In a dramatic twist, Wolves found themselves embroiled in controversy following their late defeat to Manchester City in the eighth matchday of the Premier League season.
Gary O’Neil’s quest for a victory remains unfulfilled, with Wolves now enduring an 11-game streak without securing three points in the league. The clash against Man City at Molineux seemed destined for a draw after goals from Jorgen Strand Larsen and Josko Gvardiol in the first half put Wolves in a promising position.
However, the titleholders snatched a last-minute victory, as John Stones scored the decisive goal amidst contentious circumstances. The initial ruling by Chris Kavanagh disallowed the goal due to offside, implicating Bernardo Silva for obstructing Jose Sa.
The intervention of VAR led to a reversal of Kavanagh’s decision, awarding City the late winner. This turn of events left a bitter taste at Molineux, sparking heated discussions and scrutiny over Kavanagh’s officiating during the match.
Delving into the unfolding drama of the eighth matchday, pundit Richard Keys criticized Kavanagh’s handling of key moments in the Wolves vs. Man City encounter. Keys highlighted that the pivotal issue with City’s winning goal was not Silva’s offside position but rather his interference with Sa’s play.
Furthermore, Keys condemned Kavanagh for overlooking a pivotal foul committed by Nunes on Guedes in the lead-up to City’s match-winning goal. Had Kavanagh correctly awarded Wolves a free-kick, the outcome of the game might have been altered.
The match’s climax, shrouded in VAR controversy, raised questions about the validity of Stones’ winning goal and the necessity of VAR intervention given the on-field officiating. The frustrations felt by Wolves, who have often felt aggrieved by VAR decisions, underscored the ongoing debate surrounding the technology’s impact on the game.
In a stark revelation, Wolves found themselves at the bottom of the VAR decisions net score table, reflecting a narrative of repeated misfortunes and unfavorable outcomes at the hands of PGMOL’s interventions. The statistics paint a grim picture, with Wolves holding a net score of -20, illustrating the extent of their suffering in relation to VAR decisions, a sentiment further compounded by the desire to see VAR abolished expressed by the Wolves camp post last season.
