Chan he can

By Ivybridge Wolf
May 4 2024

After their first win last Saturday since March 9th, Wolves make the 80 mile trip up to the Etihad Stadium today with a 5.30pm Kick off. The match is being televised on Sky and along with Arsenal’s earlier win v Bournemouth, this fixture will be another critical step in determining the outcome of the Premier League title. Wolves will have other things on their mind and wanting to maintain momentum having beaten the Citizens 2-1 at Molineux last September and whilst they have the encouragement of a win last week, we all know that they will need to be at the very top of their game to achieve any kind of result today.

The bookies think they see things clearly with odds for a Wolves win varying from 14 to a massive 25/1 (in a two-horse race!!). Nevertheless, our Molineux victory versus Manchester City was extremely unexpected with the three points fully deserved which subjected City to their first defeat of the season.

City’s injury concern over Ederson appears to have subsided with Foden and Ruben Diaz back in contention after being unwell last week. Does it matter who Guardiola picks? Probably not given the shear quality of the bench they have at their disposal, never mind the starting XI!

Wolves definitely benefitted from having Hwang and Cunha in the side last week, although once again it was the quality and ruthlessness in front of goal that was missing. It wasn’t a classic performance in beating Luton, though if we had been more clinical, we’d have been out of sight before Luton scored their late consolation goal. Any chances that come our way today simply must be taken. Mentioning Cunha and Hwang, they are both on 11 goals for Wolves this season, so perhaps getting their twelfth might inspire them this evening?! As for team selection, the main selection issues for Wolves revolve about the availability of Santi Bueno, Pedro Neto and Bellegarde who are reported as closer to getting in the squad. Whether that’ll be today, we don’t have long to wait. Should Santi not be fit, then it’s a case of who joins Kilman and Toti at the back as I imagine we will stick to five at the back.

A few facts and stats on this fixture. Prior to beating City in September, our last triumph over them was in 2019/2020 when we did the double, though we have since lost the following 6 games between us. Were we to win today, it’d be the first time any side has done the double twice over any Guardiola team! Hope springs eternal. With the title in sight however, Manchester City have found form and an incredible roll winning 25 and drawing 6 of their last 31 matches (all competitions). No defeats - what a record ….. whilst in five away Wolves wins this term, we’ve only beaten sides either in the relegation zone or from London.

Gary O’ Neil will not be on the side lines today, enduring his 1 match touchline ban punishment after his direct but honest comments about the travesty of the Kilman disallowed ‘equaliser’ versus West Ham. That is a set back for Wolves and hopefully GON can clearly get his views across during the game. Many will have seen or read Howard Webb justifying the cancelling of this goal – for those that haven’t, it can be found in this link (click here and scroll down) amongst other chit chat about VAR decision making. Make of it what you will. Utter madness in my view.

To finish off, changing tack completely with a bit of ‘on this day history’, today being the 48^th anniversary of Wolves being relegated for the first time in my lifetime when Liverpool won the title at Molineux, played on a Tuesday night with thousands of scousers all over the place and me in the old Molineux Street stand! I hope we fair better at the Etihad today.

Enjoy the match and please leave your thoughts and comments in the thread below. Let’s hope for a fighting and battling Wolves performance versus a truly excellent opponent, we know it’ll be tough, can we do it?

UTW

Match Thread: Manchester City v Wolves 4.5.24 KO 5.30pm

Discussion started by Wolves , 04/05/2024 16:15

Wolves
04/05/2024 16:15

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:05:17:12:17:51 by Cheshire wolf.

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Ivybridge Wolf
04/05/2024 16:54

Manchester City XI: Ederson, Gvardiol, Ake, Akanji, Walker, Rodri, Kovacic, Silva, De Bruyne, Foden, Haaland.
Subs: Ortega, Dias, Stones, Grealish, Doku, Alvarez, Gomez, Nunes, Lewis.

Wolves XI: Sa, Semedo, Kilman, Gomes, H Bueno, Gomes, Lemina, Traore, Ait-Nouri, Cunha, Hwang.
Subs: Bentley, Doherty, S Bueno, Sarabia, Bellegarde, Gonzalez, Okoduwa, Chirewa, Fraser.

