Last-gasp Stones winner downs Wolves to send Man City top

John Stones scored a 95th-minute winner to send Manchester City top of the Premier League table with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux.

Jorgen Strand Larsen had opened the scoring for Gary O’Neil’s side after just seven minutes, as he tapped home at the back post to finish off an excellent team move.

Wolves, who switched to a back five for the visit of the champions, had their lead cancelled out by Josko Gvardiol’s spectacular strike from the edge of the box just after the half-hour mark.

The home side defended resolutely throughout the second period and looked on course for just their second point of the season, before Stones climbed highest at a corner in the dying seconds to clinch the three points for Pep Guardiola’s men.

With Liverpool set to welcome Chelsea to Anfield in Sunday afternoon’s later game, the result sees City, perhaps temporarily, climb to the summit of the table, two points ahead of Arne Slot’s side.

Wolves will be encouraged by the huge improvements in their performance but they remain second from bottom with just one point from their opening eight fixtures.

This was the fifth time City have gone behind in their last seven Premier League games but they have now recovered a league-high 13 points from losing positions this season.

They have avoided defeat in the last 12 league matches in which they’ve trailed, which is a Premier League record.

For much of the afternoon, it was looking like Guardiola’s side were going to have to settle for a draw, with O’Neil’s tactical tweak to a back five appearing to pay dividends.

Wolves had conceded the most goals of any Premier League side this season coming into this one but they defended excellently throughout the 90 minutes, limiting City to very few chances.

Meanwhile, Jose Sa, stepping in for the injured Sam Johnstone, was in inspired form when called upon, producing two superb saves down to his right to deny City in the opening period.

It wasn’t to be for the hosts as Stones, for the second time this season after his heroics against Arsenal, came up with the goods late on to clinch a valuable three points.

There was a check from the video assistant referee following the goal, confirming whether Bernardo Silva, who was in an offside position, interfered with play.

After the recommendation to check the pitch-side monitor, Chris Kavanagh overturned the onfield decision, much to the dismay of O’Neil, who picked up a booking for his protestations.

Wolves’ torrid run of fixtures to start the campaign begins to somewhat ease off as they travel to Brighton & Hove Albion next before hosting Crystal Palace and Southampton.

Up next for City, who set a club record of 31 league games without defeat, is a visit from Sparta Prague in the UEFA Champions League before they host strugglers Southampton in the Premier League next weekend.

It’s hardly a bad habit to develop, being able to turn matches on their head, but Pep Guardiola will be concerned by the rate at which his Manchester City side are falling behind – particularly given four of the five sides to take the lead against City in the league this season were not in the top half of the Premier League in the last campaign.

While the results continue to go their way and the unbeaten run goes on, the champions left it extremely late in both the win at Wolves today and the draw against Arsenal, and were fortuitous that Fulham didn’t extend their lead beyond one before the international break.

These three fixtures, along with a draw away at Newcastle, come together to form a run of games in the league where City have looked less-than-convincing and have ridden their luck to escape with eight points.

They also coincide with the absence of Rodri following a knee injury that looks likely to destabilise City and blow the title race wide open this season.

Jose Sa was dropped at the start of this season upon the arrival of Sam Johnstone, who has left a lot to be desired in his opening fixtures for the club.

Following an injury to the Englishman, Sa was thrust back in for the toughest test of all and was it not for the late John Stones goal, the Portuguese keeper would have been an integral part to what would have been a massive result.

He commanded his area well and made two or three vital saves to keep Wolves in it for as long as they were.

Wolves: Sa 8*, Semedo 7, Dawson 8, Bueno 7, Toti 7, Ait-Nouri 7, Andre 6, Lemina 7, Gomes 8, Cunha 7, Strand Larsen 7. Subs: Bellegarde N/A, Doyle 6, Forbes 6, Guedes 5.

Manchester City: Ederson 6, Lewis 6, Stones 7, Dias 6, Gvardiol 8;, Kovacic 7, Gundogan 6, Savinho 5, Silva 6, Doku 6, Haaland 5. Subs: Nunes N/A, Grealish 6, Foden 6.

7′ – GOAL! WOLVES 1-0 MANCHESTER CITY (STRAND LARSEN): Bueno does really nicely to work it out to Semedo on Wolves’ right. The full-back plays a low sweeping ball across the six-yard box and Strand Larsen is there to tap home at the back post.

33′ – GOAL! WOLVES 1-1 MANCHESTER CITY (GVARDIOL): Doku has it on the left and lays it inside to Gvardiol. He works it onto his weaker right foot before curling a fabulous effort into the top right corner.

90+5′ – GOAL! WOLVES 1-2 MANCHESTER CITY (STONES): It’s heartbreak for Wolves as Phil Foden’s corner from the right is headed powerfully home by John Stones, who for the second time this season saves City late on.