Ten-man Manchester City re-established a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League - but the Blues were given a scare by Wolves at the Etihad Stadium.
City beat Wolves 5-2 in midweek in the Carling Cup, but Mick McCarthy's men provided stubborn opposition in the first half.
Edin Dzeko broke the deadlock with his fifth goal in three games after 52 minutes before Aleks Kolarov tapped in the second as City looked set to coast home.
But after Vincent Kompany was adjudged to have hauled back Kevin Doyle after 74 minutes the Blues skipper was sent off and Stephen Hunt scored from the penalty spot.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, substitute Adam Johnson sealed City's victory in injury time.
The Blues are now five points ahead of United, who beat Everton in the early kick-off, while Arsenal beat Chelsea 5-3.
City boss Roberto Mancini recalled most of the players who had started last weekend's 6-1 derby thrashing of United, although Mario Balotelli was only named as a substitute.
It amounted to eight changes from the cup victory 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.
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.
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.
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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.
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 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 Johnson collected Toure's pass and fired in with style.
What is your verdict on the action? Have your say.
Manchester City 3 Wolves 1
October 29, 2011
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Worst game this season.....bit of a come down after last week but I suppose that should be expected.
I do not know if it is me but today's refere was terrible,completely one sided on fouls(at one time City had commited 16 and wolves only 3
3-1 against 12 men.
Will Stuart Attwell ever become an intelligent impartial referee ? I don`t think so.
He was appalling today.
Dzeko was fouled several times and nothing given and Silva was fouled and again, this inept excuse for a referee waved play on.
Well done City, You beat a determined, defensive Wolves team today and also a useless ref.
Well I didnt get my dopamine rush today but I'm very happy with the 3 points, 3 goals and the unchanged 5 point lead at the TOP. Wolves came to spoil today and they certainly achieved that and I think the ref had the exact same idea. Very sorry for Vinnie today and it took the edge off the win. 9 wins out of 10 will do me at this stage. 10 men is no excuse is it?
I was thinking you will win 6-1, but wait┄ on 23rd you were playing your cup final!
Well it happened didnt it. After the virtuoso dynamism of last Sunday we decided to go for a stroll - in the case of Yaya, Barry and Kolarov i mean that literally. The 3 points is obviously the main thing and we did well after Kompany got sent off to hang on but i thought we were very lazy in possession today. It could have finished very differently.....
Basically i think Wolves almost deserved a point and maybe our growing reputation stopped them from having a real go at us or from noticing some players were not at the races. Right up until the 94th minute when Kolarov decided to flick the ball through his own legs to no one instead of retain possession. Kompany was also poor today and Harts spill was in my opinion karma for his rubbish distribution. The lads need to realize we got away with it today, i may seem like im being a bit harsh but i just feel like if we'd have been more focussed it could have been 5-0 easily, yet we were sloppy and let it get to 2-1 with 20 mins to go playing 10 v 11. Well, lets be honest, 10 v 12 - that was the most pathetic one sided performance from a ref i think ive ever seen, Clattenberg has been officially de-throned...........
The big big plus is obviously the 3 points and maybe this is what happens after you win 6-1 at the swamp, maybe one eye was on the Champions League game midweek. Silva was willing as ever as was Aguerro and i thought Lescott was brilliant today, the rest of you lads can play so so much better - we still love you though.
With eleven men behind the ball for much of the game & an appalling referee at bottom of his form it was always going to be a bit of a slog.
Should have scored more based on the chances created but although some of the play was excellent the final touch wasn’t always there. You have to win ugly sometimes & that’s what we did.
And even though the strikers weren’t on top form, Aguero showed real commitment doing fantastically to chase down the goalie to create the first & Dzeko finished that one well.
Hart was at fault for the penalty & we have to accept that it was a sending off.
On an aside it was good management by Mancini of Johnson, following the public criticism to bring him on.
Lots of commitment from the whole team and three points like last week.
The ref was a disgrace today - the wolves players just had to raise their hands and they got a free kick - silva was battered and got nothing, ballotelli hauled down when free on goal - play on. Never seen anything like it. Just hope the ref assessor puts him back in the Confetence.
You are not telling me that a Mick McCarthy team playing away at the league leaders only gave five free kicks away all game. Absolutely appalling display from the "ref".
But we again found a way to win the three points. We didn't play well because the "ref" wouldn't allow us to tackle and yet we scored three and could've had another three.
