- English Barclays Premier League
- 22 April 2012, 4:00pm
- Molineux
- Attendance: 24,576
Wolves![]() | v | Man City![]() |
| 0 | 2
|
live commentary
90+3 mins: FULL TIME - WOLVES ARE DOWN, AND CITY NARROW THE GAP TO THREE POINTS! The rain turns to hail as the ref blows up with the Wolves fans still making a defiant din - "Que sera sera, whatever will be will be, we're going to Barnsley". What a day for City though, as all eyes turn to the showdown at the Etihad in eight days.
Gaz, Bolton: "My next door neighbour is a united fan He is usually a right smug swine but i can hear him crying like a little girl now Come on city win the league please"
90+2 mins: Toure gets round Kightly and shoots just over from 20 yards. Torrential rain now and Mancini retreats into the dugout.
90 mins: There'll be two minutes added on as the rain pours down at Molineux. The Wolves fans are still in fantastic voice.
88 mins: Yaya Toure shrugs off two down the right and shoots from the tightest of angles, hitting the side netting.
87 mins: Toure of the Kolo flavour joins his brother in the fray, replacing Nasri.
85 mins: De Vries has to pull out a top-drawer stop from his own man as Stearman inadvertently heads Zabaleta's cross towards goal. Lescott gets up for the corner but plants his header just wide of the right-hand post.
82 mins: Gaaaaahhhhh! Aguero should have made it three after being sent clear, but instead of just getting his laces through it he tries to dribble round the covering defender and loses possession!
80 mins: Brilliant by Barry to skip past two in midfield and pick out Nasri down the right, he crosses looking for Aguero but Stearman heads clear.
77 mins: A flurry of subs - Tevez makes way for Johnson, Bassong seems to have done a hammy and is replaced by Berra, before Ebanks-Blake replaces Fletcher.
Peter, Manchester:"easy 2nd! wolves shud be thankful hennessy isnt playing . he usually lets in at least 4."
74 mins: NASRI SURELY SENDS WOLVES DOWN! Wolves feel hard done by after a foul is given on Tevez as City break clear. It's quickly taken and worked wide to Nasri down the right of the box, he takes his time and picks out his spot at the back stick, calmly slotting past De Vries from an angle!
73 mins: Doyle wins a corner on the near side but it fails to beat the first man and City bring it clear.
71 mins: De Vries comes to collect a long ball by Nasri and just gets there ahead of Aguero! There's a real urgency about City now, they're striiving to put this game to bed but are overhitting passes.
69 mins: Barry picks out Toure down the right of the box, he crosses looking for Tevez but Henry eventually clears.
67 mins: Kightly's picked out on the right by Bassong, he gets it on to his weaker left foot and curls a poor cross over everyone and out for a goal kick.
Peter, Manchester: "Haha wolves r rubbish. they cud play all day and not score. man city 4 the title"
65 mins: City retain possession with ease before Kompany lofts a poor through ball to nobody, which bounces all the way back to De Vries.
63 mins: Zabaleta chips a cross back towards Aguero and Tevez in the box but Bassong leaps and gets a vital header in.
62 mins: Foley puts Tevez's low cross behind for a corner with Aguero lurking at the back post. Wolves defend it well though.
60 mins: Wolves make a change now, Doyle beefing up the attack as he comes on for Edwards.
58 mins: City make a change and it's a defensive one by Mancini, Silva making way for De Jong. The longer this goes on, the less surprised I'll be if Wolves grab an equaliser.
56 mins: Hart claws Fletcher's header round the post! The keeper did well to get across to that effort from six yards. Wolves are asking big questions of City's title credentials now!
55 mins: Yaya Toure and stretches out a long leg and trips Kightly in midfield for a yellow card.
53 mins: Kightly chases down a lost cause on the right and does well to keep it in, he fires in a cross which Davis launches himself at, misses with the header before Jarvis rattles a shot well wide.
