John Stones' stoppage-time header gives Manchester City a dramatic win at Wolves | Premier League

About 25 seconds of five tense minutes of added time remained in the second half when John Stones took Phil Foden's corner forward and buried Wolves assistant coach Shaun Derry on the pitch in the home technical area, infuriating the away fans. For Gary O'Neil, the sickening part centered on the manner of the goal, when Bernardo Silva blocked José Sá in the Wolves goal. Last season Wolves railed against VAR after Max Kilman saw a 99th-minute equalizer at West Ham disallowed because Tawanda Chirewa was deemed to have blocked Lukasz Fabianski's view. This time referee Chris Kavanagh visited the VAR monitor and ruled in favor of Pep Guardiola.

Of course, a massive 1.90 meter tall Norwegian, a 24-year-old Norwegian with the number 9, would open the rankings. Only it wasn't Erling Haaland, but Jørgen Strand Larsen, who crowned a clever move by Wolves and gave City something to think about. Guardiola's side equalized thanks to a stylish strike from Josko Gvardiol, but just when it looked like Wolves would be rewarded for digging deep into their energy reserves to snatch a priceless point, they suffered a crushing defeat. By this time next weekend, the Wolves will have faced seven of the top eight in their first nine games.

Don't be afraid of anything. Reading the Wolves slogan on the big screens, center circle banners and billboards is one thing, embracing that attitude is another, especially when you're lacking confidence after losing the first seven games has scored a single point and is the champion in the city. O'Neil admitted that the deeper the rut gets, the harder it is for Wolves to climb out of it and the harder it is to knock City out. Mario Lemina, who wears the captain's armband and his heart on his sleeve, said only liars and cheaters would blame their manager for the poor performance.

Wolves' push to keep a clean sheet for the first time since February appeared both physically and mentally taxing. It was a draining experience as Toti Gomes did an impromptu headstand on the goal line after desperately blocking a shot from Silva. Craig Dawson and Lemina were attentive to every ball. O'Neil frantically tapped his temple as André pushed the ball out of play for a Wolves goal kick in the 29th minute, a rare luxury after enduring relentless pressure as City sought an equaliser.

Four minutes later it happened: Jérémy Doku shot the ball past the left wing and passed it to Gvardiol 20 meters in front of the goal. City attacked in numbers, every field player in jasper red sitting on the edge of the Wolves box. With Gvardiol's first touch the ball rolled over his body and with the next he curled a right-footed shot into the top corner with Sá's fingertips.

Sá, who replaced the injured Sam Johnstone in goal, had a good game. He made a smart save to the right early on to deny Silva, and again in first-half stoppage time to keep out Savinho's shot for a corner after Silva had won the ball in the box. In the second half, Sá lunged left to force a shot from Rúben Dias around his left post and Wolves survived a few more scares, but City couldn't penetrate the hosts quite as easily.

Gonçalo Guedes appeared ready to run down the clock in the 83rd minute. Tommy Doyle, the former City midfielder, came into play at the break and his former teammate Foden followed midway through the second half as Guardiola tried to increase the pressure. Guardiola later turned to Matheus Nunes, the former Wolves midfielder whose arrival was roundly ridiculed by the home team. Much more anger followed.