Dave Edwards: Wolves' unbeaten run ends, but Rob Edwards sees lessons to build on

It was a strange game. The tactical changes from the last couple of matches made sense. Edwards packed out the midfield, which was logical given how difficult it is to retain possession against Manchester City. When Wolves won the ball, they could make passes rather than just lumping it back, and having Hwang Hee-Chan as a striker gives pace on the transition.

Unfortunately, it didn’t work in the first-half. The timing of the goals was particularly damaging. You want to stay in the game away at City and make it uncomfortable for them, but conceding early allows the home side to settle.

It was disappointing, not just because of the early goal, but also the manner in which it was conceded. Yerson Mosquera had just a quarter of his shoulders closed, didn’t know where Omar Marmoush was, and failed to anticipate his run across him. 

As a defender, when the ball is out wide, you always need to keep your shoulders open. Mick McCarthy used to say 'never let an attacker see the number on your back'. On this occasion, Marmoush could clearly see Mosquera's number. It was a good finish and a smart run, but the situation was avoidable.

The second goal, right on half-time, was another blow. Going in at 1-0 leaves room for a comeback, as we’ve seen in games against Manchester United and others, but 2-0 makes the task far more difficult.

Edwards was proactive in the second half, recognising that the original plan wasn’t working. He made substitutions and I thought they made a noticeable difference.

The slight formation tweak allowed Mateus Mane to drop deeper into midfield from the number eight position, and he became increasingly influential as the game went on. Rodrigo Gomes, who started at right wing-back and moved out to the wing, also impressed. His energy and work rate mean he naturally finds himself in good positions, creating opportunities whenever they arise.

Mane, in particular, stood out. After a quiet first half, the 18-year-old grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck, carrying it forward, taking on players, and showing a proactive, positive approach. 

Look at Liverpool away, Arsenal away, Manchester United away, and Everton away - Wolves were behind, yet looked much better in the second half. They nearly got back into the game at Liverpool and Arsenal, managed to get a point at Everton, and did well at Manchester United. 

Still, I’m sure Edwards would prefer to be making changes when the game is still 0-0 rather than when the team is losing. That is something he and the coaching staff will be mindful of as they look to return to winning ways. 

Next week, Wolves host Bournemouth, which will be a completely different type of game. At home, they can be far more aggressive. 

Bournemouth have been a tricky opponent historically, but with the atmosphere at Molineux, Wolves have a strong chance to pick up points.

It is also likely to be a busy week in the transfer window. There is speculation about which Wolves players will still be at the club when it closes. Fer Lopez looks set to move back to Spain for game time, which is good for him.

Meanwhile, deals for Emmanuel Agbadou and Jorgen Strand Larsen are under discussion. Joao Gomes is a key player the club will want to retain.

If Larsen and Agbadou leave and Wolves it would raise a lot of money to reinvest in new players, that would be a positive. But I don’t think they can afford to lose Joao Gomes in this window. 

It will be interesting to see what plans the club has to strengthen the squad, both for the rest of this season and looking ahead to next season, while bringing in the characters the manager wants in the dressing room.