51 mins: A decent spell of pressure by Wolves here. Nice ball by Henry to pick out Jarvis on the left, his first cross is blocked and Zabaleta then outmuscles him. They win it back and keep the pressure on though.
Thomas, Cardiff: "1-0 against bottom of table wolves! pfft im gonna go support arsenal again if they don't score some more!!!!"
48 mins: Aguero races on to a ball down the left and holds off Bassong - no mean feat - until the cavalry arrives. Wolves eventually nick it back though and bring the ball upfield.
46 mins: As 'Hi Ho Silver Lining' dies down, Wolves get the second half start playing left to right with no subs to bring you. As AC Milan have already blown my accumulator for today, I wouldn't say no to another six Man City goals for my 7-0 to come in.
David, Perth: "What a great first half for city but we need to take our chances well done aguero"
Nelly, London: "The title is going to be decided on the 30th. Hope wolves win today, but i expect 3-0 to city."
Gaz: "Stil 3 points ahead. Only need a draw at emptihad on 30th. Man city got newcastle afta. That be hard game hope toon army beat the millionaires of manchester!"
Jay, Devon: "What a game at old trafford 4-4 nt a bad result against a top everton side utd will defo win the title theres not a cat in hells chance city will beat both man utd and newcastle draw monday destroyed at st james cme on wolves"
Kazim , Mumbai: "will be very hard to beat ManCity at home remeber sunderland game"
45+1 mins: That's HALF TIME. Wolves push men up for a free-kick but it's played wide. The eventual ball in from Kightly is straight at Hart, who boots upfield to the sound of the whistle. City could have been four up at the break, but only found the net after 27 minutes when Aguero latched on to a fine ball by Clichy before slotting past De Vries. Slack shooting otherwise, which means Wolves are still in with a shout of surviving to fight another day. I wouldn't put my own money on it though. Join me for the second half at 1705.
45 mins: There'll be just the one minute added on at Molineux.
43 mins: Now there's another break in play as Fletcher's down. Wolves' fans have gone quiet for the first time this afternoon. It's becoming a bit of a cliche, but their support has been brilliant at the back end of a woeful season.
42 mins: Yaya Toure and Davis collide on the edge of the box, drop ball for City who play it back to De Vries.
Baba, Coimbatore: "No matter today's result. Next match on Monday match will be the title decider."
40 mins: Foley breaks down the right and bids to slip Kightly in but Clichy reads it well and brings it clear for City.
38 mins: Nasri turns a few times on the edge of the box before getting his cross in but it's headed clear. City work it back in though and Tevez has a shot blocked, Nasri then crosses but there's nobody at the near post and it's out for a throw on the far side to Wolves.
Kevin, Newcastle: "You still have to go to Newcastle and i'll tell you what i'll love it if they beat you. love it!"
35 mins: Kightly rakes a cross in from the right, it's across the six-yard box just in front of Hart but Fletcher arrives just too late to connect as he slides in.
34 mins: City bide their time in the box as they bid to find a shooting chance, Tevez eventually rattling one straight at De Vries.
31 mins: Nasri's picked out with another ball from the left but as his touch lets him down the whistle goes and play's brought back for a foul on Clichy. The free-kick's defended well though.
Nigel, Manchester: "easy! haha the title is ours!!!!"
27 mins: CITY BREAK THE DEADLOCK AT LAST! Clichy picks out AGUERO'S run with a superb ball from the left and despite a bit of a stumble he sweeps home from eight yards past De Vries!
25 mins: Ward drops a cross on the roof of the net from out on the left. Plenty of 'ooohs', but Hart was probably the least concerned man in the ground.
23 mins: Ward looks to find Davis with a long ball but Kompany cuts it out and clears.
21 mins: City haven't got their shooting boots on yet, loads of chances are going begging! It's Aguero again, lashing a low one wide from the edge of the box.
