Dave takes a look at Wolves need for more bravery for this weeks article in BBC Sport
The 2-0 defeat at the Etihad felt very different to the 4-0 loss to Manchester City back in August. Back then, Wolves looked undercooked after a poor summer window, and City cut through us far too easily.
This time City were arguably even stronger, with additions like Marc Guehi and Antoine Semenyo, but Wolves were more organised and harder to play through.
We still struggled to offer much going forward, and City’s press often smothered us, yet we limited them to fewer clear chances and forced them to win it with two moments of real quality.
That is why the first half was so frustrating. From the moment the team sheet dropped, it felt like we were setting up to hang on rather than compete. I like Rob Edwards, but starting without a recognised number nine set the tone. Leaving both Tolu Arokodare and Jorgen Strand Larsen on the bench made us blunt.
The ball would not stick up top, so every clearance came straight back. City regained possession in seconds and it became wave after wave of pressure. Wolves stayed fairly compact, but City’s quality still told and, at 2-0 down, it already felt like too much.
The sting was in the contrast after the changes. With more attacking options on the pitch, Wolves finally had some attacking intent, and we began to move upfield with purpose. This allowed Mateus Mane to make more driving runs changing the feel of the game. He carried the ball, took risks, and pushed us higher.
For the first time, Wolves asked questions rather than simply reacting. Yerson Mosquera’s header clipping the bar from a corner summed up that late push: close enough to hurt, and a reminder of what might have been with a braver start.
One other note from a Wolves view: I thought the referee did well for his first Premier League match, and it was honestly refreshing to see. He did not get everything right, but he seemed calmer than many we see week to week.
Most importantly, when VAR sent him to the monitor to review a possible penalty, he stood his ground. In that stadium, in that moment, it would have been easy to give City the decision, but he did not.
No Wolves fan goes to the Etihad expecting a win. But we do want to be competitive from the first whistle, not just after half-time. The progress under Edwards is clear. Now it has to be matched with more bravery and clearer attacking intent, because even if the table looks grim, Wolves still need performances they can build on.
If relegation is coming, then Wolves cannot drift towards it. There is only one approach now: play to win every game, and go down fighting if it comes to it.
