Roberto Mancini and Manchester City traveled to Molineux to face Wolves in the Carling Cup only three days after that emphatic and historical win at Old Trafford at the weekend. How would City handle the hangover from such a game? On the other side of the spectrum Wolves boss, Mick McCarthy, was feeling the pressure from the weekend as his side failed to get a win against newly promoted side Swansea. The crowd had jeered him at the end of the game and Mick had reacted how only Mick can and it wouldn't have been unexpected to see a Wolves victory in other 'Typical City' seasons.
Mancini and McCarthy both rang the changes from the weekend and City fans must have felt nervous as Wolves had the best of the opening exchanges. The Midlanders were unlucky not to have a penalty awarded after Kolarov knocked a ball out via his arm but Wolves would be the side that would draw first blood with a little under twenty minutes on the clock.
After a scramble in the City area the ball broke loose to Milijas who rifled the ball high into the roof of the net as Pantilimon started to come down. Savic was then lucky to stay on the pitch as his studs up tackle went unpunished. Despite him getting the ball these tackles have been frowned upon in recent years and combined with his earlier yellow card it would have not been out of the question for the referee to give him a second.
City then seemed to flick a switch and changed up their style of play. They were knocking on the Wolves door and so it wasn't a complete surprise when City levelled the tie via a sweet Adam Johnson strike. In two minutes City had gone from losing to winning the tie when Samir Nasri was sent through to score. Again it was Johnson involved who this time rolled the through ball for Nasri to run on to before finishing smartly in the opposite corner.
It was almost like watching the stoppage time exploits of the weekend though as only a minute after taking the lead, City doubled it. This time it was the young Italian Scapuzzi witht he shot, saved by DeVries but Dzeko was on hand to turn in the loose ball. Half time City up 3-1.
The second half starts and City go straight on the attack, sensing blood. Less than five minutes from the restart and that young Italian that went so close in the first half did convert for City's fourth.
It was all one way traffic and was no surprise really when City added a fifth through Dzeko. However any thoughts that Wolves would have no more say in the game was dispelled a minute later when newly arrived O'Hara scored to reduce the deficit.
Mancini will look as it as job well done with not only the victory and progression of City to the Quarter Finals but also the valuable experience gained by the young players, Razak, Scapuzzi, Suarez and Rekik.
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