Wolves Fans' Verdict v Man City: Far from a disastrous defeat, but lessons learnt

After two wretched defeats within a week, City simply couldn’t afford to stutter against us and our set-up from the outset virtually assured that we wouldn’t be adding to their embarrassment. 

It was always likely to be a rear guard action and we appeared to have voluntarily conceded the fact before a ball was kicked. 

For all of their quality, City’s defence is susceptible when hit on the break. Wolves opted out of trying to exploit this option. City would likely have prevailed regardless of any tactics we employed, but sitting deep and watching them play offers no hope of retaliation. 

Conceding both early and late during the first period guaranteed the outcome; City were satisfied to reassert themselves as winners rather than going full tilt to blitz us into oblivion. The woodwork saved us from additional damage in both halves as we struggled to make any meaningful impact in front of goal. 

An improved second-half offered some opportunities from set-pieces with Mosquera unlucky on a couple of occasions with City’s defensive frailties if not glaringly exposed, at least clearly evident. 

Ultimately, Wolves didn’t have the ability to cash in and a routine and untroubled home win was achieved with the minimum of discomfort. 

Realistically, it was stretching credibility a touch to expect anything else; Wolves within their season-long limitations avoided humiliation, competed reasonably well without any real prospect of success and did their best to partially nullify the enormous chasm existing between the two squads. We won’t be rubbing such exalted shoulders for a while!

Clive Smith

There is no pretending it was a great game by any means. Conceding early is always bad news in a fixture of this sort. Whatever our plan was at kick off from the sixth minute it became imperative that we had to dig deep to stay in the game. 

Passing the ball predominantly in our own half is not particularly fun to watch, but it can be appreciated for what it is and that is, difficult. It is easy to under estimate how skilful it is controlling the ball in limited space, while being pressured, and finding a colleague to pass the ball to. By doing this relatively successfully throughout the half kept us in the game. 

One tense moment came when the ball struck Mosquera in the box. The referee played on, before VAR intervened. The referee was sent to the screen and we expected the inevitable. Take a bow Farai Hallam. He stood firm on his decision. (He did turn a blind eye on our corners, ignoring Silva throwing first Larsen then Gomes into the back of the net).

The irony was, VAR still managed to stuff us up, the four minutes it took were added to the half and that's when we went two down. It was tough after all our hard work throughout the half.

Rob Edwards made two attacking changes for the second half. Possession did turn slightly in our favour but the last thing we wanted was for the game to become all open. Only when Tolu came on for the final 20 minutes were we able to exert some concerted pressure. Had it been only 1-0 our hopes would have been raised much more.

Considering City have spent heavily (again) since the opening day of the season when we lost 4-0, this result was far from disastrous.

Harry Lee

The unbeaten start to 2026 may have ended at Manchester City, but the team spirit amongst the Wolves players and fight remains. The significant change to the starting XI was no focal point in Tolu, opting for a more mobile side on the counter attack, and you'd have to say this was a mistake by Rob Edwards, shown by the fact at half time we saw the introduction of JSL and Rodrigo Gomes.

There is no doubt Manchester City are a team full of world class players, but in their current form, injuries, as well as the fact Haaland and Foden were rested felt like an opportunity for a Wolves team that were in a good spell themselves.  But despite that it was a poor first half showing, offering little threat, struggling to keep hold of the ball or get out of the low block.  To be fair to Wolves conceding in the first six minutes they could have capitulated but reacted well to steady the ship.

It is no coincidence that Santi Bueno returning to the team has coincided with Wolves' uptick in defensive performance, our expected goals against one of the best in the division in the past six games, his calmness in the centre of the three works well with the more athletic and powerful Mosquera the one side and ball playing Krejci the other. Hugo Bueno has earned his place in the side and his delivery is a powerful weapon, however our weakness is clear, Tchatchoua at RWB has fantastic pace but going forward he offers nothing and breaks down attacks.

Second half saw improvement, Mane the bright spark again, but we didn't do quite enough to force the ball in late on and make it interesting. This Wolves side are still learning, they still require some forward additions in the final days to support the outgoing players Lopez, Munetsi and potentially JSL.