Wolves 0 Manchester City 3: Roberto Mancini works his magic as Carlos Tevez double makes it two wins out of two

By Neil Moxley

Doubling up: Tevez scores his eighth in seven games to make it 3-0


Roberto Mancini will face more difficult challenges than those posed at Molineux on Monday night. But a score that accurately reflects City's superiority over eager opponents makes it hard to deny that the Italian is having an effect.

Goals from Carlos Tevez, making it eight in his last seven games, either side of a delicious left-footed Javier Garrido free-kick demonstrated the gulf the club's Middle-Eastern owners had hoped.

And while the Boxing Day triumph over Stoke City was of the more regulation variety, this was a triumph that bore all the trademarks of a side that is genuinely looking upwards.

It was the second clean sheet in three days and only their third since the end of August. And, as clean sheets do, it provided the platform for success.

It helps when a manager has a player like Tevez to call upon and a player like Craig Bellamy to feed off him. The Argentinian is at the height of his powers, while Bellamy is not far short.

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy was genuinely pleased with his side's effort. But they lost 3-0 at home, and that was not unfair on either team.

What was impressive, apart from the fact that Shay Given did not have cause to berate defenders who have been masquerading as anything but that far too often this season, was the fact that Mancini was prepared to change his tactics.

He started with a five-man midfield but when Wolves were not being tested enough, he pushed Bellamy in behind Tevez. Hey presto, the home defence collapsed, albeit in unfortunate circumstances on the half-hour.


In form: Tevez notches his first of the night


Bellamy's step-over earned him valuable yards on Jody Craddock. He pulled the ball back and Tevez's first-time shot deflected off Christophe Berra and past Marcus Hahneman.

Bellamy had blazed wildly over from five yards before that goal, while he miscalculated the angles when played in three minutes after the interval. But you can't keep him out of anything at the moment. Like a child waiting for Christmas Day, he was into everything.

Inevitably, he was involved in the second goal, too, as he joined in play from an offside position when Jody Craddock's header inadvertently rendered him 'active'.

As a direct result of Bellamy's involvement, Gareth Barry was bundled over by Michael Mancienne and Garrido, making a rare appearance, flighted a free-kick up and over the wall. Hahnemann stood rooted to the spot, not even trying to dive as the ball curled inside the post, and the game was as good as over.


distance: Garrido curls his free kick around the Wolves wall


McCarthy was upset at the manner in which his team conceded that goal, due to the bizarre nature of the law that now governs offsides. But when he reviews the action dispassionately, he will see a host of missed City chances - Bellamy was the worst culprit on two occasions - that showed his grievances were merely glossing over the inevitable.

Wolves' best effort came when Kevin Doyle's turn of pace surprised Kolo Toure and Given needed to make his one true stop of the evening. It must have come as a welcome surprise for the Irishman.But then, as the hosts tired, City played keep ball for 90 seconds, some feat at this level.

There was even time for Mancini to throw Robinho into the fray. The Brazilian, perhaps realising that his inactivity led to him being substituted against Stoke, was involved in the third goal.


No wonder he's smiling: Mancini oversaw his second win as as many games


His pass infield from the right flank appeared to have another light-blue shirted colleague in mind. No matter. Such is Tevez's confidence at the moment that he took the ball with his right foot, switched it to his left and dispatched it inside Hahnemann's left-hand post. It was the strike of a man at the very top of his game.

Prior to that, there had been a delightful one-touch move that spanned almost the entire length of the Molineux pitch. Tevez wasted the chance of a hat-trick, lifting the ball over Hahnemann and wide of the goal.It was but a trifling blot on a landscape that now seems altogether brighter.

What a difference a week makes. For Wolves, it is back to the drawing board and hoping that their own miserable holiday period does not have too much of an impact on the rest of their season.


Crunch time: Berra takes a tumble - he was subbed soon after - after an aerial challenge with Bellamy


McCarthy was reasonably upbeat on one hand and grumpy on the other. 'We have had our opportunities in both matches,' he said. 'Were we realistically expected to go to Anfield and win and then defeat Manchester City They put on a substitute who cost more than our club.

'We need to keep our chins up and keep picking up points against those sides we are expected to be competing against.'

Manchester City have a different agenda. Mancini knows it. So far, so good.



source: dailymail