Liam Keen analysis: Wolves' team selection experiment falls short

That was certainly not a surprise. However, Wolves were not humiliated on the day and were competitive in stages, as they continue their gradual improvement under Edwards.

What was a surprise was the head coache's team selection. He made one change and dropped Tolu Arokodare in favour of Jhon Arias, who stayed in his now normal position slightly deeper in midfield and Mateus Mane played a bit further forward with Hwang Hee-chan.

The decision to do this - and Edwards' explanation after the game - made a lot of sense. It allowed Wolves to spring counter-attacks, be quick in the transition and not lump the ball forward, only to invite pressure again when City inevitably won the ball back.

But for that to succeed, Wolves had to be compact defensively and perfect in their passing when they won the ball back in order to make the most of their transitions, but they did neither of those things.

Within six minutes they found themselves behind and it was a frustrating goal to concede.

Former Wolves man Matheus Nunes answered the boos from the away end by getting the better of Hugo Bueno and whipping in an excellent cross.

All three Wolves centre-backs - and particularly Yerson Mosquera - were undone by Omar Marmoush, who found it far too easy to finish. When Wolves needed to be compact and disciplined, they were opened up on one of the very first attacks.

Antoine Semenyo then had a chance at a second and somehow did not score, when Wolves were made to look foolish from a long punt forward. 

Later in the half, Marmoush also hit the post when it seemed harder to miss.

The second goal did eventually come just before half-time and it was after some excellent passing and smart play from goalscorer Semenyo.

The defensive work improved but overall was too casual in the first half, while the other part of Wolves' game that they needed to perfect to get anything from the match, was anything but.

Wolves were incredibly pedestrian. They looked like the team that had flown to Norway for a battering in midweek, not City. 

They lacked energy, were poor in their passing and were unable to get Hwang Hee-chan or Mane into the game.

Jackson Tchatchoua was also frustrating to watch as he got into good areas and consistently made errors, or was negative in his approach, seemingly scared to take a chance.

Wolves needed crisp and accurate passes on the break to hurt a City side that will leave gaps, but they never exploited them.

Edwards made changes at half-time and they definitely helped. 

Rodrigo Gomes was introduced for the tepid Tchatchoua and offered a much more energetic, lively and dangerous option at wing-back and also at left wing later in the game when Wolves switched to a back four.

The head coach also brought Jorgen Strand Larsen on for Arias, allowing Mane to drop deeper again and giving Wolves a focal point.

Those changes made a difference and Larsen did well by running the channels and holding the ball up, while Wolves had a lot more energy in midfield.

Andre and Joao Gomes were winning the ball back more regularly and finding Wolves players in space - whether it was R.Gomes' well-timed runs from wing-back, or the intelligent positions Mane was picking up in between the lines.

The 18-year-old was impressive in the second half and came to life again in his deeper position. A few highlight reel turns saw him make much more senior City players look silly, and he almost assisted a few times from set pieces.

Edwards experimented with his line-up but in hindsight it did not work. The set-up and personnel that got him to this five match unbeaten run is where Wolves' future lies this season, as they bid to restore some pride in a football club destined for relegation.

The head coach will undoubtedly have taken away a few lessons from this one - Mane needs to play deeper in this formation, Hwang needs a proper striker partner and Wolves perform better with a focal point.

Even when Larsen or Arokodare are unable to score themselves, they often open space for those around them.

Meanwhile, it is important to mention a key VAR decision in the first half, after that Marmoush chance that he somehow missed.

In the build-up, the ball hit Mosquera's arm and VAR took a look at it before instructing referee Farai Hallam to look at his pitchside monitor.

The official was taking charge of his very first Premier League match and lesser characters would have folded under the pressure of a big VAR decision at the Etihad, but Hallam stuck by his on-field decision and did not give a penalty.

He claimed Mosquera's arm was in a natural position and it was the right call - particularly as it did not impede Marmoush from his big chance - and it was refreshing to see that level of refereeing.