Premier League - Man City hold on to beat Wolves

Eurosport - Sat, 22 Aug 21:27:00 2009

Manchester City held on for a 1-0 victory at home to Wolves despite overpowering the visitors in the first half when Emmanuel Adebayor hit their winning goal.

FOOTBALL 2009-2010 Premier League Manchester City Emmanuel Adebayor - 0

With only his second shot of the season he took his tally to two goals with a crisp strike low inside the near post.

Wolves striker Andy Keogh hit the bar with a thundering volley after the break, while the introduction of record signing Kevin Doyle gave Mick McCarthy's men greater potency up front in the second 45 minutes.

It all seemed too easy for City early on inside a sold-out Eastlands, the stars in light blue biding their time and moving the ball about while Wolves struggled to create anything with Keogh battling alone in attack.

Despite the lack of a shot it was little surprise when City took the lead in the 17th minute, Togo striker Adebayor turning to fire home after a weighted pass inside the box on the right from Carlos Tevez.

That prompted Mark Hughes's men to go for the jugular - and they were almost rewarded eight minutes later, right-back Micah Richards finding the feet of Shaun Wright-Phillips, who turned loanee Michael Mancienne before squaring into the box for Adebayor.

He played a one-two with the measured Stephen Ireland before firing at goal from 18 yards - goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey stood tall to block.

Wolves were defending desperately with little prospect of fighting for a result, Tevez and Robinho - twice - forcing further saves out of a busy Hennessey.

However Matt Jarvis almost drew them level before the interval when the ball broke for him in the City half. He advanced through a challenge before an excellent curled shot from 25 yards was palmed over in the top corner by Shay Given.

Tevez, making his first competitive start for City, should have put them two up just before half-time when his free header from a Gareth Barry cross was directed wide.

Striker Doyle and left-back George Elokobi appeared for Wolves pair Nenad Milijas - highly-impressive on debut last week but ineffective here - and Greg Halford for the second half.

Doyle has scored 19 Premier League goals in his career and, with only four men in the club's squad having found the net in the top flight, his predatory instincts immediately added something to Wolves' play.

Doyle and Keogh linked together and the latter should have crossed with the former Reading striker lurking in the box, but opted to shoot - high and wide. Moments later Keogh did cross for his new partner, but the ball was ahead of his despairing dive.

As the half wore on City became jumpy and their fans increasingly restless. Before the hour-mark they expected Ireland to put fears of an equaliser to rest when he received the ball in the box after a great run; however he inexplicably scuffed it wide under little pressure and with Hennessey the only man in front of him.

Adebayor took a heavy touch as he raced through and wide of the visiting keeper, only managing to find the side-netting, while Robinho's tap-in from a Wright-Phillips cross was ruled out for offside.

Keogh then hit the bar after Kolo Toure failed to deal with a long ball forward from Hennessey and Wolves, willed on by their fans behind the goal, began to believe they could grab an unlikely draw.

Nigel de Jong came on for Robinho as Hughes looked to stiffen his side's midfield and hold out for the draw; another striker had already appeared for Wolves in the shape of Sam Vokes.

A flurry of corners and free-kicks followed, while Given reacted late to palm wide an Elokobi cross from the left which almost sneaked inside the near post.

Richard Stearman, the only man to be booked - for a first-half challenge on Robinho - went closest with a header in the dying seconds; City could have put the game to bed earlier through substitute Craig Bellamy - on for Tevez - as gaps were left by the old gold side.

City held on - but the fans will worry that their team displayed the hot-and-cold form that plagued their campaign last season under Hughes.

Jonathan Symcox / Eurosport

Comment 33 - 52 of 52

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  1. I like wolves... they played well...they'll be ok­ this season so good luck. City fan.

    From Chris W, on Mon 24 Aug 1:03PM

  2. well done wolves nice try i am a wolves fan i dont­ think we did enough 2 win the game but we did well and­ i do hope man city get in 2 the top4

    From jack_green_11, on Sun 23 Aug 8:03PM
  3. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    is that all they can win by.....1 goal! HA

    From gunners4 lyfe:), on Sun 23 Aug 4:21AM

  4. The interesting thing is we know Adebayor and we know­ Toure, we will make em look bad, we know how to...lol!

    From Dale, on Sun 23 Aug 3:25AM

  5. What a load of old Bol**cks. City are City and always­ will be, we win at home and lose away(that is what has­ to change), just look at our past record. As for­ HOLDING ON TO A WIN. Shi*e.
    It was quite rightly stated­ before, that had it been Man U sc*m, it would have been­ a dogged effort(see Match of the Day for the past 30­ years and Chinney Hill), but because it was the true­ end of Manchester and not salford it is a lucky win.­ Horse Sh** City will become a force to be reckoned­ with, this time.
    COME ON YOU BLUE MOON

    From paulski63244, on Sun 23 Aug 1:17AM

  6. I watched this game. What amazed me is that, there were­ COUNTLESS opportunities for Man City. They could have­ scored "at least" 5 goals, and I even suspect­ it could have been 10 !

