A John Stones header in injury time gives Manchester City a spectacular victory against Wolves | first division

With about 25 seconds of five tense minutes remaining in second-half stoppage time, John Stones drove in Phil Foden's corner to send Wolves assistant coach Shaun Derry sinking into the grass in the home technical area and sending the team into a frenzy. visiting fans. For Gary O'Neil, the disgusting centered on the manner of the goal, with Bernardo Silva protecting José Sá in the Wolves goal. last season The wolves criticized the VAR after Max Kilman had West Ham's 99th-minute equalizer disallowed because Tawanda Chirewa was deemed to be blocking Lukasz Fabianski's vision. This time referee Chris Kavanagh visited the VAR monitor and ruled in favor of Pep Guardiola.

Of course, a burly 6ft 4in Norwegian, the 24-year-old No. 9, would open the scoring. Only it was not Erling Haaland but Jørgen Strand Larsen who capped a clever move by Wolves to give City something to think about. Guardiola's side equalized thanks to a classy goal from Josko Gvardiol, but just when it looked like Wolves would be rewarded for digging into their energy reserves to grab a priceless point, they were condemned to a damaging defeat. By this time next weekend, the Wolves will have faced seven of the top eight in their first nine games.

Don't be afraid of anything. Reading the Wolves motto on the big screens, center circle banners and billboards is one thing, but adopting that mentality is another, especially when you lack confidence after taking just one point in the first seven games. and the champions are in town. O'Neil acknowledged that the deeper the rut, the harder it is for Wolves to get out, and the mental challenge of trying to keep City out. Mario Lemina, who wears the captain's armband and his heart on his sleeve, said only liars and cheaters would blame his coach for his poor run.

Wolves' appetite to keep a clean sheet for the first time since February seemed exhausting both physically and mentally. It was a grueling experience, at one point Toti Gomes made an impromptu header on the goal line after desperately deflecting a Silva shot. Craig Dawson and Lemina were attentive to every ball. O'Neil frantically tapped his temples as André took the ball out of play for a Wolves goal kick in the 29th minute, a rare treat after absorbing relentless pressure as City chased an equaliser.

Four minutes later Jérémy Doku arrived, wide from the left, passing the ball to Gvardiol 20 meters from the goal. City attacked in numbers, all the field players dressed in jasper red were positioned on the perimeter of the Wolves area. Gvardiol's first touch allowed the ball to roll over his body and with the next he fired a right-footed shot into the top corner, through Sá's fingertips.

Sá, who replaced the injured Sam Johnstone in goal, had a good game. He made a smart early stop to his right to deny Silva and another in first-half stoppage time to push Savinho's effort into the corner after Silva had taken possession inside the box. In the second half, Sá dived to his left to force Rúben Dias' shot around the left post and Wolves survived a couple more scares, but City did not penetrate the hosts so easily.

Gonçalo Guedes looked set to run out the clock in the 83rd minute. Tommy Doyle, the former City midfielder, came on at half-time and then his former teammate Foden followed him midway through the second half as Guardiola tried to increase the pressure. Guardiola later turned to Matheus Nunes, the former Wolves midfielder whose arrival was openly booed by the home fans. Much more anger followed.