September 30, (THEWILL) – Manchester City’s flawless start to the 2023/2024 English Premier League season ground to a halt on Saturday as the reigning champions succumbed to a shock 2-1 defeat away to Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The tone was set for a frustrating afternoon for Pep Guardiola’s side when Ruben Dias turned the ball into his own net in the 13th minute to gift the home side an unlikely lead. City eventually restored parity through a superb Julian Alvarez free kick shortly before the hour mark, but Wolves retook the advantage almost immediately courtesy of a clinical Hwang Hee-chan finish on the counter attack.
Despite dominating possession for long spells, City were unable to break down a resolute Wolves defence marshalled expertly by Craig Dawson and Max Kilman. Too often Guardiola’s men resorted to hopeful crosses into the box which the Wolves backline dealt with comfortably.
In contrast, Wolves manager Gary O’Neil deserves immense credit for setting his side up to play on the break and seize their chances when they arrived. Buoyed by a raucous Molineux crowd, the home side showed tremendous discipline and desire to close out an historic victory.
The shock result leaves City one point ahead of early chasers Arsenal ahead of a return to Europe on Wednesday at RB Leipzig in the UEFA Champions League. Guardiola will demand an immediate response from his side, after two losses in all competitions, which, though not too significant, may affect morale.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