19 mins: City punt a long ball upfield, Stearman lets it bounce once and then attempts to head it back to De Vries but it's weak and Aguero dashes through to latch on to the loose ball, he's got time to take a touch but instead tries to lob the keeper with the outside of his right boot - ambitious, and way off target.
18 mins: Barry has a crack from 25 yards but it's a woeful effort - a good ten yards wide.
16 mins: Great chance fluffed by Nasri! Brilliant movement by Zabaleta and Silva carves open the Wolves defence and Nasri's slipped through, he's one-on-one with De Vries but with an acre at the far post to aim for he dribbles his shot wide!
13 mins: Wolves nearly open the scoring! Jarvis finds space to get a ball in down the right of the box, his pull-back finds Fletcher who lays it off to Davis in the middle and his drive stings the palms of Hart! Stearman tries an overhead from the corner but can't connect.
10 mins: Good work by Kightly down the right of the box to win a corner for Wolves on the far side. The centre backs trundle up, City fail to clear at the first attempt but do eventually break three-on-two. A poor ball forces Tevez wide though, and Wolves can get men back to deal with the eventual cross.
7 mins: Aguero goes close! Played on by Ward he beats the offside trap and races through down the left of the box, beats De Vries with the shot but also the far post!
6 mins: City win a corner on the far side, De Vries comes and punches spectacularly clear.
4 mins: Tevez chases a ball back to De Vries but the keeper clears his lines just in time.
2 mins: Wolves win an early corner on the far side, City clear it but only as far as Bassong whose 18-yard shot takes an almighty deflection and Hart's relieved to see it drop over his bar. The second corner comes to nothing.
0 mins: City get us under way playing left to right in their usual home kit, and don't take long to get their sights in. After briefly playing it round the back Tevez drives through midfield and rattles a dipping shot just over De Vries' bar.
Ben, Leeds: "man city will hit more goals than the united match on their own in this one. 12-0"
1520: Blimey - did anyone see that coming at Old Trafford? Welcome to Orange's live commentary on the Premier League clash at Molineux which could see Wolves relegated, and Man City cut the gap at the top to three points with the Etihad showdown against United to come a week on Monday. Team news, and Wolves goalkeeper Dorus de Vries makes his first Premier League start for the club. De Vries, signed last summer from Swansea, replaces Wayne Hennessey who is sidelined for up to six months with knee ligament damage. On-loan defender Sebastien Bassong returns from a one-game ban for his red card against Arsenal while winger Matt Jarvis, rested against Sunderland, is also back. Striker Mario Balotelli is City's only absentee as he completes a three-match ban for his sending off in the defeat at Arsenal a fortnight ago. I'll bring you live updates from 1600, but in the meantime you can send your pre-match thoughts and predictions by clicking on my name above. I'm off to put a quid on 0-7.
- English Barclays Premier League
- 22 April 2012, 4:00pm
- Molineux
- Attendance: 24,576
Wolves![]() | v | Man City![]() |
| 0 | 2
|
match report
Manchester City relegated Wolves and moved to within three points of Manchester United after securing a 2-0 win at Molineux on Sunday.
Roberto Mancini's side capitalised on the title lifeline handed to them via United's shock 4-4 home draw with Everton earlier in the afternoon, while Terry Connor's side became the first side to drop out of the top flight this season.
Goals from Sergio Aguero and Samir Nasri sealed victory for the visitors who now have their fate back in their own hands ahead of next Monday's derby with United.
City have a superior goal difference to United and, if they win their last three games, they will claim the title.
There was little doubt about the outcome at Molineux once Aguero had broken the deadlock just before the half-hour mark.
Wolves showed plenty of spirit but defeat has brought an end to their three-year tenure in the top flight after a dreadful campaign.
They briefly led the division after collecting seven points from the opening three games but since then have picked up just 16 out of a possible 96.
