Wolves stun Manchester City as Hwang wrecks champions’ perfect league start

Last weekend footage of a Sheffield United supporter engrossed in a book at 7-0 down went viral and before kick-off here a fan was turning the pages of a title called Best New Horror. For Pep Guardiola, observing events from the directors’ box because of a one-match touchline ban, it was probably something close to that asManchester Citysuffered a shock defeat at Wolves, their flawless start to defending their crown coming to an abrupt end. The only reading material Guardiola is likely to consume in the next 24 hours is his staff’s analysis of why things unravelled here.

A fortnight ago Wolves blew Liverpool away in the first half here only to crumble in the second and in their first game of the season, at Old Trafford, they departed empty-handed despite being the superior team. Even in midweek they caved, squandering a two-goal lead at Ipswich as they exited the Carabao Cup.

So the question on the lips of supporters here at half-time, at which point they led 1-0, was: could they really hold on against the champions? When Álvarez sent a wicked free-kick into the top corner after João Gomes was penalised for bumping Oscar Bobb over, 20 yards from goal, another capitulation – given City’s might – seemed a distinct possibility.

It was a Molineux return for Matheus Nunes, signed by City for £53m at the end of last month, to forget. Nunes, whose every touch was heavily jeered by the home support, was replaced by Bobb at half-time.

“Nunes, what’s the score,” came the riposte from the delighted Wolves fans at the final whistle. But the atmosphere among the Wolves support at half-time seemed a little muted, one fan suggesting they were stunned into silence. Gomes and Mario Lemina racked up some mileage in midfield and who was confident Craig Dawson would totally subdue Erling Haaland?