A BRACE from Carlos Tevez either side of a cracking Javier Garrido free-kick ensured new boss Roberto Mancini's 100 per cent start as Manchester City boss continued.
The Blues were ahead early when Craig Bellamy, restored to the starting line up, raced down the left flank to cross for Tevez to score his seventh goal in seven games.
Mancini brought on Garrido for Stephen Ireland in the second half, and the left-back rewarded his manager by whipping in a superb free-kick past Wolves keeper Marcus Hahnemann.
City turned on the style late on and although Tevez missed a simple chance that would have capped a superb counter attack move, the Argentinian fired home with his left foot shortly after to round off the victory.
The win, which follows the 2-0 Boxing Day win against Stoke, takes City level on points with Aston Villa. The sixth-placed Blues are two points behind fourth-placed Tottenham with a game in hand.
It was a curious first half, all hustle and bustle and very little quality for a Premier League game – but encouragingly it was City who – as they did two days earlier, provided the glimpses of class.
Wolves were all about getting the ball forward and playing percentage football, which meant that Kolo Toure and Vincent Kompany had their work cut out.
They performed admirably in that opening 45 minutes, constantly getting in ahead of marauding strikers.
That meant Shay Given’s only real save was a sharp stoop to pick up Karl Henry’s low drive which skidded off the surface, which was starting to freeze up and added some skid to the shot.
Tevez influence
As the half wore on, Wolves’ efforts began to flag and the Blues took over, with Tevez starting to exert his influence.
On 32 minutes he fashioned what should have been the opening goal. Fielding Martin Petrov’s over-hit cross, he was faced by three defenders, but somehow twisted and twirled and made a few inches of space, enough to whip a cross to the lurking Bellamy.
His first attempt was a hasty, fuddled shot, but that only served to tee up an even better chance, but this time he flicked it over the bar.
It is typical of Bellamy that, even though he knew there were plenty of eyes on him as the man who replaced a £32.5million British record signing, he did not wilt.
Indeed, just two minutes later he sold a dummy to full back Ronald Zubar, scurried down the left and returned the compliment by teeing up the Argetninian ace.
Buoyed by his recent scoring record, Tevez made no mistake, although his shot was helped in by a deflection off Christophe Berra.
There is no keeping Tevez out of the game these days and, as Wolves began another high-powered attempt to get back in the game, he was defending on his goal-line to ensure George Elokobi’s header did not sneak inside the post.
Bellamy missed another great chance early in the second half, when he was moved up to play alongside Tevez in a 4-4-2 formation.
Of course, the big talking point before the game was whether Robinho got the chop. And, as usual, it was a no-brainer.
Bellamy impact
Mischief-makers had read far too much into the fact that Bellamy was left on the bench for Saturday’s 2-0 win over Stoke.
It was always going to be the case. It was exactly what Mark Hughes – chairman of the Craig bellamy Appreciation Society – would have done had he still been in charge.
Last season Robinho was a sorceror at home, and a liability away, and a trip to Molineux, where Mick McCarthy’s resurgent and resilient side were chasing a third successive home win, was always Bellamy territory.
He simply cannot manage two games in a week, by his own admission, and the word “dropped” which was so freely bandied about on Saturday, was inappropriate.
Bellamy fired back by making it plain that he is happy at City, has no problems with Mancini, and will be doing his best to further the Blue cause for the rest of the season.
Robinho had to make way, not because he was the worst player in a City shirt against Stoke, but because the name of the game is rotation.
He came on to have a say in proceedings, setting up Tevez’s second goal, and almost bagging one of his own in injury time.
But the decision to leave him out was justified by the result, City’s first away win since August 30 at Portsmouth, and their biggest win on their travels since the 3-0 win at Sunderland 16 months ago.
What is your verdict on the action? Have your say.
Wolves 0 City 3
December 28, 2009
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Now that would have been a 3-3 draw under Mark Hughes!
Utter Class!!
Sparkling, bubbling City...
kin ell.ctid
well, would we have got these two results, clean sheets, tactical changes in both games under hughes?
OBVIOUSLY not
Massive round of applause to Roberto Mancini!
He saw the team struggling against Wolves in the first 20 minutes, so what did he do? He changed the system to 4-4-2, and we looked far more comfortable after that.
How many of you pro CLUELESS (aka PUB MANAGER) fans honestly believe he would have changed the system so quickly (if at all)?
Now do you see what all us so called "foamers" were on about all along? This is what it's like to have a decent manager with a winning pedigree.
