Wolves player ratings vs Man City: Chiquinho impresses as Jose Sa's defence crumbles
Latest Wolves news from BirminghamLive includes the player ratings from the 5-1 defeat to Manchester City
Kevin De Bruyne bagged four goals for Premier League leaders Manchester City as they routed Wolverhampton Wanderers 5-1 at Molineux.
The Belgian superstar netted a hat-trick in 24 minutes before adding his fourth in the opening stages of the second half. Leander Dendoncker briefly had Wolves level in the 11th minute before City ran riot.
Raheem Sterling added a fifth late on and missed a couple of sitters in the process. City are closing in on another league title, whereas Wolves’ hopes of reeling in seventh-placed West Ham are now all but over.
READ: 'More away than staying' - Bruno Lage favourite expects Wolves transfer exit
READ: UEFA introduce major rule change which affects Wolves
Jose Sa 5
Sa won’t be pleased with De Bruyne’s first two goals. His short punt out wide was returned with interest by City and De Bruyne fired past him in the sixth minute. The goalkeeper was then put off by Sterling’s presence as the ball ricocheted off him and into De Bruyne’s path for the second. His distribution was poor all evening to be honest.
Jonny Castro Otto 4
The Spaniard was shifted into central defence to replace Saiss, but his positioning was way off at times in the first half. De Bruyne drifted in behind him for City’s first goal and Jonny was guilty of giving the ball away cheaply on occasions too. A night to forget for the defender.
Conor Coady 5
Coady showed the positional sense Jonny and Boly lacked alongside him, but it was a tough evening for the Wolves captain nonetheless. Wolves’ defensive solidity went out the window in the sixth minute when De Bruyne fired past Sa.
Willy Boly 4.5
Boly was very shaky on the ball throughout and wasn’t comfortable with City’s high press. He found City’s attackers way too hot to handle from minute one.
Chiquinho 7.5
The Portuguese youngster was making a long overdue full Premier League debut and he was the best Wolves player on the pitch by a million miles. He was fearless in the way he attacked City’s defenders, despite being deployed as a wing-back, and carried a threat throughout.
Leander Dendoncker 6
Dendoncker placed home Wolves’ equaliser before his compatriot De Bruyne stole the show. The midfielder wasn’t at full tilt and frustrated Wolves fans by not taking on a shot from distance with City goalkeeper Edersen way out of position.
Ruben Neves 6
Neves’ injury was one of the main reasons behind Wolves’ slump in form and he hasn’t been able to recapture his magic since returning. The midfielder played one beautiful pass out to Chiquinho in the first half, but he was nowhere near his best. At the peak of his powers, Neves would stand a chance of getting into this brilliant City side.
Joao Moutinho 6
Everything was very safe and sensible from Moutinho, who refused to take risks against City’s all-star midfield. The Portuguese maestro was chasing shadows all evening and couldn’t lay a glove on international colleague Bernardo Silva.
Rayan Ait-Nouri 6
Ait-Nouri showed flashes of his talent going forward with one excellent pass to Chiquinho in the first half, but he also demonstrated vulnerability defensively. This performance was further evidence that there are still issues to iron out, despite his enormous talent.
Pedro Neto 6
Neto grabbed the assist with a good run down the right and cross for Dendoncker’s early leveller. But he wasn’t able to influence the game much from thereon. There was one incident where Neto appealed for a penalty after a tangle with Fernandinho, but replays showed the City skipper got the ball.
Raul Jimenez 6
Jimenez did very well in the build-up to Dendoncker’s goal with superb control and the ball to Neto. He spent the rest of the evening watching on as City attacked at will.
SUBS
Hwang Hee-chan (for Jimenez, 72) 5
Misplaced one attempted flick in midfield to give City the ball back.
Francisco Trincao (Chiquinho, 72) 5
He barely had a kick in another substitute outing, but he may come into contention
Luke Cundle (for Moutinho, 85) N/A
Not used: Ruddy, Hoever, Mosquera, Toti, Marcal, Silva