Wolves 2 Manchester City 1:SAME OLD City. Just as commentators had begun to call Roberto Mancini's side genuine title contenders, they have lapsed back into the diffidence and disarray that last year led to the sacking of the Italian's predecessor, Mark Hughes.
Questionable attitude on the pitch? Check. Discord in the dressingroom? Check. Tactical confusion? Check.
Are these the natural growing pains of a hastily-built team or symptoms of terminal unreliability? It is Mancini’s job to prove the former case. Otherwise he will become another ex-City manager.
Wolves inflicted a second successive defeat and there were few consolations, unlike after the valiant 10-men display against Arsenal.
City started well, but after swaggering into a 23rd-minute lead thanks to an Emmanuel Adebayor penalty, the half-a-billion-pound men looked stunned by the ferocity of the Wolves fightback.
City’s lack of shape and spirit was a contrast to the home team and manager Mick McCarthy’s inexpensive side provided a model City would do well to emulate. Wolves won because the players knew their roles and played them diligently.
It is testament to the unity of purpose McCarthy has instilled that even with the team in the relegation zone, having failed to secure the results their performances have merited, Wolves have not lost faith, sniped at each other or resorted to individualistic play.
Despite their position they, at least, look like a team on the up.
Conducting the Wolves ensemble on the pitch was Karl Henry, who had returned after serving the suspension for the red card he received at Wigan four weeks ago. He marshalled the Wolves midfield with neat passing and dynamic running. Those are also the traits McCarthy says define Henry and his team.
Europa League Watch
Manchester City play in Poland on Thursday. Their opponents, Lech Poznan – who are struggling near the bottom of the domestic league – recorded a timely 4-1 home defeat of Wisla Krakow yesterday.