Bonus of the day for me though, is that it seems going down to ten men is not an excuse for losing. Don't you just love it?
Not bad 10 against 12
Sickening and bad news for some!
City top BPL 5 points clear of Man U
City top 9 points clear of Chelsea
City Top BPL 36 goals for 8 against. How entertaining is that?
City top Individual scoring league BPL. How entertaining is that?
Sergio 9
Edin 9
City beat cloggers Wolves and the Match Officials. How AWESOME was that?
City have the top Owner, Top Manager & Management and the top squad. How AWESOME is that?
Mr Linnaker, Mr Hansen and Mr Lawrenson "Why Always Youse". No time to reply Roberto on TV whoolagizing on Manchester City!
Have a great weekend Citizens worldwide!
The Ref was an absolute disgrace
Still five clear of the Evil Empire. Now nine clear of third-placed Chelski. Goal difference improved relative to both. Not unassailable by any means, but still a good day's work (and only twelve points from safety!!)
Last week, after we crushed our "illustrious" neighbours Hansen said "you don't win the league when you are playing well, you win it when you are playing badly." Well perhaps that will do for you Alan? No doubt you'll say City's bubble has burst because we didn't score another 5 or 6.
By the way, do you think possibly today's referee has a poster of Man Utd on his bedroom wall? Just wondering.
Jo Hart you need to buck your ideas up Blue, your fault vinny was sent off poor keeping big jo dont become complacent, anyway well done my Blue boys nice to see we can play average & still score 3 goals. CTID BELIEVE .
Winning games like this is the Mark of champions........ Win ugly, win pretty, just win!
CTID and lovin it
In the Kompany of Wolves!!
Seriously,regarding the Vilareal away game. Anyone going there take your own beer an butties. It is in the middle of an industrial estate and there is nowhere for miles around to obtain refreshment. Nice supporters though.
Are you watching, United apologists for last week's drubbing? That's how to play with 10 men.
i think this was one our tough games this season Wolves made it difficult for us but 3 points at the end of day. does anyone know how many games kompany will be susspended for?
Listen to Maestro Mancini....You know it makes sense!
Well done Adam, obviously taking note of Roberto's advice......scoring that important 3rd when we were under pressure PLUS your chasing back in defence.
It's not going to be long before Ted has to make that important apology!
TTFN
Some horrible decisions by Attwell today. However, we showed mental strength after Vinnie's departure. Great win and another 3pts. Top of the league. What a great strike by AJ!
BBC World News.
How biassed can the stinking corporation get?. Just a qucik 2 second mention on City and then In raptures on Man U maintaining 2nd spot and then proceeded to Interview SAF for 1-2 minutes.
Worldwide propoganda knows no bounds.
Decided we have been playing with 10 men for some time by picking YaYa!
Shame Mario and Milner not started as we do not move the ball around quickly enough when Nasir,Yaya and Barry play together especially when Silva is not firing on all cylinders.
Hart is sloppy at times but then who would be a Keeper?
Shall miss Kompany but think Savic will do a decent job, make Barry Captain and bring back Milner in place of Yaya please .................
Admit to not being at the ground , I was listening to the game on Radio Manchester whilst doing some DIY - still getting to grips with the new Man City actually seeing out the 3 points and always good to hear the supporters serenading me!
MEN, thanks for the usual Red insertion, your last sentence refers!
Memo to the Parochial MEN: When are you going to realise that our opponents are actually ALL of the 19 other Premier League teams?
TTFN
Well a difficult game for a lot of reasons. Big week last week and there was bound to be a little bit of a reaction to all that hype. Job done however, and although Joe might be feeling quite bad about the red card that his spill earned for Vincent, I don't believe that a game out for Kompany will do us that much harm - he deserves a bit of a breather! I thought that Barry and Yaya both did brilliantly well to hold things together in what was an auwfully disjointed affair - Wolves tactics and a woefully inept display by referee Attwell helped little. Indeed Attwell's selective blindness was bordering on the ridiculous!
Never mind our sixth win on the trot is very welcome and is becoming 'typical City'. Now for another very difficult European night at Villareal. Good luck lads.
CTID.
Leaves Kompany fully fresh for the next couple of Chumps League ties.
But after seeing Kolo & Savic against Wolves midweek, you have to think that this is one thing you didn't want to see.
May prove to be a tough run of matches coming up particularly against Liverpool - just hope the midfield can give the defence plenty of protection.
Lescott will have a lot of responsibility on his shoulders for these games.