Analysis: Small positives but Wolves need more quality and quick after opening day humbling

For all the hype around the start of a new season - the importance of the curtain riser was more around paying tribute to one of their former favourites more than anything else.

The day was about Diogo Jota.

For the first time since his tragic death earlier in the summer - Wolves fans gathered for a league game eager to pay their full respects to Jota and his brother Andre Silva, and remember a star who lit up Molineux time and time again.

They did so, and then some. Chants, applause and huge banners that adorned the South Bank gave Wolves fans the chance to kick off their season by remembering one of the favourites.

It was fitting and the fans did themselves proud. 

The football arguably was secondary but it was of course still hugely important. After a summer of frustration over big departures, poor results and a need for more key players to come through the door - Vitor Pereira would have wanted to find some encouragement from a tough opening day assignment.

He handed a debut to David Moller Wolfe with fellow new boys Fer Lopez and Jhon Arias named on the bench following their arrivals.

As is the case against City, teams have to be content with giving up the ball.

That is how it played out with the opening quarter of the first half like more of a possession based training game for City - with the odd advancement into the opposition half from the hosts.

However, they were only opened up once, as Erling Haaland found space but headed over.

After weathering that possession storm, they settled and on the break they looked like they could do something.

Joy was coming down the right with Marshall Munetsi. Had he not been so eager to meet a superb cross from the right, which he buried with a firm header past James Trafford, Wolves may taken an unlikely lead.

As it transpired he was flagged offside - and was off by some distance. He again went close only to be caught by the assistant referee's flag.

Jorgen Strand Larsen and Joao Gomes were both found with crosses from each flank, but neither could direct anything on target.

But for all City's possession the encouragement was there. Wolves were showing they could hurt the visitors.

However, against a side like the former Premier League champions, make a slip or a mistake and they will punish you.

That is exactly what they did as Haaland tapped in at the back post and then within minutes, a slack Emmanuel Agbadou pass was swept up and City broke with Tijjani Reijnders lashing home.

It was a lesson for Wolves in the fine margins. At one stage they had City on the back foot, it looked as though they could edge ahead.

By the break, they were two behind and facing and uphill battle.

They needed some inspiration and Pereira must have given it to them, because they fired out of the blocks with Larsen connecting with a Ki-Jana Hoever cross, only for the ball to end up hitting the side netting.

Munetsi then laid one right across the six yard box but no one was there. That was arguably the difference.

When Rico Lewis did it for City, Haaland was on the spot to tap it in. Those margins again.

When City broke and Haaland rifled in a third in the second half, it was pretty much curtains with the misery later compounded as Rayan Cherki worked himself space before firing past Jose Sa.

In the end it turned into a bit of a thumping on paper - but at periods of the game it just didn't feel like it was going to go that way.

Wolves certainly showed they have spirit and are up for a battle - something that was developed by Pereira last season following his arrival at the club.

They showed they have something going forward certainly on the break. The bigger concern after the opener is at the other end.

Agbadou, as he has done all pre-season, had a poor game positionally and in possession and arguably for all four goals Wolves made it far, far too easy for the opposition.

He wasn't the only one in the backline who struggled and made errors. You can't do that against any side in the Premier League let alone City.

And despite the encouragement going forward - they do lack clinical quality. And they are without a talisman.

In the game there was no one who was going to grab the game by the scruff of the neck like Matheus Cunha used to do or players who came before him.

That bit of quality and spark isn't there at the moment.

There are players who potentially may show it. Lopez and Arias showed good energy off the bench and will want to be making a point and pushing for a start soon.

But it is clear. They need more. The opening day didn't outline anything Pereira doesn't already know. They need reinforcements, and quality ones.