Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo said his side have “nothing to prove” after they held Manchester City to a draw at Molineux, with Aymeric Laporte’s header rescuing a point for the champions.
Pep Guardiola’s side came here on the back of convincing victories at Arsenal and at home to Huddersfield Town – but were given a severe test by the team who won the Championship last season.
In an eventful match, City hit the post twice in the first half – first, through Sergio Aguero and and then when Wolves keeper Rui Patricio brilliantly turned Raheem Sterling’s rising 25-yard drive onto the bar. Wolves striker Raul Jimenez also had a goal ruled out for offside.
The hosts took the lead in controversial fashion after 57 minutes when defender Willy Boly’s attempted diving header went in off his hand from Joao Moutinho’s free-kick.
City had appeals for a penalty turned away by referee Martin Atkinson after Ruben Neves’ challenge on David Silva, but drew level in the 69th minute when Aymeric Laporte scored his first goal for the club – a towering header from Ilkay Gundogan’s free-kick.
Both sides had opportunities to win it in the closing stages, with City almost snatching three points when Aguero’s free-kick glanced off the bar with virtually the last kick of the game.
Wolves became only the third team since the beginning of last season to reach double figures in attempts on goal against Manchester City.
“It is a big victory for the boys today,” Nuno told BBC Sport. “No matter what opponent you have you should play the way you think you should play.
“It is our way. We don’t have to prove nothing to nobody. We just have to be ourselves, the way we work together.”
Wolves at home at the top table
The thunderous roar that greeted the final whistle and this well-earned point was just the sort of moment Wolves’ Chinese owners had in mind when they embarked on this hugely ambitious Molineux project.
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“We’re on our way back” boomed from the Sir Jack Hayward Stand as manager Nuno Espirito Santo and his players took the acclaim for taking the first points off Manchester City this season.
It has been a difficult opening to the season for Wolves with defeat at Leicester City following a home draw against Everton on the opening weekend.
On Saturday, however, Wolves showed commitment, energy and quality to carry out Nuno’s gameplan – one which he said he would not downgrade or tailor simply because Guardiola’s champions were in town.
Yes, there were moments when the hosts carried their luck. Boly’s goal was clearly scored with the aid of his hand, while City were frustrated by the woodwork – once via a brilliant Patricio save – but few would begrudge them this point.
Backed by a fervent support at a packed Molineux, they were not hanging on for a point and twice the raw pace of substitute Adama Traore almost provided crosses that led to a late goal.
Make no mistake, City did not deserve to lose either – but this is a result, occasion and performance that will do wonders for Wolves’ self-belief and help them settle into life in the Premier League.
Man City lack usual cutting edge
Guardiola and his Manchester City players will be frustrated at dropping their first points of the season after two convincing wins.
While City saw plenty of the ball, they were just short of their dazzling best in all areas of the pitch and could not find the clinical end product that normally comes so naturally to them.
Their luck was also out. Aguero hit the woodwork twice and Patricio’s athleticism left Sterling holding his head in anguish.
City still showed resilience to fight their way back into contention after the shock of falling behind to Boly’s goal, and plenty of City’s title rivals will have looked on in envy at the sheer firepower Guardiola was able to introduce from the bench as they went in search of victory.
Gabriel Jesus, Leroy Sane and Riyad Mahrez all came on – it did not do the trick on this occasion but their presence demonstrates the sheer size of the task of those hoping to wrestle the crown away from City.
Tough day for officials
The video assistant referee (VAR) will not be present in the Premier League this season – and Manchester City may well have been left regretting its absence at Molineux on Saturday.
Boly’s final touch on to Moutinho’s free-kick to give Wolves the lead clearly came off his hand, but it was incredibly tough for referee Atkinson and his assistant to spot as the ball was delivered into a crowd in the penalty area.
And City also felt they were denied a penalty when Silva tumbled under a Neves challenge, but their appeals were ignored.
In the end a draw was accepted by both sides – but City clearly felt aggrieved that big decisions had gone against them.
