Manchester City 3-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers
When Willy Boly reflects on the Premier League 2018/19 campaign won’t forget the matches against Manchester City in a hurry.
The Frenchman scored his first goal in the top flight against the champions in August.
In this return fixture he was sent off for the first time in his Wolverhampton career.
Two firsts for Boly, one to remember, one to put to one side.
Certainly, his 19th minute dismissal for a reckless lunge on Bernardo Silva realistically ended this as a contest.
Highlights of the game
The majority of SBOBET followers expected City to win this one – especially after 16 goals in their last two matches – and they were already in front before Boly’s moment of madness.
Centre back Aymeric Laporte, who also scored in the meeting between these sides earlier in the season, played one of the passes of the season – certainly one of the Premier League 2019 highlights from a defender –to dissect the visitors defence and the rampaging Leroy Sane found Gabriel Jesus who tapped in from close range.
The warning signs were ominous at this point – City had lost none of the previous 19 Premier League games in which Jesus has scored in (won 18, drawn one).
The warning signs were even clearer moments later when Boly was dismissed and suddenly Wolves’ difficult task was made even harder.
The red card clearly riled some fans of league leaders Liverpool, naturally fearful of City and irked by a decision not to send-off City skipper Vincent Kompany for a similar challenge in their recent top of the table clash when Pep Guardiola’s men closed the gap at the summit.
While inconsistency of officials naturally riles, it was hard to argue with referee Craig Pawson’s decision.
Jesus was in the wars himself a short time later, colliding with a post when sliding in and the sporting reaction of the Wolves players in quickly calling for the physio was good to see.
Jesus did get on the score sheet again before the break, however.
Shortly after Diogo Jota gave City a warning, Ryan Bennett tripped Raheem Sterling in the box and Jesus converted from 12 yards.
The sight of Kevin De Bruyne replacing David Silva and Sergio Aguero coming on for Jesus in the second half highlighted the strength in depth at Guardiola’s disposal and the home side managed the remainder of the contest against plucky opponents without over exerting themselves.
The former had an impact 12 minutes from time as he floated in a cross which took two deflections, the latter from Conor Coady before nestling into the net to seal a comfortable night’s work and reduce Liverpool’s lead to four points.
It said much for Wolves’ progress this season under Nuno Espirito Santos that this was their biggest defeat of the campaign.
This was too much of an ask though, especially once they were reduced to 10 men.
The Premier League 2019 betting odds are fascinating. Liverpool have a healthy lead but the title race continues.
Key statistics
Jesus now has seven goals in three games.
This is City’s first clean sheet in a Premier League home match for seven games.
David Silva has now appeared for City more times (267)in the Premier League than any other player for the club.
Since the start of the 2015-16 season, only Jamie Vardy (12) and Wilfried Zaha (12) have won more penalties in the Premier League than Sterling (11).
City have won 13 of their past 15 home league fixtures.
They are unbeaten in 35 Premier League home matches against promoted opposition since a 2-0 defeat by Reading in February 2007 (won 31, drawn four).
This was the second successive game that Bennett has conceded a penalty.
Wolves have the best record among the clubs seventh or lower against the Premier League’s established top six, earning nine points (won two, drawn three, lost three).
Wolves are now winless in seven top-flight away matches against City stretching back to a 3-2 victory at Maine Road in December 1979.
What’s next?
After four away home games on the bounce, it’s two away on the spin now for City.
They travel to managerless Huddersfield on Sunday (January 20) before the second leg of their League Cup semi-final at Burton a week on Wednesday.
Burnley are the visitors to the Etihad Stadium in the fourth round of the FA Cup on January 26 before they conclude a hectic January with a trip to Newcastle (January 29).
Wolves meet Leicester in the Premier League on Saturday and finish the month with a home match against West Ham with an FA Cup fourth round tie against Shrewsbury or Stoke City sandwiched in between.
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