2 games, 2 wins, 5 goals scored, nil goals conceded, a dream start for Mancini!
Now I'm beginning to really believe! New manager,same team,spot-on tactics. Reverted to 4-4-2,controlled the game,then we could have scored any amount. We're playing with a swagger & I'm loving it!
Also,Our Tev got a brace.....Fergie Fergie sign him up!
Oustanding win lads! This is the only way to shut up our critics and pundit; just keep on winning. Another great winning strategy by RM. Our shape was great and kept Wolves players in front of us. That was a great strike by Garrido; where has he been all this time.
Magic. Breath of fresh air.
We look like a unit. 2 games, 2 clean sheets.
Happy Days.
brilliant win, we were fantastic, dare i say more.
Great win played realy well bellamy was briliant great free kick by garrdo great to end 2009 on a high.
This was a guaranteed 2-2 if Hughes was manager! we scraped a 1-0 vs Wolves at Home in a game we should have won 9-0.
I am typing this from Berlin..... and I am wearing my city hat and scarf with pride.
well what a great performance that was. wolves bombarded us in the air but mancini and kidd have obviously been working on defending. No way would we have kept a clean sheet 2 weeks ago. how good were bellamy and tevez up front. the blue skies are back, just in time.
you have to feel sorry for mick mcarthey don't you? maybe he should have changed all his out field players again.
another professional performance
we even looked solid at set plays, wolves only had a couple of chances and Given was equal to them both.
The defence is un recognisable from 3 games ago at the Sunderland game
all back 4 played well (including Richards)
midfield solid again
petrov wasn't at his best but didn't get the ball in good position all that much.
Bellamy played well, but his passing was off, think he was trying too hard, dispells all the he's fallout with the boss already hacks
well done lads, keep it up
Can see now why Sir Alex was so furious at Mark Hughes' sacking!!
The best thing about the result was the fact that we didnt play anywhere near as well as we can but looked reasonably comfortable,if Ireland would of been on his game we would of got 5 or 6,i dont feel the need to watch our games from behind a cushion at the moment as we look more solid as a unit
How refreshing to have a City Manager who actually coaches during a game, is pro-active. Ireland doing nothing so get's him off. Hughes would never do that. I remember his first game in charge at Villa last season. 4 - 1 down with 35 mins to go. Made first sub with 9 mins to go. great coaching I think not
thats the kind of football i want to see
Another win; another 3pts and most importantly a 'clean sheet'. We are now 2pts points off 4th and 10 pts behind Chelski with a game in hand. Great team effort today.
To all my fellow BLUES....... HAPPY NEW YEAR! Hold on to your seats, 2010 is going to be a good year!
Dear Mr. Mancini, what the hell is going on ? ! You play a left footer on the right and a right footer on the left. You put a guy in central defence who has hardly played this year. After 10 minutes of a second half you take off our best player from last year and put on a guy who has been woeful for us.
And, it all works ! amazing !
How is it possible that you have learned so much about our players in such a short time ?
Garrido certainly has a sweet left foot from a dead ball, I think this one was better than the goal against Liverpool. Shame Tevez didn’t manage to chip that ball in the net from one of the best moves of the season. With some better finishing from Tevez & Bellamy this could have been an ever bigger win. Zab is the ultimate utility player, stick him anywhere and he’ll do a job for you. Even Richards comes out of this game with a passing grade, although he does look uncomfortable on the ball.
Think back four for Middlesborough will be Zab, Richards, Kompany, Sylvinho (or dare I say Garrido ! – never thought I’d be saying that again).
Can't wait for Saturday and then Wednesday.
smiley face, smiley face
Another superb, workmanlike, solid performance. No fancy freestyling, no leaving huge gaps, just good ol' meat and potatoes. And isn't that defence starting to look well and truly padlocked now? Hughes wasn't an out-and-out numpty, no matter what some say (he did give us Bellers), but the way Mancio has turned around our back four, really shows the Welshman's ineptitude at managing defenders and defences. And I hope even the most ardent Hughes supporter can hold their hands up to that one now.
Great to see Garrido getting another chance (albeit because of injuries) and another great free-kick just like Liverpool last year.
I wonder how Mark Hughes is feeling at the moment. Embarrassed, fed up, indifferent, defensive?
Well, hardly the last one, Bertie!!!
Pinch me.Best team performance I've seen for a long time. Solid all over the pitch ,great possession.
What a difference RM has made good formation,good tactics. We could be a bit dangerous if this goes on.
Thanks Roberto Mancini.