Sterling spot-on as Manchester City do just enough against 10-man Wolves

Raheem Sterling’s 100th Premier League goal came via the penalty spot and gave Manchester City a sixth consecutive win in the competition. This is a precious victory as here was a curious contest that featured serial ill-temper, head clashes, a ridiculous sending-off for Raúl Jiménez and, until Sterling’s intervention, Wolves threatening to escape with a point despite the mountain of chances created by the champions.

Even Jonathan Moss’s award of Sterling’s spot-kick was controversial as Bernardo Silva’s cross hit João Moutinho’s armpit – is this, actually, handball? – and VAR duly backed the referee. Sterling’s penalty was one of those slow, straight-down-the-middle affairs that had José Sá diving right and therefore out of the way.

Bruno Lage was particularly nonplussed. “The referee saw his arm and the rules say he is trying to create a bigger body,” the Wolves manager said. “But the ball touched here [his armpit]. But after the referee whistles it’s a VAR decision.”

In scoring the spot-kick Sterling became the 32nd to achieve the century, joining Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy, Romelu Lukaku, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mané as those on the list still playing. “It’s a lovely achievement. There are some fantastic players in that list – I’m really honoured to be in it now,” said Sterling, who is up to five strikes in his last eight appearance for City after two in the previous 31.

Pep Guardiola’s shuffle of his stellar pack had left Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden and Riyad Mahrez on the bench against an XI featuring Adama Traoré, who scored both in Wolves’ 2-0 win here two years ago. Instantly what would be the pattern was set. City prodded the ball about in those familiar percussive rhythms, while Wolves hoped to nab it and unleash the speed of Traoré, as when Jiménez hit a pass along the left and Rúben Dias was turned.

Silva has been receiving weekly notices for his dazzling displays and Romain Saïss soon saw why. João Cancelo thumped the ball to his feet and a hip-sway later the Portuguese was firing marginally wide of Sá’s goal.

Next came a pause due to the fierce head-clash between Rúben Neves and Max Kilman. The latter, face bloodied, was bandaged up and continued, as did the former. Moments later, another break in play. Sterling galloped past Saïss who appeared to receive a hand in the face. Cue the Moroccan going down and being branded a “cheat” by the home faithful.

In a strange passage, Jiménez’s sending-off trumped all. After being booked for fouling Rodri he stood at close range, blocked the free-kick, saw yellow again then red. The Mexican became pantomime villain, dawdling, twice throwing one of his gloves to the ground, all to the jeers from the crowd punctuating this.

Lage said: “The first yellow card, he did not touch the guy and it’s in our half and we had 10 men behind the ball. [But] he knows he cannot do that [for the second yellow].”

Guardiola’s men had been disrupted and thus the second half had to be about them finding their usual poise. “We were patient,” said the manager. Yet more frustration followed when Ilkay Gündogan’s header was cleared off the line by Conor Coady. But City thumped at the door and Sterling was the one to finally force a way through, Wolves ruing an added-time chance to pilfer an equaliser as Ederson made a late and brilliant save from Kilman’s header.

The Brazilian then secured a 100th City clean sheet and Guardiola’s team have won 32 of their 40 Premier League games in 2021 (losing six); only Liverpool in 1982 have won more matches in an English top-flight calendar year.

Guardiola said of Wolves: “It is so difficult when a team doesn’t want to play.”

Lage shrugged this off. “This is his opinion and I respect him.”