Wolves suffered a damning 5-1 defeat to Manchester City yesterday afternoon, a game full of controversy as the hosts scored from the spot twice, seeing Ian Wright left fuming at one call.
It was not the afternoon that Wolves would have hoped for at the Etihad yesterday, as Gary O’Neil watched from afar as his side were dismantled 5-1 by Manchester City.
Pep Guardiola’s side had their eyes on three points from the off as they continue to hunt down their fourth consecutive Premier League title, leaving the Old Gold with little hope as the hosts applied the pressure.
That being said, it wasn’t a game built on Manchester City’s brilliance, with the intervention of VAR being another talking point from a Wolves defeat, as City were awarded two penalties.
In the 12th minute, Erling Haaland netted his first from the spot after Rayan Ait-Nouri challenged Josko Gvardiol in the box, a collision that should not have been penalised, as per the beliefs of Ian Wright.
Ian Wright blasts ‘ridiculous’ penalty decision in Wolves v Man City
O’Neil branded the first penalty a ‘really poor decision’, as relayed by journalist Nathan Judah, an opinion that was shared by many.
When analysing the fixture on BBC Match of the Day, Wright was equally as frustrated at Craig Pawson’s actions that led to awarding the penalty.
“This could be one of the worst penalties I have ever seen given in the game. It is getting more and more ridiculous with this one.
“Ait-Nouri is turning, he is not looking. He has actually contacted the ball. I don’t think he has actually even kicked him here at all, Ait-Nouri.”
It was an extremely controversial call and one that subsequently opened City’s floodgates, giving Wolves little chance to find a way back into the game.
Wolves disappointed by yet another controversial VAR call this season
All in all, it was a bad day at the office for Wolves, in a game that not many in the Premier League expect to win however, it was yet another occasion overcast by VAR controversy.
READ MORE: Every controversial VAR decision against Wolves in the 2023/24 season
So many times this season, the Old Gold have fallen short at the hands of unacceptable calls from the officials, with the first penalty awarded against Manchester City just another example of that.
That’s not to say that Wolves would have gone on the win the match against the treble winners but, the lack of consistency and clarity shown in the opening moments leading up to Haaland opening the scoring was avoidable.
It’ll be a tough performance for O’Neil to analyse and one that will frustrate the manager when the topic of VAR is involved.