Manchester City overcame Wolves at the Etihad Stadium
despite having Vincent Kompany sent off to restore their
five-point advantage at the top of the Barclays Premier
League.
City went ahead early in the second half when Edin
Dzeko converted the loose ball after Sergio Aguero had
pounced on some hesitant play by the previously impressive
Wayne Hennessey, and the Wanderers goalkeeper then palmed
David Silva's shot into the path of Aleksandar Kolarov,
who made it 2-0 in the 67th minute.
Stephen Hunt pulled back a goal from the penalty spot
with 15 minutes remaining following Kompany's dismissal
for bringing down Kevin Doyle, but substitute Adam Johnson
wrapped up the victory for the hosts in stoppage time.
It means it is a case of as you were at the Premier
League summit after second-placed Manchester United
had cut the gap earlier in the day with their 1-0 win
at Everton.
Struggling Wolves, meanwhile, are now winless in eight
league fixtures.
City boss Roberto Mancini recalled most of the players
who had started last weekend's 6-1 derby win at United,
although Mario Balotelli was only named as a substitute.
It amounted to eight changes from the 5-2 Carling Cup
victory over Wolves on Wednesday, with Kolarov, Samir
Nasri and Dzeko the survivors from that game and the
likes of Joe Hart, Yaya Toure, Silva and Aguero returning
to the team.
Wanderers manager Mick McCarthy made six alterations
from the cup tie, Doyle one of those keeping his place
and midfielder Jamie O'Hara among the men coming back
in.
Given what had happened when the sides met in midweek,
many were expecting a comfortable afternoon for free-scoring
City, but they endured a frustrating first half as they
failed to make the most of the chances that came their
way thanks both to Hennessey's efforts and their own
poor finishing.
Wolves were only able to partially clear a corner from
Kolarov in the second minute and the ball came to Nasri,
who unleashed a volley which Hennessey tipped over the
bar.
At the other end, Hunt picked up possession following
a mistake by Micah Richards and teed up Doyle, but the
Republic of Ireland frontman could only flash his effort
across the face of goal.
Aguero, having played a one-two with Silva, scuffed
a shot high into the stands and Dzeko put the ball over
after Wanderers skipper Roger Johnson had intercepted
Richards' cross into the danger zone.
City continued to break forward and Aguero was just
unable to meet a cross from the left after it took a
deflection.
The Argentina forward then drew a good save out of
Hennessey with a turn and strike from outside the box.
Moments later Aguero looked set to put City in front,
but miskicked as he attempted to stroke home Richards'
delivery and the shot went off-target.
Nasri showed little accuracy when trying his luck from
distance and the same applied to an effort from O'Hara.
Silva saw his strike blocked after Nasri's cross came
to him and City fans felt Richard Stearman had fouled
Dzeko in the area as the ball came over, but referee
Stuart Attwell waved for play to continue.
Four minutes before the break Silva put Dzeko through
on goal, but the Bosnian's shot was turned around the
post by Hennessey.
City kept the pressure up after the restart, with Nasri
sending in a cross that bounced out off Silva, and with
seven minutes of the second half gone, the hosts made
the breakthrough as Hennessey - so dependable before
the break - made a hash of dealing with a backpass.
Aguero came into to challenge the goalkeeper and the
ball spun out to Dzeko, who lofted it into the net for
his fifth goal in three games.
Wolves looked to respond but there was no-one to get
on the end of Hunt's cross, and after Adam Johnson had
come on to replace Dzeko, Aguero sliced wide following
good link-up play with Silva.
Two minutes later City had their second, Hennessey
parrying Silva's shot from the edge of the box and Kolarov
tucking away an easy finish.
Mancini brought on Balotelli for Nasri and the Italian
youngster sidefooted over the bar.
City appeared to be cruising, but they were then reduced
to 10 men when Hart spilled a shot from Adlene Guedioura
and Kompany was adjudged to have impeded Doyle as the
forward attempted to get to the rebound.
Kompany was shown a straight red card and Hunt dispatched
the resulting spot-kick to set up a nervy finale, but
City made sure at the death as Adam Johnson collected
Toure's pass and fired in.
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