Hugo in for The Doc, Bellegarde and Santi make the bench

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Ivybridge Wolf
04/05/2024 17:32

Wolves kick off in red. Sa makes an early mis control but it’s okay! 😳

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Ivybridge Wolf
04/05/2024 17:48

If you’re not watching you’ll have to judge that penalty decision for yourselves. I think it’s incredibly harsh on RAN and Wolves. Man City 1-0 Wolves. What a downer so early on.

Sa just makes aa great save from a close range Haaland header.

City are turning the screw on us irrespective of the penalty decision

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Ivybridge Wolf
04/05/2024 17:53

22 minutes gone and one way traffic …. Sadly.Cunha has a little run. A wafer thin piece of positivity.

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Ivybridge Wolf
04/05/2024 17:56

….. followed by a nice period of passing by Wolves, good for confidence but no real impression on the Man City goal.

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Ivybridge Wolf
04/05/2024 18:07

Well, that is that. Haaland with a great header from a great cross.

2-0 after 34 minutes.

Gulf of class and the chase to the title continues for City

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An angry wolf
04/05/2024 18:18

If wolves can keep the score below 10, it is certainly providing some credibility to GON being offered a new 10 year contract to keep the glory days rolling.

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Ivybridge Wolf
04/05/2024 18:19

Another penalty, given by VAR, Semedo on Haaland. This was a penalty.

3-0 and a first half Haaland hat trick. We have a good spell for a period but couldn’t lay a glove on them. The only relief is that Semedo hasn’t been sent off as last man with the 2nd penalty decision.

A routine early evening for Man City.

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Ivybridge Wolf
04/05/2024 18:22

HT 3-0

Painful!

UTW

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Lupy
04/05/2024 18:25

Listening to commentary and it sounds a bit boys against men.

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Ivybridge Wolf
04/05/2024 18:40

Bellgarde on for Lemina - 2 minutes gone in this 2nd half

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Ivybridge Wolf
04/05/2024 18:47

What a lovely finish Semedo crosses and Ederson gets a touch then Hwang finishes with aplomb! Excellent goal.

But before I can finish typing, Haaland leaves Kilman for dust and a superb finish for his and City’s 4th.

Man City 4-1 Wolves.

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Ivybridge Wolf
04/05/2024 18:52

Excellent Sa goalkeeeping ensures it just the 4 to Haaland

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Ivybridge Wolf
04/05/2024 19:03

Substitution - Bueno for Bueno

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Ivybridge Wolf
04/05/2024 19:06

73 gone. Man City the more likely to score again, Sa makes another decent save.

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Ivybridge Wolf
04/05/2024 19:10

Sarabia on for Cunha who has battled hard, I must say.

The appalling Nunes is coming on for City shortly🤮

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Ivybridge Wolf
04/05/2024 19:12

Great cross from RAN and Sarabia somehow misses the ball completely. That was a great chance for our 2nd.

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Ivybridge Wolf
04/05/2024 19:18

5-1 Alvarez.

Toti loses the ball in a dangerous position and a lovely calm finish to extend the City lead.

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Ivybridge Wolf
04/05/2024 19:23

Many Wolves fans now leaving. They’ve been stoic today, supporting our team well, audible in encouragement for the players and the manager alike.

A stinging day for all Wolves fans.

We’ve entered 4 minutes of added time

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Ivybridge Wolf
04/05/2024 19:31

FT 5-1

Man City march on, Wolves licking open wounds and need to put this behind us prior to next weekend at Molineux.The players and GON will want to end our home fixtures on a high.

Better in the second half however the damage was done in the first half and in any case we still lost the 2nd half too. Overall disappointing and a disappointing GD of -11 now.

A strangely subdued Etihad, lots of City fans had b*ggered off before the final whistle.A shame, they have a fine team to support with some exceptional players.

UTW

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essington wolf
04/05/2024 19:55

Wouldn't have made a difference today as city were much the better team but it does feel like we are playing against the officials every week they are a discrace with their bias towards the so called big boys.
If city had made those 2 challenges in their box we know we wouldnt have got either penalty.
It's hard enough playing city but when the officials give them an helping hand it's makes you wonder why we keep spending our hard earned money to watch this corrupt premier league.
This game isn't enjoyable anymore it's just not a fair playing field.
Atwell shouldn't be in charge of another wolves game he clearly doesn't like us.

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