Premier League: Manchester City 4 Wolves 3

Manchester City moved to the top of the Premier League after surviving a dogged Wolves fightback to secure a thrilling 4-3 victory on Saturday.

The home side fought back from an early Nenad Milijas goal to go 4-1 ahead, before Wolves staged their own comeback and forced City to hang on.

The defeat leaves Mick McCarthy’s side in the relegation zone while City, who started with 27-million-pound signing Edin Dzeko, have put some pressure on rivals Manchester United ahead of the Red Devils’ clash at Tottenham on Sunday.

City started poorly and Wolves deservedly took the lead after just 12 minutes. Milijas’ shot was saved by Joe Hart, but the striker was able to stab a rebound effort over the line.

Shortly after, Matt Jarvis found himself with acres of space in the box and looked certain to score but Aleksander Kolarov dived in from nowhere to make a last-ditch block.

City began to look more menacing after the first half-hour, particularly on the counterattack, with Adam Johnson and Carlos Tevez going close.

And the Blues drew level four minutes before the break when Kolarov’s near-post corner was deflected to Kolo Toure, who squeezed his shot over the line.

City were ahead in the 50th minute when Tevez picked up the ball outside the box and dribbled past three defenders and coolly slotted under Wayne Hennessey.

It was 3-1 five minutes later with a sweeping move started and finished by Yaya Toure. He passed to Tevez who in turn sent it to Dzeko and the Bosnian made an inch-perfect ball back to the Ivorian, who had continued his run and slotted it into the net.

Tevez got his second in the 66th minute with a header off the underside of the bar from a cross by fellow Argentine Pablo Zabaleta and that looked to be game over.

But Wolves were thrown a lifeline with a penalty just two minutes later.

Substitute Joleon Lescott brought down Kevin Doyle, who sent Hart diving the wrong way from the resulting spot-kick.

Hennessey saved well from Yaya Toure before Wolves got a third in the 86th minute when Ronald Zubar headed a corner towards goal and, though it seemed to have been cleared off the line by Zabaleta, the assistant referee ruled it had crossed the line.

Wolves pushed for an equaliser in the five minutes of injury time but City held firm and almost added a fifth with a quick break but James Milner’s shot was cleared.