Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1 Manchester City: City suffer first league defeat of season

Manchester City’s 100% Premier League record came to an end at Molineux as Hwang Hee-chan scored a second-half winner to give Wolves a shock victory against the champions.

Still, it did seem as though the visitors were on course to emerge victorious after Julian Alvarez curled home a brilliant free-kick to level Ruben Dias’ early own goal.

But, just as Pedro Neto had gone on a right-wing raid before the opener, Nelson Semedo’s forward surge inspired a second for Wolves, who ended a run of six straight defeats against City.

It completed a miserable day for former Wolves midfielder Matheus Nunes.

The Portugal international went on strike to secure his £53m move to City last month and the home fans evidently have not forgotten as they jeered him every time he touched the ball before he was substituted at half-time.

Nunes misfires as City stumble

Whilst most observers feel it is a foregone conclusion that City will become the first side in English football history to win four league titles in a row, there are signs to provide reason for optimism amongst their rivals.

City have now gone behind four times in their last five matches and have now lost successive games for the first time since January following their midweek defeat to Newcastle in the EFL Cup.

Although he was in an unaccustomed position alongside football director Txiki Begiristain, there was the familiar sight of Guardiola rubbing his head in frustration at a team that is struggling to find the fluidity they have been so accustomed to producing so easily.

Phil Foden tried his best to spark the visitors into life and Jack Grealish was introduced for the final 10 minutes to try to inspire a late revival.

It was not to be though, with Nunes’ performance a clear disappointment as he struggled to impose himself on the contest and failed to reappear for the second half as youngster Oscar Bobb took his place.

There was an acceptance last season from virtually everyone at Wolves that at some point in the not too distant future, Nunes would leave.

But having haemorrhaged talent throughout a tortuous summer, it left a sour taste when the 25-year-old to refused to turn up and train in order to force his transfer to City.

When City’s half-time change was announced to the crowd, the home fans reacted with glee, chanting “what a waste of money”. When the final whistle sounded, the chant had changed to “Nunes, Nunes, what’s the score”.

A bit of history for O’Neil

In achieving this victory, Wolves boss Gary O’Neil was joining an exclusive club.

In 44 previous Premier League meetings against sides managed by Englishmen, has Guardiola previously lost only once – against Graham Potter’s Brighton in 2021.

O’Neil can take pride in the fact this success was not achieved solely through backs-to-the-wall defending.

There was a bit of that – and goalkeeper Jose Sa was well placed to deal with efforts from Haaland and Alvarez, knowing the equaliser went right into the top corner. But Wolves played with calmness and had a plan, exploiting the space behind the left side of City’s defence, which first Neto and then Semedo did with such success.

Neto’s burst carried him to the byline, with Dias so desperate to stop the Portugal star’s cross that he stuck out a leg and sent the ball looping into the net.

For the second, Matheus Cunha had the presence of mind to return the ball to Hwang, whose initial effort had been blocked.

In their last game on this ground, Wolves led for 48 minutes before eventually crumbling to defeat against Liverpool.

They were in no mood to let their big-name visitors off the hook a second time.