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.
BBC-DA
