Roberto Mancini claimed a second straight success as Man City boss on Monday as they overcame Wolves 3-0.
Blues put in a professional performance at Molineux
Roberto Mancini claimed a second straight success as Manchester City boss on Monday as they overcame Wolves 3-0 at Molineux.
Two goals from Carlos Tevez, who now has eight in seven, and another from Javier Garrido did the damage for the top-four chasing Blues.
The hosts actually started the game much the brighter and had City pegged back early on.
That forced Roberto Mancini to switch to a 4-4-2 formation as the Blues toiled, with Craig Bellamy joining Tevez down the middle.
The Welshman should have scored when he was given the first clear sight of goal after a bout of pinball in the box, but he lobbed over the top from close range.
City, though, made the breakthrough after 33 minutes when Bellamy broke in behind and squared for Tevez to scuff past Hahnemann via the aid of a deflection from Christophe Berra.
The second half then began in much the manner as the first, with Wolves in the ascendancy but unable to make their pressure count.
That meant that the next goal would be key, and it was City who grabbed it after 69 minutes.
Garrido took charge from a dangerous free-kick on the edge of the box and proceeded to curl the ball around the wall and into the bottom corner with nonchalant ease.
Tevez then wrapped things up with three minutes remaining when he fired low past Hahnemann from the edge of the box.
Menace
Craig Bellamy was a constant menace to the Wolves rearguard alongside Tevez and, with more clinical finishing, City could have doubled their final tally.
Wolves showed plenty of endeavour and rattled the visitors in the opening quarter of the game but they lacked quality in the final third despite the physical threat of Chris Iwelumo.
Wolves leading scorer Kevin Doyle had the first effort on goal but the club's record signing dragged his 20-yard shot well wide of Shay Given's goal.
The first semblance of a chance fell to Wolves with Iwelumo the creator.
The Scottish international headed a cross from Michael Mancienne into the path of Andrew Surman 15 yards out but he failed to keep his shot down.
Mancini looked concerned at his side's lack of cohesion and reverted to a 4-4-2 formation with Bellamy moved alongside Tevez.
It appeared to reap its rewards with City immediately looking more comfortable when going forward.
But Bellamy was guilty of a dreadful miss just after the half hour mark.
Stephen Ireland's first time centre was picked up by Tevez who did well to get to the byline and turn the ball back across the box.
Gaping
Bellamy was the first to react and the goal was gaping but from eight yards out he shot over the bar.
Bellamy made amends by creating the opening goal for Tevez after 33 minutes.
He cut in from the left and picked out Tevez whose first-time shot took a deflection off Christophe Berra on its way past Marcus Hahnemann.
Wolves tried to retaliate and Pablo Zabaleta became the first player to be yellow carded for a foul on Ronald Zubar.
Tevez then showed his worth in a defensive capacity when deflecting George Elokobi's header wide from a Kevin Foley corner.
Berra did not return after the interval after landing on his head following a clash with Bellamy and was replaced by Richard Stearman.
Bellamy should have doubled City's lead after he beat the offside trap to race onto a pass from Martin Petrov but his shot flew wide of the far post.
Wolves responded and Iwelumo shot over when well placed after taking a pass from Surman in his stride.
Mancini made his first change with Garrido replacing Stephen Ireland, who appeared to have taken a knock and went straight down the players' tunnel.
Robbed
Given was finally called into action just after the hour mark when blocking a shot from Doyle with his legs after the striker had robbed Kolo Toure.
Foley was booked after bringing down City midfielder Gareth Barry.
Mancienne was also booked for a foul on the England player and it led to Garrido doubling their lead.
He curled his free-kick around the defensive wall and past a flat-footed Hahnemann.
Wolves boss Mick McCarthy was incensed because he felt Bellamy should have been given offside in the move immediately before the free-kick awarded against Mancienne.
Hahnemann's frustration boiled over and he was also booked after hurling the ball in the direction of a referee's assistant.
The bookings were coming thick and fast with Tevez cautioned after not retreating at a free-kick.
Tevez should have made it 3-0 but chipped his shot wide after good play by Bellamy created the opening.
City substitute Robinho, who replaced Petrov, teed up Tevez to score his second goal of the game with three minutes remaining.
| Wolverhampton Wanderers |
Team Statistics |
Manchester City |
| 0 |
Goals |
3 |
| 0 |
1st Half Goals |
1 |
| 3 |
Shots on Target |
4 |
| 7 |
Shots off Target |
9 |
| 4 |
Blocked Shots |
3 |
| 8 |
Corners |
3 |
| 16 |
Fouls |
11 |
| 3 |
Offsides |
4 |
| 3 |
Yellow Cards |
2 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 76.9 |
Passing Success |
78.6 |
| 12 |
Tackles |
16 |
| 83.3 |
Tackles Success |
87.5 |
| 51.1 |
Possession |
48.9 |
| 60.8 |
Territorial Advantage |
39.2 |
|