Connor was handed the responsibility of keeping Wolves up after replacing the sacked Mick McCarthy in February but two points from 10 games under him have sealed their fate.
Carlos Tevez, fresh from his hat-trick against Norwich, had the first attempt on goal and was only just too high with a dipping 25 yard drive.
Wolves retaliated and Sebastien Bassong had a shot deflected wide after Michael Kightly's corner had been half cleared.
Aguero beat the offside trap and drilled a low shot inches wide of the far post.
City keeper Joe Hart had to be alert to parry aside a 20-yard drive from David Davis.
Nasri spurned a good chance to put City ahead after 16 minutes when he shot wide after being found in space by Pablo Zabaleta.
City started to enjoy the bulk of possession and a mis-placed headed back pass from Richard Stearman played in Aguero, who opted for a first time flick which went wide.
Aguero was then just off target from 15 yards as gaps started to appear in the Wolves back four.
But after 27 minutes Aguero put City ahead with his 29th goal of the campaign.
Gael Clichy made good ground down the left before picking out the run of Aguero with a pinpoint cross.
He had time to bring the ball down before slotting his shot past Dorus De Vries into the corner of the net.
City were now in total control and Aguero teed up Tevez but his curling effort flew straight at De Vries.
Bassong blocked a shot from Tevez, while Nasri flashed a dangerous ball across the box.
Yaya Toure became the first player to be booked after 55 minutes for chopping down Kightly.
Wolves were showing plenty of spirit and Hart was called into action to turn aside a Fletcher header after Bassong had won the initial aerial battle.
Tevez twisted and turned before sending a dangerous ball across the six yard box but no-one was on hand to apply the finishing touch.
City kept searching for the second goal but Stearman did well to block a low shot from Tevez.
After 74 minutes Nasri put the outcome beyond doubt.
Tevez was fouled by Davis, took the free-kick himself and exchanged passes with Clichy before finding Nasri in space.
He had time to drill a low shot into the opposite corner of the net.
City substitute Adam Johnson quickly made his presence felt, forcing a low save out of De Vries as City ended on top.
text the commentator
team line-up
| 31 | Dorus de Vries | |
| 5 | Richard Stearman | |
| 21 | Sébastien Bassong | 75 |
| 32 | Kevin Foley | |
| 8 | Karl Henry | |
| 11 | Stephen Ward | |
| 4 | David Edwards | 61 |
| 26 | David Davis | |
| 7 | Michael Kightly | |
| 17 | Matthew Jarvis | |
| 10 | Steven Fletcher | 77 |
substitutes
| 9 | Sylvain Ebanks-Blake | 77 |
| 13 | Carl Ikeme | |
| 14 | Roger Johnson | |
| 16 | Christophe Berra | 75 |
| 23 | Ronald Zubar | |
| 29 | Kevin Doyle | 61 |
| 20 | Nenad Milijas |
referee
Lee Masonteam line-up
| 25 | Joe Hart | |
| 6 | Joleon Lescott | |
| 4 | Vincent Kompany | |
| 22 | Gaël Clichy | |
| 5 | Pablo Zabaleta | |
| 18 | Gareth Barry | |
| 19 | Samir Nasri | 86 |
| 42 | Yaya Touré | |
| 21 | David Silva | 60 |
| 32 | Carlos Tévez | 75 |
| 16 | Sergio Agüero |
substitutes
| 7 | James Milner | |
| 11 | Adam Johnson | 75 |
| 34 | Nigel de Jong | 60 |
| 30 | Costel Pantilimon | |
| 13 | Aleksandar Kolarov | |
| 28 | Kolo Touré | 86 |
| 10 | Edin Dzeko |
referee
Lee Masonmatch stats
| possession % | 51 | 48 | |
| shots on target | 3 | 5 | |
| shots off target | 2 | 8 | |
| corners | 7 | 4 | |
| tackles won | 14 | 18 | |
| offsides | 2 | 4 |





