fans who were watching De Bruyne for the penultimate time at the Etihad Stadium.
Matheus Cunha hit the post at the start of the second half with a long range effort as City stood off him.
City struggled to get a coherent attack together in the second half as Wolves threatened on the break, but they were boosted by the home fans who sang non stop in the second half to raise City.
These fans – largely from the contingent who had protested the first 6 minutes of the game – lifted the side as the game became fragmented following a host of substitutions later on.
PLAYER RATINGS – Manchester City 1, Wolves 0
Ederson: 6. Will have nightmares about Marshall Munetsi’s chance, caught out by Matheus Cunha’s quick thinking shot that hit the post.
Matheus Nunes: 7. Booed by the Wolves fans, provided width down the right. Vital clearance in the second half prevented a counter attack for Wolves.
Ruben Dias: 6. Some tough tackling required at times as City lived dangerously.
Josko Gvardiol: 7. More consistent at centre back despite the odd gaffe – cleared off the line from Rayan Ait-Nouri as City allowed counter attacks. Went to left back after the introduction of Manuel Akanji.
Nico O’Reilly: 6. Better going forward than back, exploited a bit by the Wolves counter attack.
Mateo Kovacic: 6. Somewhat flooded by Wolves midfielders when they broke on City.
Bernardo Silva: 7. Deep lying playmaking. Moved the ball around well.
Kevin De Bruyne: 8. From central advanced role could poke holes in the Wolves defence, started and finished the move that broke the deadlock. The goal seemed to give him a boost of energy as the Belgian then set about proving he could still play in the Premier League with some energetic pressing.
Ilkay Gundogan: 6. Attacking down the left channel, involved in the build up for the first goal.
Jeremy Doku: 7. Hugged the left touchline. Provided moments of jeopardy for Wolves including the cutback that led to Kevin De Bruyne’s opening goal. Reverted to mean in the second half though.
Omar Marmoush: 6. All action when he got the ball. Loitered deeper in midfield and on the right where the space was. Wasteful with the chances he got, clattered early in the second half.
Manuel Akanji (on for Nico O’Reilly, 58): 6. Slotted in at centre back to steady the ship as Wolves looked to engage City.
Rico Lewis (on for Omar Marmoush, 84): No time to mark
Nico Gonzalez (on for Mateo Kovacic, 90+3): No time to mark
GOALS – Manchester City 1, Wolves 0
Man City 1, Wolves 0: 35. Kevin De Bruyne starts and finishes the move that broke the deadlock after Jeremy Doku slalomed into the area and cut the ball back to his fellow Belgian. Stadium breaks out in chant of “Oh, Kevin De Bruyne”
MATCH STATS – Manchester City 1, Wolves 0
Man City: Ederson, Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly (Akanji 58), Kovacic (Nico 90+3), Gundogan (McAtee 84), De Bruyne (C) (Foden 84), Silva, Doku, Marmoush (Lewis 84)
Man City Subs not used: Ortega, Haaland, Grealish, Savinho
Goal: De Bruyne 35
Wolves: Sa, Doherty (Sarabia 66), Agbadou, Toti Gomes, Semedo (Bueno 86), Joao Gomes, Andre (Guedes 80), Ait-Nouri, Munetsi, Bellegarde (Rodrigo Gomes 66), Cunha (Hwang 85)
Wolves Subs not used: Bentley, Doyle, Djiga, Lima
Referee: Peter Bankes