Dave Edwards: Merciless Man City exposed every failing from Wolves

That was the challenge for Wolves. Perfect in the gameplan, team selection and the performances on the pitch – alongside a little bit of luck.

You need everything to go your way and we’ve seen in the past with Wolves that it can be done.

They’d have taken heart from the game earlier in the season at Molineux, but Man City were ruthless. Erling Haaland was exceptional. Unplayable.

Unfortunately for Wolves they didn’t do themselves any real justice either in the manner they conceded the goals.

It was a little bit too easy for City, regardless of how good they are.

The first penalty is maybe arguable, but it had no impact on the game really.

The Semedo one definitely is a penalty and Wolves gave the ball away cheaply for some other goals.

The timing of the fourth goal in particular, straight after Wolves get a goal back, was tough.

It was a day to forget for the club and the fans that travelled to Manchester. Sometimes there’s not a lot you can do but Wolves definitely didn’t play to their potential.

Perhaps some factors played a part. Gary O’Neil serving a one-match ban, considering how animated he is on the touchline and the constant messages he gets to his players, was a miss in a game where you need to be tactically perfect for the duration.

The defence didn’t handle Haaland at all and they missed Craig Dawson. He marshalled the striker so well at Molineux.

Ultimately, too many players had an off day and when you do that against this City side, it’s only going to end one way.

There was one positive as Jean-Ricner Bellegarde returned from injury.

Although I don’t think he starts for Wolves if everyone is fit and playing well, he does add a lot of depth and versatility.

Wolves have lacked a lot of depth so to have him back is a positive, even if it’s for the last three games of the season.

It has been a reasonably successful first season in England for him.

It was also good to see Hwang Hee-chan score again. He took his goal excellently well.

Overall, it’s been a really successful season for Wolves.

The feeling of late will be more of disappointment, but you have to look at the season as a whole and it has been successful.

They now have a really good chance to finish in the top half and what a season that would be.

You always want to finish the season well at home and they have that opportunity against Crystal Palace at Molineux. They can put on a really good show for the fans and remain optimistic about next season.

Then they travel to Anfield and it’s another fantastic opportunity in what will be a special atmosphere.

As a player, I would relish the opportunity to play in that atmosphere. It will be an emotional day for Liverpool fans and my goal as a player would be to upset the narrative that day so Jurgen Klopp doesn’t get that fairytale finish.

Wolves have a good chance to do that, but more importantly they want to finish on a high.

O’Neil will also be going back to a club he used to coach at, which will add some extra meaning for him.

Finishing the season strong will top off a successful year and the optimism can carry into the summer, which we hope will involve some new recruits and a good 2024/25 campaign.