    Missing chances is never good,­ but if eventually you win the game, then it is okay.­ Seeing that they looked like having the ability to­ create a lot of chances so early in the season, just­ imagine if all the players begin to gel even better. It­ would be - AWESOME.

    From windwave, on Sun 23 Aug 12:02AM

  7. too many false dawns with city but thats the joy of­ supporting the best club in the world. money talks and­ @#$% walks just ask chelski, our turn next you paupers­ just go through our trash and pick our castoffs,­ fuc*ing love it !!!!

    From vivian506, on Sat 22 Aug 11:45PM

  8. adebayor played will robinho asweelll it could have­ been like 5 1

    From Ademola, on Sat 22 Aug 11:44PM

  9. Whoa can we all back off with the comments like­ "we can't beat a team like wolves "­ granted we're not as good as a lot of teams in the­ premiership but are full of fight and heart a bit of­ respect wud be highly appreciated thanx..

    From jospeed, on Sat 22 Aug 11:09PM

  10. right firstly, esogwa, f**k off and go moan on someone­ elses page, we dont give a flying f**k, ok, now then ,­ why is this page full of bitter comments from fans of­ other clubs? surely it should be about today, ie city­ and wolves fans, why dont you tw**s spend the time and­ energy supporting YOUR team instead of using it to­ comment on mine? first half , we destroyed them­ technically, finishing was poor, secongd half was a bit­ like same old city, but a win is a win , keep it up.­ C.T.I.D

    From cityzen, on Sat 22 Aug 10:29PM

  11. Another glorious home display just like last year lol ,­ Mark Hughes Great player Boring manager zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

    From Glenn T, on Sat 22 Aug 10:03PM

  12. city supporters grow up. last season this would have­ turned into a draw or loss. i'd much rather see­ ugly wins than pretty draws/losses.

    From tdann1, on Sat 22 Aug 10:02PM

  13. 'Hughes.....you are the weakest­ link.......goodbye'

    From BRIAN, on Sat 22 Aug 9:46PM

  14. firstly tom h (comment 22) 'only reason they have­ got points so far is Given' is that not what he is­ paid for??? surely No1 on his back means that he is as­ important member of the side as No32. secondly why is­ it that when Utd, or Chealsea win 1-0 it is a dogged­ performance where true class showed in the ability to­ keep a clean sheet.. if you want to see a 25-22­ scoreline then get down to your local park!!!!

    From DAMION, on Sat 22 Aug 9:36PM

  15. lol, everbody writing off wolves at start of season and­ we hold the super-spenders to a 1-0 and shoulda won­ it... my prediction, wigan, hull or pompey and brum for­ the drop!

    From shambala180, on Sat 22 Aug 9:28PM

  16. Its funny really City play bad and win and everyones­ whinging saying how @#$% we are. The top four regulary­ play bad and win its what makes them winners. Havent­ got a clue how City will do, but its a new team and one­ of our new strikers has scored 2in2 Whats to moan­ about? I prefered it when everyone hated Chelski

    From bluegig75, on Sat 22 Aug 9:11PM

  17. Good old Mark Hughes,he has spent buckets of City cash­ on 9/10 strikers,and still they have trouble scoring­ goals,

    From Bob B, on Sat 22 Aug 8:56PM

  18. Why is Adebayor showing on Arsenal page? We have­ nothing to do with this player so stop linking him to­ us! Although i BET HE wishes he was still part of the­ current gunners!

    From Dale, on Sat 22 Aug 8:54PM

  19. Mark Hughes must buy a striker,

    From Bob B, on Sat 22 Aug 8:50PM

  20. People are not jealous of Man City for having the­ money. They, their fans, cheered and held a street when­ a crook and a human rights abuser bought their club. As­ recently written by a city fan ' the lifted up­ their skirt for the first £5 ' They, Man City­ officials, slagged off amnesity international and­ other human rights groups.
    He, the previous owner, was­ considered suitable to own Man City but is not now­ considered suitable to own any other club!!!
    They have­ no dignity, no honour, no decency - fur coat and no­ knickers.

    From GERRY, on Sat 22 Aug 8:35PM
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