Defending champions Manchester City were held to a 1-1 draw by promoted side Wolverhampton Wanderers in a controversial Premier League clash at the Molineux Stadium, but Sky Blues manager Pep Guardiola refused to blame officiating decisions for the dropped points.

“It was a good game for the spectators, but we conceded too many counter-attacks and missed simple passes,” the Sky Blues manager expressed after the tie as he continued, “We created a lot of chances against a team who had ten men behind the ball which is a positive.”

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City were heavy favourites to clinch three points against Wolves, but were forced to settle for a share of the spoils for the first time this season.

Guardiola, however, didn’t seem perturbed by the fact that the Sky Blues’ perfect record was gone.

“We played a 5-4-1 and we didn’t create that many opportunities with that system last season, but today we did. It was a good point, but we hit the woodwork three times and their keeper made some very good saves as well. Sometimes they go in, sometimes they don’t.”

As expected, the visitors dominated the possession stats and bombarded Wolves’ goal and were on the verge of opening the floodgates on a number of occasions, but somehow Aymeric Laporte’s strike was the only time they found the back of the net.

“We played the same level in the first four games this season as we did last season – it is hard to play against good teams who defend in numbers and counter-attack well, so, as I said, I was surprised how many opportunities we did create.

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“We tried, created chances but sometimes the final ball wasn’t good, but we will improve because defensively we weren’t as solid as we normally are. We knew how good Wolves were last season and that they are strong with the players they have so we knew this would be a hard game already.”

“Every game we play, we learn more and today is no different.”

Wolves’ strike was controversial because television replays showed that Willy Bolt had scored via his hand. Guardiola was asked in the light of that incident, that whether VAR should be introduced in the English top-flight, to which the Catalan manager responded, “The Premier League will decide when VAR will be here, it’s none of my business.”